Biou Festival

Biou is a very old grape harvest festival of religious origin, first recorded in the 17th century, which takes place every year in the town of Arbois, in the heart of the Jura vineyards. It is held on the first weekend in September, coinciding with the feast of Saint Just, the patron saint of the parish.



PROGRAMME 2025 (subject to change)

Saturday 6 September :

Making of the Biou and the wreath by the winegrowers
2pm ● Maison Vercel (rue de Courcelles)
9.30pm ● Torchlight procession with Biou'Z Musik and the Arbois Fire Brigade
10pm: fireworks (location not yet defined)

Sunday 7th September :

Departure of the Biou procession
9.40am ● in front of Maison Vercel (rue de Courcelles)
Celebration of mass and offering of the Biou
10am ● Saint-Just Church
Start of the wreath parade with the participation of a guest wind band and the "Batterie-fanfare Le Pélican".
11:30 ● in front of the Maison Pasteur
Laying of the wreath of grapes by the Fruitière Vinicole d'Arbois and the Société de Viticulture d'Arbois and patriotic ceremony
11:45 ● at the War Memorial
Aperitif offered by the A.O.C winegrowers
12 noon ● Saint-Just church car park

Sunday daytime :

Sale of philatelic souvenirs and special stamps
● Parvis église St-Just
Arbois des peintres" painting competition Registration from 8am at the Town Hall
Results and exhibition of works at the Town Hall open to the public from 6pm
Free concert by the guest brass band
4pm ● Esplanade statue Pasteur - fallback Espace Pasteur - Place Notre-Dame

Over the weekend
Funfair from the evening of Friday 5 September to Monday 8 September