Guides' festival

Collect funds for the guides’ emergency fund

The first guides festival took place on 15 August 1924 with, as its patron, Yvonne Coty, the wife of the famous perfume producer, François Coty. Having historically been under the protection of the Virgin Mary, the guides naturally chose Assumption day for their event. The aim of the first festival was to collect funds for the guides’ emergency fund, the subscriptions to which were no longer sufficient to cover their needs.

Nearly a century later, the aim of the guides festival has not changed. In the height of summer, Compagnie members, numerous volunteers and businessmen and women come together in aid of the guides’ emergency fund in a spirit of sharing and solidarity. Events are organised in all of the villages of the valley in the days leading up to the 15 August. These include activities, meetings, shows, parades and talks to celebrate the mountains and those who live and work in them, all in a festive and fun atmosphere.

Fête des Guides 2025

 

Special 101th Edition - Events throughout the Summer

 

- May 27 | Montenvers Mer de Glace: "The Heart of the Glacier" event, a day dedicated to the discovery of the glacial environment by 250 Chamonix middle school students

- August 12 | Les Houches 2-6 pm: Free activities for children: rock climbing, ziplining over the lake, and workshops

- August 13 | Le Lavancher 10 am-10 pm: Bread festival, country meal (meals are subject to a fee and reservation required), and concert

- August 14 | Argentière 10 am-5 pm: Free activities: rock climbing, ziplining, slacklining, and workshops

                                       5:30-8:30 pm: Traditional ceremony and concert

- August 14 | Chamonix 7 pm-midnight: Concert evening at Parc Couttet

- August 14 | On the Arve River 9:30 pm: Procession of illuminated boats between the Chamonix base and Les Bossons, viewable from the banks and bridges

- August 15 | Chamonix 8:30 am-1 pm: Traditional ceremony, market, climbing wall, musical entertainment

- August 15 | Chamonix 2 pm-6 pm: Rock climbing, zip line, Accropark at Les Gaillands (paid admission)

- August 15 | Servoz 8 am-11 pm: Crafts festival, free entertainment, and concerts

- August 16 | Chamonix 8 am-11 pm: Film and discussion evening (EMC2 room) and concert

- September 6 | Vallorcine 4 pm-midnight: Entertainment and concerts

Collecte de fonds pour la caisse de secours

Guides pay tribute to their guests

The guides festival traditionally closes on 15 August with a ceremony on the square in front of the church attended by elected officials. This formal occasion is marked by a speech from the president of the Compagnie des Guides and the official acceptance of new Guides into the Compagnie. It is also an opportunity for Guides to pay tribute to their most loyal guests by presenting them with medals for loyalty and technical difficulty, symbolising the journey taken by them as a rope team.

2025 guides' festival - Special 101th Edition

Celebrate the mountains throughout the year: Film evening in Les Houches in February, concert evening in Argentière in July, traditional festival in Chamonix, Servoz, and Lavancher in August, concert evening in Vallorcine in September.