Fête de l'Humanité


The fête de l'Humanité is an event organised annually by French daily newspaper L'Humanité in order to fund itself. It is the largest popular gathering in France.
L'Humanité was created in 1904 by French socialist Jean Jaurès but the first fête de l'Humanité took place in September 1930 to raise funds for the newspaper L'Humanité and 1000 people attended it. The 2010 festival attracted 600,000 visitors. The 2018 festival attracted 800,000 visitors over 3 days, breaking all records.
The festival is organized and held almost exclusively by volunteers, since it exists to fund the newspaper.
Hundreds of stalls are scattered around the venue offering food and drinks with the stall holders coming from all over the world to be part of the event. The fête is a unique mix of politics and entertaining, with concerts happening alongside many debates, art exhibits, movies, etc. Because of the proximity of l'Humanité with the French communist party, most of the volunteers are communists, even though the attendants aren't.
The festival comprises many stages, scène Zebrock, scène reggae, P'tite Scène. The Main Stage can accommodate about 100,000 spectators.
Due to its size, this festival is considered the kickoff of the left-wing's "political year" each year in September. Tens of thousands of left-wing activists gather there to celebrate and debate. They forget their disagreements for a festive weekend and get energized to start the year.
The festival is usually attended by the main figures of the left wing as well as famous journalists

Artists involved

Many artists such as Roger Hodgson, Léo Ferré, Stevie Wonder, Pink Floyd, The Who, Deep Purple, Jacques Brel, Johnny Hallyday, Renaud, Chuck Berry, Jacques Dutronc, Leonard Cohen, and Joan Baez have performed at this event.

1960

in Concert at Main Stage, 2005

2008