February 16 to March 4 – Nice (Riviera) May 25 to 27 – Evian (Rhône-Alpes) September 7 to October 20 – France
"Nice Carnival" – Nice Carnival is a not-to-be-missed event. Music, decorated floats, caricatures and entertainers - all of the elements of life in this lovely French port city are on full display and in living color during this annual niçois celebration. The Nice Carnival was the first international carnival celebration to take place in France and attracts 1,200,000 visitors every year. The theme for the 2007 festival is “King of the Grand free-for-all (or scrum, in honor of the Rugby World Cup in September 2007).” www.nicecarnaval.com
February 17 to March 7 – Menton (Rviera)
"Lemon Festival" – Menton will organize its 74th Lemon Festival in 2007 with India as its guest of honour. This Festival, an unique event in the world, attracts 200.000 visitors every year - a figure which is constantly progressing -. It is the second most important event on the Riviera after the Nice Carnival and just ahead of the Monaco Formula 1. More than 300 people are employed on the project and 130 tons of citrus fruits are used - www.villedementon.com.
March 3 to 11 – Paris
"Agricultural Show" – The international agricultural show is the annual gathering of regional products, harvested through farming, hunting and fishing. www.salon-agriculture.com
March 9 to April 7 – Saint-Denis (Ile-de-France)
"Banlieues Bleues Festival" – The Banlieues Bleues, one of the biggest jazz festivals in the Paris area, is an eclectic, lively festival, featuring all kinds of jazz, from traditional and contemporary, to European and American blues and soul. www.banlieuesbleues.org (French language only) www.pidf.com
March 23 to April 1 – Paris "
"International Women’s Film Festival – One of the most important festivals of women’s film in the world. www.filmsdefemmes.com (French language only), www.parisinfo.com
Mid-March (2 weeks) – Grenoble (Rhône-Alpes)
"Grenoble Jazz Festival" – The festival celebrates 35 years in 2007 - "www.jazzgrenoble.com" (French language only)
March 24 & 25 – Nuits-St-Georges (Burgundy)
"Vente des Vins des Hospices de Nuits" – Celebrated sale of the wines of the Hospices de Nuits - Music and festivities bring the whole community together for this annual wine
tasting festival of famed Burgundy wines. www.nuits-saint-georges.com (French only) www.ot-nuits-st-georges.fr
March 14 to April 1 – Amiens (Picardie/Northern France)
"Amiens Jazz Festival" – An eclectic festival that highlights the contemporary jazz milieu. This year is devoted to the blues. www.amiensjazzfestival.com
(French language only) www.amiens.fr
April 1 to 30 – Lourdes (Midi-Pyrénées)
"International Festival of Sacred Music" – Concerts of sacred music ranging form Bach and Haendel to Delalande and lesser known works. www.lourdes-infotourisme.com
April 15 – Paris
"Paris Marathon" – Watch as nearly 35,000 participants run the 42km race to achieve their own individual goals. The start is at 8:45 am on the Champs-Elysées and runs via Bastille, Nation, and the Tuileries. www.parismarathon.com
April – Bayonne(Aquitaine)
"Ham Fair" – Bayonne ham is world-renowned. Sample the best of the best at the Ham Fair. www.bayonne-tourisme.com
April – Biarritz (Aquitaine)
"Les Fêtes Musicales" – Each spring, the Fêtes Musicales hosts internationally-famous artists and major instrumental
formations. The Fêtes Musicales is also an opportunity to discover young talent. www.ville-biarritz.fr
April 21 & 22 – Le Mans (Western Loire)
"24 Hours Moto" – The 30th annual motorcycle race at Le Mans Racetrack - www.lemans.org
April 17 to 22 – Bourges (Loire Valley)
"Le Printemps de Bourges" – Undiscovered artists of modern music jam in free and paid concerts throughout the city. www.printemps-bourges.com (French language only) www.bourgestourisme.com
April to October – Paris
"Singin’ in Paris" - Concerts of some of the world's favorite French songs takes visitors on a musical tour through old Paris. Enjoy a combination dinner and performance package on Tuesday and Friday evenings and on Sundays at tea-time at La Crémaillère 1900. The largest restaurant of La Butte in Montmartre, it seats 380 and features an elegant Belle Epoque decor. The 75-minute performance goes down memory lane with chansons by Charles Trenet, Edith Piaf, Yves Montand, Jacques Brel and more. www.singing-in-paris.com
