FÊTE DES BALAIS
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Lapalud is a humid plain which, at one time, was covered with fields of mulberry, madder and vines.
One day, a Lapalutian brought back sorghum seeds from the neighboring countryside which he planted on his property. Its cultivation was imposed, its flexible straw is very easy to handle and the inhabitants started to shape it and to use it as a broom. In the 1920's, Lapalud had four broom-making establishments; the sunny holidaymakers who travelled on the N7 used to stop there to buy them (Luis Mariano or Jean Nohain would have been seen there). But the glory of this small village disappeared the day when the Ponts et Chaussées had to divert the N7 which bypasses the town: no more brooms, brushes, feather dusters. Also arrived on the market the competition of the Eastern countries, the setting in circulation of the broom "heather of roadman" (the broom of witch) and the vacuum cleaner.
Since 2015, the municipality and the festival committee organize the first weekend of June the festival of brooms which includes a colorful foot race with or without broom, a petanque competition, a hike, musical entertainment and aperitifs. A convivial moment guaranteed.
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