Will the Huma Festival take place? The concern rises to the headquarters of the newspaper L'Humanité, organizer of this great political, cultural and popular meeting organized every year since 1930 and the first edition launched by Marcel Cachin, the former director of the daily. "The Festival must be held on September 11, 12 and 13 at La Courneuve Park, but there is a 50% risk that it will not take place due to the health crisis," says Patrick Le Hyaric, director of L 'Humanity. It would be a first since the end of the Second World War! "
This edition was to be the last to take place in this Seine-Saint-Denis park, due to the construction of the future Media Village for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris.
"We of course depend on the authorizations that the various competent authorities must give us," specifies Patrick Le Hyaric. We should know more at the beginning of June. But even if we were given the green light, the celebration of the Festival remains extremely uncertain. If the authorities change their minds during the summer, due, for example, to a new wave of contamination, it would be a huge risk for us, since we are installing the infrastructure for the event from around August 25. In addition, we are already starting to commit funds. However, in the event of cancellation, it would be funds swallowed up for nothing. Our newspaper and all the organizers cannot afford it. "
A light formula is being considered
Another mortgage hangs over the Fête de l'Huma: the municipal elections. “It is possible, in fact, that the second round will fall that weekend. We will know a little more at the end of May. But for now, it remains a sword of Damocles, yet another, "sighs the boss of Humanity.
The organizers are also thinking about another scenario: that of a “lightened” formula. The Fête de l'Huma, which welcomes some 200,000 visitors a year, could, due to health regulations, limit the number of visitors allowed.
The famous "Village du Monde", which traditionally brings together the stands of parties and left-wing associations from abroad, would, virus forces, probably be sacrificed and in any case almost impossible to organize. "The Fête de l'Huma has become, like the Tour de France, a national monument," says Patrick Le Hyaric. If it were not to take place, this year, it is a page of the History of the country which would not be written. "