April to October – Versailles (Ile-de-France)
"Les Grandes Eaux Musicales" - Discover Louis XIV's majestic gardens with their illuminated fountains set to the melodies
of some of the greatest composers of classical music every week-end. www.chateauversailles.fr & www.pidf.com
May 15 to 20 – Montauban (Midi-Pyrénées)
"Festival Alors…Chante!" – Begun in 1986, more than 750 local and young artists have graced the stage and presented beautiful vocal performances. www.alorschante.com (French language only), www.montauban-tourisme.com
May 16 to 27 – Cannes (Riviera)
"Cannes Film Festival" – The world-renowned film festival takes place at the Palais des Festivals and other venues throughout Cannes. www.festival-cannes.fr
May 17 to 20 – Grasse (Riviera)
"Rose-Expo" – Each year, Grasse celebrates the most romantic of all flowers, the rose. Over four days, 30,000 roses are presented at the Villa-Musée Fragonard. Exhibits are also organized at the Palais des Congrès and the Musée International de la Parfumerie. www.grasse-riviera.com
May 18 to 20 – Courson-Monteloup (Ile-de-France)
"Courson's Flower Show" – Set in a beautifully landscaped park, this flower show features exhibitors from throughout Europe carrying a large range of unique plants (bulbs, perennials, climbers, trees and shrubs, house plants, etc.). www.coursondom.com (French language only). www.pidf.com
May 19 to 20 – Tours (Loire Valley)
"Loire Valley Wine Festival" – Approximately 100 wine growers from the Loire Valley present their wines in the heart of Tours. There will be numerous shows, conferences and tastings. www.ligeris.com
"Les Escales Musicales" - International classical and chamber music festival. www.eviantourism.com
May – Loire (Loire Valley)
"La Caravane" – To celebrate the Loire, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Loiret department presents “La Caravane”, a four-day event. There will be shows, exhibits, picnics, dancing and singing. www.jourdeloire.com (French language only) www.loirevalleytourism.com
May 26 and 27 – Paris
"Printemps des Rues: Circus Festival" – A free outdoor festival of concerts, circuses, film showings, visual art performances, installations, forums, and more. This festival will celebrate its 10th birthday in 2007. www.leprintempsdesrues.com (French language only). www.parisinfo.com
May 27 to 28 – Honfleur (Normandy)
"Fête des Marins" – The seafarers’ Pentecost festival is celebrated in Honfleur each year since 1861. On the Sunday of Pentecost, all the local fishing boats are decorated and gathered together in Honfleur’s old harbor. They then push out to sea before coming together in a circle in the Seine estuary to receive the priest’s blessing. www.ot-honfleur.fr, www.normandy-tourism.org
May 27 to June 10 – Paris
"French Tennis Open" – The Roland-Garros French Open is the world's biggest clay-court tennis tournament and one of the major sporting highlights of the year in Paris. The world's best players come out to compete - an absolute must-see for tennis fans. www.rolandgarros.com
June 1 to 3 – Bayeux (Normandy)
"D-Day Festival" – On the site of the Batterie de Longues, witness a commemoration of the D-Day battles with historic reenactments, parachutist demonstrations, and an airshow of WWII planes. Festivities include a grand picnic with music, open-air cinema, fireworks, and concerts. www.bayeux-tourism.com
June 1 to July 31– Marseille (Provence)
"Marseille Festival" – The festival celebrates its 12th anniversary this year with performances in dance, theater, contemporary music and film. www.festivaldemarseille.com, www.marseille-tourisme.com
June 6 – Normandy
"63rd anniversary of D-Day" – Ceremonies at the beaches and towns of the Allied landings on June 5 & 6, 1944 - www.normandiememoire.com, www.normandy-tourism.org
June 6 to 10 – Deauville (Normandy)
"Deauville International Week" – Deauville welcomes its second international nautical event, drawing some of the best sailing aficionados from throughout the world. www.deauville-week.com, www.deauville.org
June 2 to 9 – Calvi (Corsica)
"Jazz Festival" – This celebrated international event brings together over a hundred musicians and singers, performing concerts within the city walls and on the streets of Calvi. www.visit-corsica.com and www.calvi-jazz-festival.com (French language only)
