The LABAZ Festival, its first edition dedicated to the youth of Île-de-France, delivered a memorable day for over 1,200 young attendees. Organized by the Île-de-France Region to conclude its Youth Forum, the event took place at La Communale in Saint-Ouen (93).
From the afternoon, the atmosphere was electric with diverse activities: basketball hoops cheered by the crowd, a laser tag stand inspired by pentathlon, mini-golf, and rowing machine challenges. The festival proved that a youth event can offer more than just a music stage.
The venue, La Communale, with its generous volumes and natural light under a vast glass roof, provided an ideal setting. Festival-goers moved easily between areas: the concert stage, about ten stands, and an innovation space.
The program also included taekwondo, a customization stand for goodies and sneakers, and the Lab showcasing innovations like an autonomous robot and the start-up Light Dec. Encounters with authors and a virtual reality orientation stand by the Region's agency Oriane were also available.
Festival attendees expressed their surprise and enthusiasm. Gabriela, 18, stated: « I'm even surprised by how good it is, and by the number of things to do. » Mathilde added: « I really like this festival, there are tons of games and stands. »
Each sports challenge completed contributed to a donation for the association M'endors pas, founded by Caroline Darian, the godmother of this edition. A total of 4,000 euros was raised.
The stage hosted electrifying concerts, featuring DJ Nataly K, breakdance battles by the collective Expressions Urbaines, followed by headliners from the region: Gambi (94), Jungeli (93), Hony Zuka (91), and Fallon (77, 91, 94).
Hony Zuka shared his emotion: « It was lost for a while, and seeing it come back is cool », he confided before his set. Fallon presented her RnBouyon style, while Jungeli delivered a memorable performance, marked by an improvisation with two young audience members who joined him on stage.
In an interview, Jungeli explained his motivation: « I was told there would be young people, so good vibes, so I wanted to be part of it. » He emphasized the importance of addressing youth: « If we can make them believe, show them that anything is possible, I'll always do it with pleasure. »
Rapper Gambi closed the festival before a unified audience, concluding a day described as « 10/10 » by one festival-goer, who highlighted the diversity of artists and stands.
