While Day 1 is seriously agricultural, Day 2 is more about community, or communities. The morning is marked by the ploughing competition between the mayors of each of the villages in the commune, not made easier by the fact that they aren't all farmers, they have to use old tractors (I think there is an option to use a horse, but never taken up), and they have to wear period costume. For some reason not totally clear to me, this year actually seemed to turn into the festival of the old tractor, and the parade, while led out by the mayor of Vieil Baugé, in a fetching land girl costume, numbered some 75 old tractors, which takes a long time to go past! We got an early preview as most went past our house to get to the staging area. The exhaust does stink rather.
Anyway, here are several old tractors, to give you an idea.
There were a few oddities - this one I found puzzling, including wondering what it was for and whether there was really enough demand to make a run of them!
While this one is not allowed on the road, so had to be brought in by trailer! You can see why. This one had a staring role as it had been restored specifically for this Comice by the mayor's husband, Yves.
So many old tractors, all wanting to take part in a ploughing match, meant that went on way longer than normal. But some tractors had to hurry away as they had a second role - pulling the decorated float for their village.
In the past I have been involved in floats, I've designed them, I've made flowers for them, I've made papier maché bits and bobs, I made a fake organ once, and I've been on them too. They take an immense amount of team work and hours of volunteer labour to get ready for their moment of glory on the Comice Sunday afternoon parade. Thankfully it was dry - wet weather and crèpe paper don't mix!
Anyway, to give them their due, here they all are - led out by Vieil Baugé as the hosts.
Vaulandry followed up - they will be the hosts next year.
Fougeré should be the year after - their idea of a stop me and buy one ice cream seller was interesting.
Baugé will host after them - this is always a challenge as there is no farm land in Baugé any more and you need 27 hectares for a ploughing competition!
Next up le Guedenieu - the more mature ladies of my acquaintance say that there used to be good parties there in the sixites but they always ended up with a fight...
Cheviré le Rouge always manage to get a musical theme and a song going on their float - this year, that wasn't a challenge.
We had lots of fun at the Bocé Comice, I hope they had fun at ours.
Most tractors pull their floats - Cuon pushes theirs. I have no idea why that is at all, apart from it must be to do with the design of the underlying trailer.
St Martin d'Arcé were accompanied by musicians.
Then came Echimiré, who bravely hosted the first post-Covid Comice.
Finally Pontigné brought up the rear - they hosted last year.
The afternoon and early evening entertainment was provided by Mademoiselle Orchestra - a six piece cabaret band, who are very good and very amusing. Sadly the heat and the excitement took its toll on us and we went home for a nap, but did catch the end of their second set, before joining the queue for the pig roast dinner. 14 locally born and raised pigs had been turning on spits over fires since 9am, and by 8pm we needed our portions! The guy on the next table (British) complained there wasn't any crackling, so his French chums went off to find some for him, and came back with a whole head. Lucky so and so! The small boy next to him was astounded.
The final band of the weekend was a boisterous group mixing rap, hip-hop, French pop and a sleazy horn section. The energy was amazing.
All good French events end with a firework display. By this time we had gone home, but popped out to the field opposite our house to enjoy the spectacle. It was very loud!
Now all that was left to do, was to tidy up!
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