June 9 to July 29 – Paris
"Paris Jazz Festival" – Locals and visitors from around the world come to Paris each summer to listen to the smooth jazz music radiating from Château de Vincennes during the Paris Jazz Festival. With its impressive line-up of artists and magnificent setting, the Paris Jazz Festival is always a huge success. www.parcfloraldeparis.com
June 16 & 17 – Le Mans (Western Loire)
"24-Hours of Le Mans" - The 75th annual automobile race at the Le Mans Racetrack. www.lemans.org
June 23 & 24 – Provins (Ile-de-France)
"Les Médiévales de Provins" – Discover Provins, a city with a well-preserved imprint from the middle ages. Enjoy archery, water games, joust, a grand feast complete with entertainment, troubadours, jugglers and more. www.provins-medieval.com (French language only), www.provins.net, www.pidf.com
June 23 & 24 – Reims (Champagne)
"Fêtes Johanniques" – Every year, the city of Reims celebrates the memory of patron saint Joan of Arc in a festival of shows and a recreation of a medieval market. One of the highlights is the musical pageant and procession featuring 2,000 players depicting the coronation of Charles VII, accompanied by Joan of Arc and other kings crowned in Reims. www.reims-tourisme.com
June to August – Lyon (Rhône-Alpes)
"Les Nuits de Fourvière" – A multidisciplinary artistic event encompassing theater, dance, music and cinema. Nearly 40 shows take place each summer with past performers including David Bowie, Jamiroquai, Oasis, Lenny Kravitz and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. www.nuits-de-fourviere.org, www.lyon-france.com
June 21 – Throughout France
"Fête de la Musique" - Street concerts take place throughout France, on the occasion of the summer solstice. www.parisinfo.com
June – Rouen (Normandy)
"Opéra en Plein Air" – www.normandy-tourism.org
June 21 to 24 – Bordeaux (Aquitaine)
"Bordeaux River Festival" – The forth edition of the River Festival will focus on the history of the river and its harbor. Activities, exhibitions and meetings have been created by experts from "La mémoire de Bordeaux". www.bordeaux-tourisme.com, www.tourisme-aquitaine.info
June 22 to August 5 – Reims (Champagne)
"Les Flaneries Musicales" – Reims, the city of coronations and Clovis' place of baptism, offers an impressive series of concerts, hosting some of the greatest names in international music. More than 100 concerts take place in some of the city's most unexpected locations. www.reims-tourisme.com and www.flaneriesreims.com
June 23 to September 1st – Amboise (Loire Valley)
"At the Court of King François" – Discover the history of Amboise château through this evening spectacular. See what life was like in the area during the Renaissance and under the reign of King François the first, including his friendship with the art master Leonardo da Vinci. www.renaissance-amboise.com, www.amboise-valdeloire.com
June 29 to July 13 – Vienne (Rhône-Alpes)
"Jazz à Vienne" – The annual International Jazz Festival takes place in the city's Roman amphitheater. www.jazzavienne.com, www.rhonealpes-tourism.com
June 29 to July 22 – Aix-en-Provence (Provence)
"Festival d'Aix-en-Provence" – The Aix opera festival, which celebrates 59 years has always been closely associated with Mozart. The 2007 season presents 6 operas inspired by Mozart’s youth, cosmopolitanism and extraordinary humanity. www.festival-aix.com, www.aixenprovencetourism.com
June 30 – Paris
"Gay Pride Festival" – Information can be found online at www.gaypride.fr (French language only), www.parisinfo.com
July 1 to 31 – Nice (Riviera)
"Nice Jazz Festival" – One of the most important European jazz festivals with over 500 musicians and 75 concerts in the Roman ruins and gardens of Cimiez. The focus is on jazz music but the festival embraces many musical genres with past performers including such legends as BB King, Bebel Gilberto and Jimmy Cliff as well as newer acts such as Jamiroquai, Joss Stone and Katie Melua. The history of this event stretches back to the 1940s and has grown in stature each year to become one of the greatest jazz festivals in the world. www.nicejazzfest.com
July 7 & 8 – Bayeux (Normandy)
