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The ASCCO is “back in action.” After the frustration caused by the cancellation of the 2025 edition of the Northern Neighborhoods Festival (Colombier, Merlette, Terre-Neuve, and Flamands) due to a lack of volunteers, Ludovic Questel is both delighted and enthusiastic. “We’re happy to be reviving our traditions,” smiles the ASCCO president. “The lack of volunteers is felt at times, but this year we have a particularly motivated group! This is also a boost for the board. ” As a result, buoyed by this new momentum, the association’s members are already promising a wonderful festival for Saturday, July 4, on Flamands Beach.
Call for Volunteers
However, before welcoming the public, Friday will be devoted to setting up the various areas on the beach. To make this a time of both work and camaraderie, the ASCCO invites anyone wishing to help to get in touch. You can do so by coming to Flamands or by sending a message via the online registration page (https://fdn.association-ascco.com). “There’s plenty to do,” the association assures us. A beverage bar, a food bar, ticket sales, games for children (duck fishing, coconut toss…), and supervising the walk. A huge thank you in advance—every helping hand makes a huge difference to us.” Then it will be time to dive into the festivities.
Walk and Mass
As is tradition, the northern walk will kick off Saturday’s events. The walk will start at 6 a.m. in front of Flamands Beach, taking participants to the Colombier lookout point before returning to the starting point. “There’s no timer—it’s a friendly walk,” explains Ludovic Questel. A Mass will follow at 7 a.m. The ASCCO has chosen to dedicate this event to two neighborhood residents by naming the Mass after them: “Suzelle and Mon’ning.” Ludovic Questel explains: “Suzelle and Mon’ning were the people who welcomed us into their home, under their macalpa, for many years. ” The Mass will be followed by a procession to Petite Anse, where a wreath will be cast into the sea in memory of all the deceased from the northern neighborhoods. “Back in the day, the fishermen from Flamands would shelter their boats at Tite Anse,” recalls Ludovic Questel. Breakfast will then be served to those in the procession as well as to the hikers, who should have returned from their trek by then.
Small surprises and a big raffle
The island’s residents will be treated to a variety of activities throughout Saturday. Soccer and volleyball tournaments on the beach, belote and domino contests, a play in the local dialect, dancing, a concert, games (for children and adults), food and drinks… “There will be plenty of little surprises all day long,” says the president of ASCCO. “Like beach games with the mystery basket, for example.” ” Not to mention the highly anticipated raffle, which will offer great prizes, including a car and airline tickets. This is all thanks to the association’s sponsors for this event. Ludovic Questel extends his warmest thanks to these partners, as well as to the local government departments that have been mobilized. Needless to say, the president is just as grateful to all the volunteers, whether they are members of the association or neighborhood residents. “As for the beach soccer tournament, it was young people from the neighborhood who took the initiative to organize it, just as they have in the past,” Ludovic points out. “We gave them free rein, and they handled everything. Hats off to them! Volunteers like that are the best we could hope for.”
Saint-Thomas’s Presence
The ASCCO also responded to a request from the island’s residents: to bring back the rhythms and sounds of Saint Thomas through the Obsession Band. “People loved them when they came for the Saint-Louis festival two years ago,” notes Ludovic Questel. “Together with the Friends of Saint Thomas Association and the Collectivité, we all worked together to bring them here. This is part of the ongoing twinning partnership.” The twinning will be celebrated ten days later, on July 14, in Saint Thomas. In the meantime, this Saturday, July 4, the celebration will take place in Flamands. And the whole island is invited to join in.
The festival program
6 a.m.: Nordic walk, fitness course
7 a.m.: Traditional “Suzelle et Mon’ning” Mass
8 a.m.: Registration for tournaments: beach volleyball (15 euros per team, mixed 3-on-3), beach soccer (teams of five players, 5 euros per player) and for contests (10 euros for both belote and dominoes)
9 a.m.: Refreshment stand opens; activities begin
10 a.m.: Registration for beach games
11:00 a.m.: Dining area opens
11:30 a.m.: Reception hosted by the Collectivité
1:00 p.m.: Domino tournament, ice cream and snowball sales
2:30 p.m.: Contest games and beach entertainment
5:00 p.m.: Traditional dance performance by the Gongones du Nord and a play in local dialect (“Yé sou mou coui!”) by the Tit’troup de Sem’Bat
6:00 PM: Tournament awards ceremony followed by the raffle drawing
7:00 PM: Dining area opens
8:30 p.m.: Beach concert by the Obsession Band (Saint-Thomas), followed by DJ Drino
