Organising a village fete is a high point in local life. It’s an opportunity to bring people together, create links between generations and bring the streets of a town alive with conviviality and sharing.
And for the magic to happen, there’s nothing like well thought-out street entertainment: shows, workshops, strolls… There are lots of ideas, as long as they are adapted to the layout of the village, the target audience and the spirit of the event.
How can you make your village festival unforgettable with street entertainment? What are the key stages in setting them up, adapting them to your budget and guaranteeing their success? Follow the guide
Summary
1. Define the objectives of your street animation
Before choosing the artists or activities to be programmed, start by identifying the objective of your animation.
Do you want to attract more visitors to the village? Provide a festive occasion for local residents? Showcase local traders or craftspeople? Create a cultural or artistic event? Each street facilitator for a village festival must have a specific aim.
Depending on your objective, you can refine the nature of the events to be planned, their location in the village and the resources to be mobilised (volunteers, budget, communication, etc.).
2. Adapt the animations to the location and layout of the village
Not all villages lend themselves to the same types of events. A central square, narrow streets, a covered market hall or a pedestrianised area offer very different possibilities. Before making your choices, do a thorough survey of the site and take note of :
- Areas accessible to pedestrians and performers
- Electricity points available (for sound, lighting, etc.)
- Areas where noise must be kept to a minimum (near elderly
- people’s homes, churches, etc.)
- Possible routes for strolling and travelling shows
- Fallback solutions in case of bad weather
Good street entertainment is also well-placed entertainment. Plan strategic points to spread out the crowds and maintain a lively atmosphere throughout the village.
3. Choose the most appropriate entertainment
This is the heart of your festival: the entertainment. They can take a thousand forms, but they all have to meet one key criterion: create interaction and a sense of wonder.
Here are a few ideas you won’t want to miss:
- Brass bands and strolling bands: perfect for opening your event
- Street shows: acrobats, jugglers, fire-eaters or open-air comedians
- Creative workshops for children: face painting, painting, balloon sculpting
- Wooden games or vintage fairs: a sure-fire hit with young and old alike
- Costume parades or street carnivals: with decorated floats, giants, puppets, etc.
- Participatory entertainment: competitions, challenges, flash mobs or giant karaoke shows
The important thing is to vary the formats, to alternate moments of surprise with calmer moments, and to think about all age groups.
4. Prepare a dynamic programme
Successful facilitation depends on a well thought-out rhythm. The day should alternate between festive moments, breaks, discoveries and major highlights. Think about building a programme in several stages:
- A strong visual opening (e.g. musical parade, clowns on stilts)
- Continuous entertainment in the background (games, workshops, creative stands, etc.)
- Fixed shows at specific times
- An evening highlight: fireworks, popular ball, big concert
This format keeps the public’s attention and avoids lulls in the action. It also helps you to mobilise teams at the right times and coordinate service providers without stress.
5. Working with professionals… or passionate volunteers
You don’t have to outsource everything when it comes to facilitating your village festival. Some street entertainment can easily be provided by local associations, groups of amateur musicians, enthusiastic dancers or committed volunteers, especially for the simpler or more local services.
These performers often add an authentic touch and help to anchor the event in the local neighbourhood or community. When using volunteers, it’s a good idea to turn to volunteer management platforms such as Weezcrew.
On the other hand, for the highlights or the most memorable performances, those that catch the eye, unite the guests and leave a lasting impression, it may be a good idea to call on professional companies specialising in the street arts. Stilt walkers, magicians, tightrope walkers, street theatre actors, barrel organ players or circus performers: these professionals have mastered the art of bringing the public space to life. Their visual, sound and movement skills transform a village square into a festival stage, and their performances can make all the difference to the overall success of your festivities.
Before contacting them, remember to prepare a clear and comprehensive presentation pack. It should contain the essential elements such as the date of the event, the timetable, the precise location, the chosen theme (if there is one), the profile of the expected audience (families, children, senior citizens, tourists, etc.), as well as the planned reception conditions: stage area, catering, accommodation if necessary. You should also mention your budget and specify the context of the event (fête votive, Christmas market, cultural season, etc.).
This information will enable the companies to better assess the feasibility of their involvement and to offer you a suitable package from their catalogue.
