Nature and Spring Festival in Val-de-Marne with workshops, a scavenger hunt and a picnic

The town of Fresnes, in Val-de-Marne, is celebrating spring, frogs and water, and is organizing a festive, free day dedicated to nature, water and biodiversity. Workshops, a scavenger hunt, and a lecture are on the program for May 23, 2026.

On Saturday, May 23, 2026, the city of Fresnes (Val-de-Marne, 94) swings open the doors of the André-Villette Park and his municipal library for a fully free spring festival. Scientific workshops about water, a treasure hunt, green-space activities, a bat lecture, a visit to the beehive, and a big picnic: the day is packed, thoughtfully designed, and welcoming for all ages from 2 and up. Fresnette, the city’s mascot, will also be on site from 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. to liven up the avenues.

Organized by the Fresnes Town Hall with the backing of numerous local associations and Île-de-France partners, including Les Petits Débrouillards Île-de-France, the Maison de l'Environnement EPT Grand-Orly Seine Bièvre, the CPN Val de Seine, and the association Le Germinal, the day centers on a guiding thread: water, wetlands and local biodiversity. A theme perfectly in tune with Fresnes, a town traversed by the Bièvre, this river long buried beneath concrete, and whose return to the surface is now at the heart of many Île-de-France initiatives.

At André-Villette Park, activities run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and span a broad spectrum. On the water front, the Petits Débrouillards offer science demonstrations and interactive experiments for ages 6 and up, focused on water quality and the impact of our daily habits on rivers. A "Fresnes au fil de l'eau" trail invites families and the curious to explore the city’s squares and gardens, following clues to rack up as many points as possible in about 45 minutes. The artist Malo Patron oversees both the exhibition on water governance with his water bar and a writing workshop about the Bièvre for ages 6 and up, giving a poetic voice to the local river. The little ones aren’t forgotten: starting at age 2, a water-play and coloring workshop is led by today’s and tomorrow’s childminders. And for tech enthusiasts, Sofrege offers a virtual-reality geothermics animation—a novel way to explore the energy transition.

On the plant side, the activities are just as diverse. The Pépinières de Paris run a repotting workshop, while the green spaces service and the CCAS invite you to take home some sun-loving vegetables to plant at home. You can also dip into composting or discover the green-waste shredder with the EPT Grand-Orly Seine Bièvre, which also showcases its eco‑friendly magic tricks with ECOLOMAGIC to approach sorting in a playful way. The AVARA hosts an outdoor drawing workshop from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM (registration at 01 43 50 93 09), and the Library takes over with a creative workshop "the factory of animals" from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM for ages 6-12. Also to note is the presence of Confluences, the nursery of the Fresnes Prison Center, which presents its horticultural activity from 12:30 PM to 6:00 PM, and the Association des commerçants à fleur de pot for a floral arrangement workshop.

Wildlife and biodiversity activities round out the lineup: biodiversity workshop with CPN Val de Seine on aquatic fauna, cardboard articulated frogs workshop with Le Germinal, climate disruption workshops in the Overseas Territories with the Scouts and Guides of France, and a petting zoo/animal space with Animalis. The children's services also offer their own craft and science-games workshops starting at age five.

Calendar of events at the Municipal Library

The library is hosting three unmissable events:

2:30 PM–4:00 PM: Presentation of the Fresnes apiary by beekeeper Benjamin Vidali (open to all, reservations at 01 78 68 27 10)
5:00 PM: Exhibition "Portraits of Naturalists in the Enlightenment Era"
5:00–6:00 PM: Lecture "The Tree and the Bat" by Laurent Tillon, forest engineer and biologist specializing in biodiversity (open to all, reservations at 01 78 68 27 10)

Complete schedule of activities at André-Villette Park (11 a.m.–7 p.m.)

Water Activities

Water-awareness workshops with Les Petits Débrouillards (ages 6 and up)
Scavenger hunt "Fresnes along the Water" with G.U.S.P and the Green Spaces Service (all ages; children must be accompanied by an adult)
Exhibition on water management and a water bar with Malo Patron (all ages)
Writing workshop "Writing the Bièvre" with Malo Patron (ages 6+)
Geothermal energy: demonstrations and virtual reality with Sofrege (all ages)
Water games and coloring with the Childminders of Today and Tomorrow (ages 2 and up)

Botanical activities

Creative workshop "The Animal Factory" with the Library, 2:30–4:00 pm (6–12 years)
Planting workshop "Vegetables of the Sun" with the Green Spaces Service and the CCAS (all ages)
Presentation of compost bin and shredder models with EPT GOSB (all ages)
ECOLOMAGIC: sorting with a touch of illusion, magic tricks with EPT GOSB and ECOLOMAGIC (all ages)
Repotting workshop with Pépinières de Paris (all ages)
Overview of horticultural activity with Confluences, nursery of the Fresnes Penitentiary Center, 12:30–18:00 (all ages)
Drawing Nature: outdoor observation workshop with AVARA, 2:00–5:00 pm (registration at 01 43 50 93 09)
Floral design workshop with the Association of Flower-Pot Merchants
Orienteering course with the Sports Service

Wildlife and biodiversity activities

Hands-on fabrication workshops and science games with the children’s services (from age 5)
Biodiversity workshop, educational games exploring aquatic fauna with the CPN Val de Seine (all ages)
The Animated Frog workshop with Le Germinal (all ages)
Climate change and biodiversity in the overseas territories with Scouts and Guides of France (all ages)
Animal encounter space with Animalis

Park Dining

Green Farmers: burgers, nuggets, fries and drinks, 11am–7pm
Chataigne Association: vegetarian sandwich, fries, accras, coconut sorbet, Caribbean cake, 11am–7pm
Fruitzen: fresh fruit, 11am–7pm
Intergenerational relaxation space: mint tea and goodies with the city’s youth services department, 11am–3pm

The day is accessible to people with motor, visual, and mental disabilities. To reach it by public transport: TVM stop Montjean, bus lines 396, 187, or 184, RER B stop La Croix de Berny followed by TVM, or line 14 stop Chevilly-Larue followed by TVM. For any further information, the Mairie de Fresnes can be reached at 01 49 84 57 22.

This day is for anyone looking for a family-friendly nature outing, free of charge, with plenty of varied activities so everyone can find something to enjoy—from the tiny kid curious about frogs to the adult passionate about forest biodiversity. We love the idea of leaving with our hands still in the soil after a repotting workshop, a cardboard frog tucked under our arm, and perhaps a real urge to learn more about the Bièvre. A wonderful excursion to take in this May.