Bourail

Bourail is a commune in the South Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. 4900 inhabitants. Bourail houses the Arabian cemetery and the New Zealand military cemetery of an epoch of the Second world war; beaches on which turtles live.

The Bourail Fair
Agricultural and craft fair of Bourail, a small town on the West Coast of New Caledonia, is held each year during the weekend around August 15. The first edition was held in September 11, 1877, after which it was forgotten. In 1977, it was organized again and gradually become an important and inevitable event in New Caledonian calendar.

This annual appointment is an occasion to check out the colourful booths and the local specific Caledonian products, meet the cattle farmers that came to present their most beautiful specimens, but also the stockmen, real cowboys of the Caledonian brousse, participating in a colourful rodeo. About one thousand animals, numerous trade stands, the stock car, motocross, tasting Caledonian meats, demonstrations done by sheepdogs, a lumberjack contest, equestrian games, selecting “Miss Bourail Fair”, dozens of activities and of course the rodeo, there are only some of the highlights of the fair to which the visitor is invited.

Each new edition includes in its program new activities. All the animal and plant production of Grade Terre (the Mainland) and the islands are presented. Cattle, pigs, sheep, poultry, rabbits, dogs and horses are present in large numbers and are measured, weighed, assessed and rated by judges many of whom come from the Metropolis and from New Zealand. The ranchers are following closely the presentation of animals, prepared for several months by their owners on the Caledonian grazing lands.