"Bayeux Medieval Festival" – Journey back in time, as the town of Bayeux comes alive with court jesters, jugglers, knights and craftsmen. The festival celebrates 21 years in 2007; an extraordinary milestone. A medieval market, street theatre, book fair, medieval ball, costumed parade and more… www.bayeux-tourism.com, www.normandy-tourism.org
July 7 to 29 – France
"Tour de France" – Celebrate the world's most famous bicycle competition. The race is on to see who will wear the coveted maillot jaune this year. This year's Tour begins in London featuring the 8 km prolog. www.letour.fr
July 7 to August 3 – Orange (Provence)
"Chorégies d'Orange Festival" – This major Provence music and opera festival dates back to 1860 and is the oldest festival in France. It is set in one of the world's best preserved Roman theaters. www.choregies.asso.fr
July 12 to 22 – Antibes/Juan-les-Pins (Riviera)
"Jazz à Juan" – The annual International Jazz Festival brings together famous jazz artists as well as up-and-coming musicians. Past performers have included Sonny Rollins and Ibrahim Ferrer. www.antibesjuanlespins.com
July 14 – Paris/France
"Bastille Day Celebrations" – In Paris: traditional morning military parade down the Champs-Elysées, followed at sundown by prestigious fireworks. www.parisinfo.com
July 14 to 22 – Quimper (Brittany)
"Festival de Cornouaille" – Traditional and folkloric dance, music and arts festival, in the capital of the Finistère area of Brittany, historically known as Cornouaille. www.festival-cornouaille.com (French language only), www.tourismebretagne.com, www.discoverbrittany.com
July 25 to 28 – Evian (Rhône-Alpes)
"Evian Masters" – The International Women's golf tournament is one of the most important, both on the American and European tours, featuring 70 of the world's best players. www.evianmasters.com and www.eviantourism.com
July – Paris
"Solidays International Youth, Music and Solidarity Festival" – This exceptional event is not only a great music festival with a number of major performing artists, but is also for a good cause. Solidays celebrates the summer by fighting against AIDS through increasing awareness, with around 100 French and international associations exchanging information and ideas. www.solidarite-sida.org (French language only) www.parisinfo.com
July – Saint-Gilles (Alsace)
"Rêve d’une nuit d’été" – During 8 evenings, the hill of Saint-Gilles offers you the biggest Alsace scene. Lots of highlights, musics, and shows bring you back to the history of Alsace thanks to more than 500 volunteers actors. A must-see when you are in Alsace in July. www.reve-dete.com (French language only)
July – Belfort (Franche-Comté)
"Eurockéennes de Belfort" – 3 days – 4 stages – 60 concerts. This international rock festival has been taking place on the peninsula of Malsaucy near Belfort for 17 years now. What started out as a big party for young pop fans has grown into a major festival drawing some of today's most popular acts and an audience of over 95 000 people. www.eurockeennes.fr
July to August – Paris
"Paris Plage" – An artificial beach (palm trees, sand and all) is set up along the banks of the River Seine to give locals a chance to escape to the beach, without leaving the city. There is also a boardwalk for cyclists and rollerbladers, a pool, beach volleyball and evening concerts. www.parisinfo.com
July to August – Paris
"Paris Quartiers d'Eté" – The Paris neighborhoods festival features theater, dance and musical performances at the Tuileries Gardens, Palais Royal, Arènes de Lutèce, La Villette, banks of the Seine, Buttes-Chaumont Park and more. www.quartierdete.com (French only) www.parisinfo.com
July to August – Prades (Languedoc-Roussillon)
"Pablo Casals Festival" – The festival celebrates 56 years in 2007 with over 20 concerts performed by the world’s finest chamber music ensembles. www.prades-festival-casals.com
July – Colmar (Alsace)
"International Classical Music Festival" – The festival adheres to demanding standards in order to maintain its international renown, attracting musicians and ensembles of the highest level and organizing a well-planned schedule of events. Each year there is a central theme and a tribute to a musician. www.festival-colmar.com
July – Avignon
