Picnic Day returns: traders are full of activities on the Mourillon side of Toulon

There are days that the merchants of the heart of Mourillon look forward to more than others. The ever-popular Picnic Days, for example, are undoubtedly at the top of the list. For almost ten years, the merchants' association has made a habit of organizing these outdoor events on one or more occasions during the summer.

From late afternoon until midnight, the food shops on Rue Lamalgue open their counters, tables, and chairs, offering passersby reduced-price food and drinks. With music played by a DJ set up in the exceptionally pedestrian street, a festive and friendly atmosphere is almost guaranteed. "We come every year and it's always great, there's nothing to complain about!" says Chantal, a regular. "What's more, the prices are reasonable!" argues Jacques.

Other events planned

This Saturday, August 9, the merchants' association is therefore logically doing it again, with the second Picnic Day of summer 2025. A small windfall for Margaux, who has just opened Bàmá, a Chinese and Vietnamese kitchen: "It's cool, because it gives me visibility. This kind of event is a bit of a launching pad for me!"

An observation shared by Frédéric, a veteran of the Jancler butcher's shop: "It attracts people! The goal is for people to stay on rue Lamalgue. We even send them to our colleagues, so they can find everything they want without having to go to the supermarkets, because everyone here has their own specialty."

And Picnic Days aren't the only markers of the neighborhood's commercial dynamism. Every year, sales, flea markets, designer markets, and Christmas events are added to the program of festivities. They're often a success. Next year, a plant fair could even be organized, again at the instigation of the merchants' association. "We also have other projects that we're currently studying with the town hall," adds Tracy Costa, the new president.

A “re-energized” Mourillon?

A shopkeeper in Mourillon for seven years, this hairdresser assures us that the "village within the city" has entered a new dynamic: "There have been lots of new shops. And others are opening. Just near my salon, we'll have a new fishmonger in August and a real estate agency."

"It's a family-oriented neighborhood, with a good clientele. We have nothing to complain about," says Frédéric Jancler. "When there are crises, we're probably the last to suffer in Toulon." And Margaux, the newcomer, assures us: "Everyone helps each other here. I think it's revitalized, with lots of new people buying businesses, so I hope it will bring a new lease of life."

A local and a regular at the event, Muriel concludes: "I don't see any other streets in Toulon that are as lively as Lamalgue. The traders' association should hold these events every year, that's all we ask!"