This international Festival of music and folk dances brings together around 200 to 300,000 spectators each summer. People come from all over, ready to discover new cultures and customs from the four corners of the world.
There are between 15 and 20 folklore groups invited to the festival, representing 15 countries over the 5 continents, and 600 musicians.

A golden rule: they perform on stage accompanied by their musicians.

In the evening, the opening ceremony on the square outside the town-hall, inaugurates each new festival.

Based on a different theme each year, the groups appear on stage after the traditional kindling of the flame.

During the morning, there are several events organized:
     - "Ville en fête" allows the general public to discover all the groups participating in parades, events, shows, and concerts for a modest price
     - For 3 days in the week, the spectator may also just live and breathe the festival, free-of-charge, by enjoying the street events animated by several groups in the city
     - In the evening, there are world dance and music shows

The folklore groups perform on the outdoor stage, presenting a different sort of energy each evening.

For the World Music evening, a group embodying tradition and creation, blending acoustic and electric music, will be playing in concert.

Over these past 50 years, the festival can boast some big names among their guests: Touré Kunda, Kassav, Khaled, Manu Dibando, Tri Yann, Johnny Clegg, Faudel, Bernard Lavilliers, I Muvrini, Jimmy Cliff, Enrico Macias, etc...

For the closing evening, the public normally dresses in white, a symbol of peace and union between all people. At this point, the torches are taken away and this is followed by the flame being extinguished and a large party where all the countries are represented.

The Off Festival gives the opportunity to experience world music, a exhibition area of world crafts, a fast-food with a free party every evening.
From Monday to Friday there are dance workshops, to learn about the dances of one’s country, and all this led by the music of a folklore group.