The 5th Season: a festival that shines the spotlight on culture in the Agglo territory.

Organized throughout the territory of the Niort Agglomeration Community, the La 5th Season festival confirms its success. “Not only does the success of this festival not wane, but the shows are attracting more and more people,” emphasizes Elisabeth Maillard, vice-president of Niort Agglo in charge of Culture. In 2025, the event recorded a 35% increase in attendance, reaching 12,500 spectators.

This success is based on a triple captivating formula. First, a family-friendly program combining circus, music, dance, theater, magic, and clown, which brings together all generations. Then, a spread across multiple municipalities, encouraging the public to travel from village to village to discover the shows. And finally, a cross-sector mobilization of the agglomeration’s services – culture, communication, mobility, waste management – which collectively contribute to the organization.

The festival also stands out for its collaborative construction. Participating municipalities choose the shows they want to host from a catalog, and finance half of them alongside the Agglo. “It is clear that we could not fund shows of this quality alone,” admits the mayor of Echiré. On the ground, they handle logistics and rely heavily on volunteers. “Without the volunteers, nothing would be possible,” emphasizes Olivier Dubois, elected official in Vallans.

This year, 20 shows are scheduled in 20 municipalities, each offering friendly times to the public. Free of charge, the festival nonetheless encourages online booking to inform spectators in case of weather-related changes.

The kick-off will take place on May 30 in Echiré, in the Sèvre park, with two shows: “De la mort qui tue” and “Le Baluche des complices de Monsieur Larsène”. The closing event will be held on June 27 in Vallans, at the Teurtous park, with “Perception” followed by a concert by “The Loire Valley Calypso”.

To facilitate access, an on-demand transport service is offered in partnership with TanLib from several municipalities in the area, including Magné, Coulon, and Mauzé-sur-le-Mignon.