IN PICTURES – The tanks are preparing before the return of the Cavalcade of Limoges

They are impressive these multicolored tanks stored in the hangars of the municipal workshops of Limoges. There are about ten of them and they are pampered by the city’s painters. The agents give the last strokes of brushes and rollers before D-Day. A meticulous, creative and artistic work that thrills the teams.

“It has to blow up”

It’s time to work out the final details for Patrick. With his roller, he covers the wood of the tank with orange paint: “You have to scrape everything off because it flakes off, and then you repaint it. It has to burst, the color has to give joy” he explains. This tank should please the youngest. Its theme is Looney Tunes with a huge Daffy Duck in the center, the crazy duck from the famous cartoons on a box ring: “It’s a lot of work, we also had to repaint the character continues Patrick. A huge Bugs Bunny face has even been painted on the back of the tank. We must also add the most famous characters: Titi and Sylvester. In addition to that, the tank loaned by the city of Cholet arrived completely disassembled in Limoges as explained by Eddie Jacquet, the director of the workshops: “The agents reassemble the tank from A to Z with an artistic part, creativity and adaptations if a decor is too damaged”. A sacred mission that changes the habits of the painters of the city: “Yes, it’s a change from traditional work, when you paint the walls of schools or all the buildings that belong to the town hall. There, it’s true that it’s very pleasant”.

In all, ten city officials have been working to restore the tanks for the past two months.

Parade starts at 3 p.m.

The tanks will be taken through the streets of Limoges by tractors. The parade begins at 3 p.m. Sunday from the Champ-de-Juillet. You can even admire the floats decorated by the municipal workshops from 12 p.m., rue d’Isly: “Brasil”, “Alice in Wonderland”, “Viva Mexico” and of course the “Looney Tunes”. The public will also be able to applaud many local groups between the floats: the Harmonie de Limoges, the Gueules Sèches, a showband from Vendée, a Belgian brass band, the Banda de Bessines and even a German brass band! Les Gueules Sèches will have the right to their own float to celebrate their 100th anniversary.