"Festival d'Avignon" - The avant-garde summer festival celebrates its 61th year with presentations of new productions and talent in theater, dance and music; at the Palais des Papes and other locations. www.festival-avignon.com
July and August – Toulouse (Midi-Pyrénées)
"Toulouse d’Eté" - A summer concert series offering an eclectic selection of 15 concerts in 12 venues, with more than 300 artists and cultural engineers. www.toulouse-tourisme.com
Last week of July – Cognac (Poitou-Charentes)
"Passion Blues Festival" – 15th anniversary. Annual festival of African-American music including blues, swing, gospel, rhythm'n blues and soul. Past performers have included the late, great Ray Charles. www.bluespassions.com
August – Saint-Cloud (Ile-de-France)
"Festival Rock en Seine" – Rock 'n roll festival at the Domaine National in Saint-Cloud. Big-name bands and musicians, such as the Pixies and the Foo Fighters, have graced the stage. www.rockenseine.com
August – Marciac (Midi-Pyrénées)
"Jazz in Marciac" – International Jazz Festival set in a 13th-century fortified Gascony town. www.jazzinmarciac.com (French language only) www.tourisme-midi-pyrenees.com
August – Ajaccio (Corsica)
"Fêtes Napoléoniennes" - Feast in honor of the island’s illustrious son, Napoléon Bonaparte, who was born in Ajaccio August 15, 1769. Enjoy parades, historical pageants, and other festivities. www.visit-corsica.com
August – Fayence (Provence)
"August in Fayence Territory" - An assembly and collaboration of artists, this music festival offers cultural and artistic enjoyment to its visitors, throughout Fayence territory. From Brel to Mozart, jazz to improv and street performers to parades, August in Fayence territory is a hit. www.unaoutaupaysdefayence.com (French only) www.crt-paca.fr
August – Bayonne (Aquitaine)
"Fêtes de Bayonne" - Each year since 1932, the city of Bayonne puts on a "fiesta" during five days of non-stop celebration with music, bull running, Basque-influenced cuisine and more. www.fetes-de-bayonne.com (French only) www.bayonne-tourisme.com
August 18 to 29 – La Chaise-Dieu (Auvergne)
"La Chaise-Dieu Festival" - Founded in 1966 by Georges Cziffra, today the festival is considered among the most famous of French classical and sacred music festivals. Large orchestral performances take place in an ancient Benedictine abbey, characteristic for its strong spiritual strength and exceptional acoustics. Chamber music concerts usually take place in the Cziffra Hall (quintets, quartets, trios). This year’s themes center on Mozart, unknown Italian baroque composers (Perti, Stradella, Scarlatti) and Russian composition from the 20th century (Rachmaninov and Chostakovitch)
www.chaise-dieu.com
August 27 to September 2 – Dijon (Burgundy)
"Folkloriades Internationales et Fêtes de la Vigne" – Annual folkloric dance and music festival and wine fair, with participants from throughout the world. www.fetesdelavigne.com (French only) www.ot-dijon.fr
September 1 & 2 – Lille (Nord-Pas-de-Calais)
"Grande Braderie de Lille" - Every year, the first weekend of September sees Lille turn into one massive car boot sale where locals come and sell all manner of unwanted items and second hand goods on the city’s pavements. Dating back to the Middle Ages, the Grande Braderie is the biggest event in the region, and one that attracts some two million bargain hunters every year. From cheap junk to antique furniture and kitsch ornaments, there is something for everyone. Haggling is de rigueur of course, but even for those just browsing, the party atmosphere is terrific, making this a must see event for anyone visiting the region at that time of year. www.theotherside.co.uk
September 3 to October 15 – Ile-de-France
"Festival Ile-de-France" - France's most popular region, with Paris as its capital, features a festival of contemporary music, literature, theatre, painting and circus performances. www.festival-ile-de-france.com (French only) www.pidf.com
"Rugby World Cup 2007" - The United States, as well as Argentina, Australia, Canada, England, Fiji, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Romania, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa and Wales have qualified for this world cup which is one of the biggest sporting events in the world. With 48 matches in the stadiums of 12 cities in France and Great Britain--10 of which are in France, they will be watched by an estimated 2,5 million spectators and up to 4 billion television viewers. The cities in France and Great Britain are: Bordeaux, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Lens, Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Nantes, Paris, Saint-Denis, Saint-Etienne, Toulouse - www.rugbyworldcup.com
