CHAMFEST 2018, a New Boutique Music Festival for Chamonix, by Chamonix!

Kicking off the alpine summer in style, CHAMFEST 2018 is a new family-friendly festival of music, culture, sport and nature in world-famous Chamonix. From Friday 15^th to Sunday 17^th June 2018, CHAMFEST 2018 will take over Les Planards, a short walk from Chamonix centre. 

#welovechamonix

CHAMFEST is the brainchild of local company Chamonix All Year whose mantra is “we love Chamonix”. Established in the valley for 15 years, co-director Jo Saw explained that they want to share and celebrate the charm, culture and beauty of Chamonix with visitors and locals alike. So, what will happen over the 3 days of CHAMFEST?

MUSIC

A huge range of international and local acts will take to the stage. Friday is all about local (and nearby!) talent. Local girls Jeanette Berger and Eleanor Clarkson will kick off the music on Friday evening and Cluses-based pop folk quartet “Bear’s Towers” will finish up.

Headlining the festival on the evening of Saturday 16^th are UK DJ legends “Krafty Kuts” and “A.Skillz”. Also taking the stage are Geneva covers band “What The Frog” and local duo “Reel Relish” (a personal favourite!) who have recently returned from an 8-month tour of New Zealand. Also performing are British rap and beatbox trio, “Duke”.

Sunday 17^th will have an electro-swing vibe with festival-goers encouraged to wear 1920’s fancy dress. Popular London hip-hop band “Too Many T’s” will get the party started  and “Krafty Kuts” will return with a special homage to Prince. Swiss faves “Solar Sound System” will spin vinyl from their environmentally-friendly DJ booth.

You can join the party wherever you are on site, using silent disco headphones. Kids are also encouraged to join in the silent disco on Saturday as local radio station Globule Radio (produced and presented by local kids) takes over the airwaves!

CULTURE

Local adventurers, artists and entrepreneurs will hold presentations and workshops throughout the festival. BASE jumper Sam Beaugy, naturalist Gilbert Cochet and alpine geographer Sylvain Coutterand will talk about their lives, passions and work around the Chamonix Valley, and renowned artist Andy Parkin will hold interactive painting workshops.

ENVIRONMENT

Sustainability and preservation of the environment is very important to the Chamonix community and CHAMFEST wants to reflect that. On Friday, Inspire, a local non-profit working to promote air-quality, climate protection and public health, will give a talk about what individuals can do to reduce emissions in our daily lives. Another local non-profit, Art for Change, will host an art auction while local filmmaker Rachel Bradley from Seven Twenty Productions will talk about issues surrounding the Bornean Pygmy Elephant and its rapidly depleting rainforest habitat.

On Saturday there will be a screening of the new film Guides et Cie (Guides & Co) by Gilles Chappaz of the Chamonix Guiding Company and local Chamoniard geographer and geomorphologist, Sylvain Coutterand, will talk about glacial retreat and climate change.

On Sunday naturalist and guide Gilbert Cochet will discuss his latest book “Re-ensauvageons la France (Make France Wild Again)” alongside local naturalist and photographer Daniel Rodrigues.

FUN & FAMILY

Bilingual comedy duo, “The Franglais Show” and British comedy heavyweights Ian Moore and Nick Doody will also take the stage. French TV sketch comedian Phil Darwin will give several shows in French and English, poking fun at what happens when English speakers move to France and vice versa.

For the family, Italian caricature artist Jacopo will capture the spirit of the festival, while little ones can catch much-loved character Peppa Pig wandering around. Local companies La Petite Folie and Oui-Care will offer face-painting, arts and crafts and dance lessons throughout the festival. The Compagnie des Guides will also have a child-friendly climbing wall for kids to try - all supervision and security equipment provided. Kids can also take part in a treasure hunt.

The ski brand Black Crows, are giving CHAMFEST attendees the opportunity to come up with a new slogan and WIN a pair of skis or a Gore-Tex® jacket.

WELL-BEING

Fitness trainers, yoga gurus, dance instructors and massage therapists will put on sessions all weekend. Celebrity fitness trainer, David Souter, will run free family fitness sessions on Friday 15^th and Sunday 17^th. Florence Coudray from Tadasana Yoga, will host open air yoga sessions, while Monica Andrei will put everyone through their paces with Zumba classes.

Head to the Snow Angel Massage tent will some TLC and relaxation or for some local plant knowledge, join a botanical walk with the Plantes Magiques association with advice on finding and collecting wild mountain plants for use in tinctures and herbal remedies.

FOOD & DRINK

We’re excited about the debut of Altitude Gin, a new Alpine Dry Gin, “Born in Chamonix”. If gin isn’t your tipple, you can head to the Thirsty Bar for craft beers and world wines from wine suppliers Le Verre Gourmand. Picnics aren’t permitted, but there will be a caravan of food trucks offering tasty food: hot dogs by Cool Cats, hog roasts from Le Savoie Faire, Fish ‘n Chips from Curly’s and crepes by Demi-Sel. Smoothies from the Bluebird Café and coffee from Café Alpin will keep you going.

CHAMFEST Tickets are available through CHAMFEST.fr and are fantastic value for all.

A 3-day family ticket (2 adults and 2 children between 6-12 years) is just €99 (separate day passes are available but the 3-day ticket offers the most flexibility and value). 3-day adult tickets are €49 while teens (13-17 years) pay €23 for 3 days. Kids aged 6-12 years pay just €15 for the entire weekend and little ones between 0-5 years enter all weekend for free!

Chamonix All Year are also offering 15% off accommodation booked through them to celebrate their 15 years of business in the valley. Other hotels are offering 10% off accommodation for festival goers. For more information about booking accommodation, visit: https://CHAMFEST.fr/en/festival-info/accommodation.

For airport transfers, Chamonix Valley Transfers (CVT) are giving festival goers 10% off all bookings. Book here for your discounted transfer tickets: https://CHAMFEST.fr/en/festival-info/travel/.

CHAMFEST is a family-friendly, environmentally conscious festival that will close at 10PM each evening to ensure minimal disturbance to neighbours. For more information about the festival, visit www.CHAMFEST.fr.