2023-08-21 04:20:00
There must have been seven or eight of them this Sunday strolling around the fair, going from one shaded area to another, just to avoid the sun as much as possible, while listening to the explanations of Julie Warnant, guide for Mémo-Huy . And if they were at the fair, it was precisely to discover its history. Because it obviously did not appear by chance, one day on the banks of the Meuse, like that, with all these big attractions. It goes back much further. “The fair, as we know it today, dates back to the 19th century, details the guide of the day from the start of the visit. But the first traces of a trade fair date back to the 13th century.” And one thing leading to another, the fair, which almost disappeared following the Second World War, evolved to take its current form thanks to… television. “What people came to see, they started getting access to through TV.” So, no more interest to come. Especially since television is all year round, and not a few days in August. “The fairgrounds have therefore reinvented themselves and set up attractions.”
After this little historical introduction, the group arrives at the entrance to the site, where the Ferris wheel was located a few years ago. “The gentleman who held it is from Gives. He had to stop because he was getting too old. On the other hand, it is his daughter who holds the Circuit du Nord”, informs Julie Warnant, pointing to a “caterpillar”. installed nearby. And still a few meters further, the small troop arrives in front of the Figaro chip shop (see below). “It’s very interesting because it’s the only booth at the fair that dates back to the early 20th century. It gives an idea of what the fair was like at that time.”
Historic visit to the Huy Fair ©EDA VR
During this visit, we were not only interested in the “old” history of the fair. The group indeed lingered in front of a strong attraction much more recent than the Figaro. “She’s been coming since 2002. She’s the last to come to the fair.”
And then, the little troop stopped in a luna-park run by Dimitri Delforge. “He’s the only one in the family who hasn’t started making croustillons and lacquemants.” And behind the counter, we found Adrien, Dimitri’s son. In his case, the expression “to be born into it” is far from being usurped. “My mum was working on the fair when I arrived. She went to the hospital and I was born a few hours later.” And since then, he has never left the fairground world. “I have my apartment, but I like being in my caravan and spending time with the other fairground people.” In short, in two hours, we really made the whole history of the Huy fair.
Historic visit to the Huy Fair ©EDA VR
Josiane Koch, owner of the Figaro chip shop, has been coming to the Huy fair since 1966.
Historic visit to the Huy Fair ©EDA VR
It’s true that you can see that it dates back to the beginning of the 20th century, the Figaro chip shop, with its old woodwork. And besides, such a structure, it takes a lot of time to install. “The time to mount all the woodwork and connect everything to the level of electricity, it takes two days”, explains Christian Burdot, who was just regarding to open the chip shop this Sunday. While Christian made sure everything was in place, his mother, Josiane Koch, rested behind. And she, the fair of Huy, she knows it well. “I’ve been coming here since I got married,” she smiles. It was in 1966.” Because, initially, the chip shop belonged to her husband. “And before that, to his parents. And even before, to her grandmother…” In short, we don’t really know how old she is at this chip shop, “but at least 150 years old”.
So Josiane has been coming to the Huy fair for 57 years, which has evolved a lot since then. “She was significantly smaller at the time. And before, customers took the time to talk. Today, we feel that people are stressed. But there is nothing to do, she likes the Huy fair. “There are a lot of carnies that I don’t know because they are new. But there is a lot of solidarity between us. If someone has a problem, everyone else will come to help.”
And her chip shop too, she loves it, even if it requires a lot of work. “We have to repaint it every year, repair what needs to be repaired…” And, even if her husband died two years ago, she has no intention of stopping because, definitively, “the Figaro will not fall”.
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