La Bidonaise, the raft race in Seine-et-Marne near Provins

Looking for an original outing with family or friends in Seine-et-Marne? We've unearthed a nugget for you: La Bidonaise, a homemade raft race that takes place on the Seine near Provins. This second edition takes place on Sunday, August 31, 2025, and we're telling you right now: it's completely offbeat and exactly what we love!

The concept? Build your own boat, using at least one can (hence the name, as you'll have gathered), and sail the 2.5 kilometers between Jaulnes and Bray-sur-Seine. Just imagine: it's the perfect cross between a soapbox race and a carnival on the water. Suffice to say, the atmosphere promises to be memorable!

For this race, it's compulsory that the rafts be prepared by the teams themselves, and that they consist of at least one canister. There's no set theme, just imagination. Whether you're more of a "technical raft" team or a "completely wacky craft" team, anything goes, as long as it floats!

The day gets off to a great start with a complimentary breakfast at 9:30 a.m. in Jaulnes. Launching begins at 10 a.m. at rue de Courbeton, and the group departure is at 11.30 a.m. Direction: La Peupleraie campsite in Bray-sur-Seine, where you'll arrive around 12:30 (that is, if your raft holds out!).

We particularly like the way it's organized for everyone: you can follow the descent from several points along the way. The first spot is the Choyaux bridge, followed by La Guinguette, where you can watch the crews pass by around midday, and then the afternoon run along Quai Saint-Nicolas. It's the perfect opportunity to enjoy a picnic by the water, while cheering on the day's sailors.

When it comes to catering, the organizers have thought of everything. Food-trucks set up on the campsite esplanade for lunch, and in the afternoon, the Comité de Jumelage Bray/Hemsbach provides a snack of crêpes, ice creams and drinks. So you can spend a whole day on the banks of the Seine without worrying about a thing.

And the icing on the cake? Everyone goes home with a prize! Forget cut-throat competition, here the spirit of good-natured fun prevails. Gold, silver or bronze cans are distributed according to categories we love: "the most original boat", "the most elegant", "the least stable" or "the crew who created the most atmosphere". You get the idea!

The awards ceremony takes place at 5 p.m. under the plane trees of Bray-sur-Seine's Parc du Bord de Seine. The perfect bucolic setting to round off this offbeat day. And if your raft doesn't look like much at the finish, don't panic: a towboat will take care of hauling all the boats back to Jaulnes.

So, have we convinced you? If registration for this race is already closed, there's nothing to stop you from admiring and supporting the fertile imaginations of the participants. This Bidonaise promises to be a not-to-be-missed opportunity to discover Seine-et-Marne from a completely new angle, just a few kilometers from Provins. A great getaway for those who want to get off the beaten track!

Join us this Sunday, August 31, 2025, for an aquatic adventure that promises to make waves!