Hot food banned from Fête de la Musique in France

Enjoying Fête de la Musique concerts and outdoors festivals with some street food is an annual and regular tradition in France, and this year’s celebrations are set to continue into this weekend (Thursday June 21 onwards).

Yet, authorities in the commune of Colmar, in the Haut-Rhin (Grand Est), have declined to allow hot food kiosks to operate, citing safety concerns over the hot stoves and numbers of people expected.

The village’s usual bars and restaurants will be open, but no other hot food stalls will be permitted.

This is despite other villages and towns in the area allowing the practice - albeit with safety conditions - such as in the city of Strasbourg, where external hot stoves are permitted, as long as they follow certain rules and safety regulations.

Yves Hemedinger, first deputy Mayor in Colmar, defended the decision, saying: “Between musical bands and the general public, we are expecting a lot of people in the streets. People could easily burn themselves or hit themselves [on a hot stove] if it gets too busy. This is a regular demand by our fire service department.

“After all, it is Fête de la Musique, not Fête of the Sausage, or whatever.”