This well-prepared contact phase will facilitate discussions and lay the foundations for an effective partnership. And in the end, it’s the quality of the link established between organisers and artists that will give full meaning to the joy shared under the amazed eyes of the audience.
6. Authorisations and safety
Organising a street event legally requires a number of administrative steps that should not be overlooked:
- Declaration to the town hall: obligatory for any event on the public highway
- Application for a municipal by-law: to block off a street or square
- Coordination with the police or gendarmerie
- Civil liability insurance: often required by local authorities
- Safety measures: barriers, access points for emergency services, emergency numbers, etc.
Don’t forget to publicise your event in local diaries or at the tourist office. The party starts well before the big day!
7. Create a visual and audio atmosphere
Street entertainment for a village festival is more than just a succession of artistic numbers. What really makes the difference is the overall atmosphere that is created as soon as visitors arrive. The aim is not just to put on shows, but to immerse the public in a living, immersive experience, where every detail contributes to the magic of the moment.
Start by taking care with the decoration: a few colourful pennants hanging from the facades, string of lights, balloons or temporary murals are all you need to transform the urban space into a festive setting.
The sound atmosphere also plays an essential role: a well-chosen soundtrack or, even better, live music throughout the day adds rhythm and warmth to the event.
Also think about the visual unity of your event: by dressing the volunteers or facilitators in a coordinated way, you make it easier for visitors to find their way around while reinforcing the identity of the festival. As for the stands and foodtrucks, a little effort to dress them up or stage them in the theme of the event will create an aesthetic continuity and reinforce the overall effect.
Finally, as night falls, lighting becomes your best ally. Go for soft, warm lighting, with lanterns, LED garlands or coloured spotlights to prolong the atmosphere into the evening.
Even with a modest budget, by playing with a few well-chosen elements, it’s quite possible to create a real open-air festival setting, and offer visitors a memorable and unifying experience.
8. Promote the event to the local public
Street entertainment can do much more than bring local people together: it has the potential to become a real regional event. With clear, well thought-out communication, you can attract families from neighbouring towns, curious visitors looking for outdoor entertainment, or even tourists passing through, seduced by the atmosphere and the promise of a convivial moment.
Here are some of the channels you can use to publicise your event as widely as possible:
- Postings in shops, schools and busy places
- Advertisements in local newsletters, on billboards and on town hall websites
- Regular posts on social networks (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, depending on the target audience)
- Creation of a mini-site or dedicated page with a programme, timetables and practical information
- Partnerships with local media: radio stations, newspapers, event blogs
- Relaying information to neighbourhood Facebook groups or forums and regional events
And of course, don’t forget word-of-mouth: local residents are often your best ambassadors. A good visual and a clear tagline can be enough to attract people from far beyond the village.
9. Anticipating technical and logistical needs
Even in the open air, a street event requires some logistical planning:
- Booking equipment (marquees, sound system, generator)
- Setting up stands and signage
- Managing pedestrian traffic flows
- Cleaning up at the end of the event
- Rest and shade areas (very useful in summer)
- Welcoming and catering for speakers
A detailed checklist will help you to avoid many unforeseen events.
10. Measuring the impact and preparing for the aftermath
A successful village fete is one that is remembered for the right reasons. To make the most of it, take the time to look back on the event once it’s over. This stage is essential to capitalise on what worked, adjust what can be improved, and above all lay the foundations for future editions.
Start by assessing the overall impact of the event: estimate the number of visitors, analyse the feedback via informal discussions, comments on social networks or simple satisfaction forms. Get together with your service providers, partners and volunteers for a quick debriefing. Their feedback is often invaluable.
Don’t forget to collect photos, videos and testimonials that can be used in future communications. This is also a good time to thank everyone involved, by e-mail, on the networks or via a short message in the local newspaper.
And why not start jotting down ideas for next year? A well-run street event can become a real rendez-vous … as long as you keep in touch with the participants from one edition to the next.
Organising street entertainment for a village festival is much more than a series of outdoor performances. It’s about creating a collective experience – visual, aural and human – that can bring together all generations around a festive occasion. By relying on solid organisation, a varied programme and a warm atmosphere, you can create an event that will leave a lasting impression… and that will be eagerly awaited the following year.
As an addition to your street entertainment, make the overall organisation of your village fête easier with a solution like Weezevent. Registration, volunteer management or an online ticketing system: everything is centralised, easy to manage… and designed to lighten your mental load.
