La Caravane passe: alchemists at your service for your events
The team at La Caravane passe and its founder Alexis Fronistas, have set themselves the task of making something new out of something old and coming up with solutions that are as practical as they are creative for all kinds of festivities, whether public or private, large or small. Discover this quirky events company from the Thuin region.
The best ideas are often the result of chance. The idea for La Caravane passe did not immediately spring to mind for Alexis Fronistas. When he seized the opportunity to buy an old vintage caravan in 2015, he was not quite sure what he was going to do with it. Taking a keen interest in the events sector, Alexis was astounded at the amount of time and energy spent setting up and dismantling the infrastructures needed to organise festivities. That is when he came up with the idea of building all of these infrastructural elements on wheels, enabling them to be moved quickly and easily. In other words, the idea was to build DJ booths, bars and food buffets in beautiful and lovingly refurbished caravans.
72 caravans, 1001 ideas
After an initial experience whereby Alexis’ old caravan was transformed into a mobile photo booth for an event organised by the Thuin Cultural Centre, La Caravane passe now runs 72 vehicles, around 4 themes: Photo (photo booths in a variety of settings and vibes), Drink (various types of mobile bars), Music (podiums and stages for DJs, artists, stand-up comedians, speakers, etc.) and… “More”. The latter umbrella term covers a thousand and one great ideas to make life easier for anyone planning to organise an event, whether private or corporate: a nursery caravan for babies and children, another caravan serving as the ticket office and others such as organisers’ offices, artists’ lodges, mobile kitchens, an ‘arcade’ for video games, a creative workshop, and the list goes on!
Support and help from every corner
Far from stopping there, and despite the 435 events and 214,238 km already travelled since 2015, the La Caravane passe team also provides many other services such as the hire of entertainment and gastronomy vans in unadulterated funfair spirit, the conversion and fitting out of the sponsoring company’s or organisation’s own vehicles, or help and support with the organisation of the events themselves.
This development and diversification have enabled La Caravane passe to meet the needs of customers from a wide variety of sectors, including public bodies, sports clubs, festivals as well as a wide range of businesses and members of the general public. In addition, the team and its caravans travel throughout Wallonia, Brussels, the north of France and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Invention in their blood
Perhaps the reason for this wide range of services on offer and the constant search for solutions should be sought in Alexis Fronistas’ educational background. He holds a degree in marketing consultancy. But beyond that, he clearly has an unrelenting desire to invent and create, which goes back to his childhood: ‘My parents, who were very keen DIY-ers themselves, gave me a toolbox. This enabled me to build my first creation: a soapbox so I could get around and transport all my equipment.’ His first caravan, in a way.
Alchemy
There is just one essential element still to be addressed, as it is truly a part of La Caravane passe’s DNA: the principle of transformation. Named ‘2020 Belgian Craftsman of the Year’, Alexis Fronistas defines craftsmanship as follows: ‘To me, it means creating, transforming objects. With La Caravane passe, we recycle and transform unwanted vehicles and give them a second life, using nothing but recycled materials. The craftsmanship in this is about combining different materials – wood, metal, paint, etc. – and trying to create harmony between these materials to come up with a striking new end product’. A bit like alchemy and the transmutation of (old) metal into gold…
More details:
Website: https://lacaravanepasse.eu/
Address: 7 Chemin du Croix – 6530 Thuin
Phone: + 32 475 24 21 62
E-mail: info@lacaravannepasse.eu