Early September – Deauville (Normandy)
"Festival of American Cinema" - Previews of the year's best American films, with actors and producers invited to participate. There is a competition to choose the masterpieces of American independent cinema. www.festival-deauville.com
Mid September – France
"Journées du Patrimoine" - Open house and free admission to the nation's historical monuments, including public and private buildings not usually open to the public. www.journeesdupatrimoine.culture.fr (French only) www.culture.fr
September to December – Paris
"Paris Fall Festival" - Annual Parisian autumn festival featuring theater, ballet, film retrospectives, music, opera and exhibitions in different venues throughout the city and close environs. www.festival-automne.com
September – Toulouse (Midi-Pyrénées)
"Piano aux Jacobins" - Piano recitals festival at Toulouse's prestigious 13th-century Jacobins Cloisters. www.pianojacobins.com (French only) www.ot-toulouse.fr
September – Médoc (Aquitaine)
"Marathon des Châteaux du Médoc et des Graves" – A unique marathon through the Bordeaux/Médoc area and its legendary wine villages, châteaux estates and vineyards, where the first and last to arrive at the finish line are honored in the same way: instead of a cash prize, they receive their weight’s worth in great wines. The spirit of this marathon is to have fun. Music, costumed runners, partying, food, and of course wine, are a regular staple. www.marathondumedoc.com
September – Lyon (Rhône-Alpes)
"International Biennial Dance Festival" – The festival gathers the world’s finest choreographers in Lyon, for 20 days of performance. www.biennale-de-lyon.org
September to October – Versailles (Ile-de-France)
"Mondial de l'Automobile" – The Paris International Motor Show takes place every two years and is open to the general public. www.pidf.com
October 1 to 31 – Toulouse (Midi-Pyrénées)
"Toulouse les Orgues International Festival" – The event celebrates organ music with a diverse range of concerts and performances. Taking place each autumn since 1996, the festival has grown each year and now includes a program of approximately 60 events taking place in Toulouse and the Midi-Pyrenees region. But the event is about more than just music and visitors are invited to enjoy the area’s beautiful countryside and gastronomic treats through a series of planned events. www.ot-toulouse.fr
October – Paris
"Nuit Blanche" – The project’s aim is to organize nocturnal events and activities in various public buildings and venues in and around Paris, including museums, libraries, monuments, places of worship, tourist sights, cinemas, parks and gardens, hospitals and universities. It's a great opportunity to discover the wonders of Paris by night. www.parisinfo.com
October to November – Paris
"Paris Banlieue Tango Festival" – Tango takes over the Paris environs during this festival that includes concerts, dancing, music and singing workshops, cinema and video, art exhibitions, photography, theater, debates, lectures, food and cabaret evenings. http://pbta.free.fr
October to November – Normandy
"October in Normandy" - Over 200 events with classical and modern music, theatre and dance in 20 sites around Haute-Normandie. www.octobre-en-normandie.com (French only) www.normandy-tourism.org
October – Perpignan (Languedoc-Roussillon)
"Jazzèbre" – Throughout the month of October, Perpignan is the center for jazz, from contemporary, salsa and blues to bossa nova and international jazz. Surrounding vineyards have adopted the festival and offer jazz and wine theme itineraries and excursions. www.jazzebre.com (French only) www.perpignantourisme.com
October – Nancy (Lorraine)
"Nancy Jazz Pulsations" – For more than 30 years, Nancy has played host to a prestigious group of international jazz performers during this two-week jazz festival. Over 70,000 have enjoyed performances in jazz, blues, rock, pop, reggae, chanson, world, hip-hop, and electronic music. www.nancyjazzpulsations.com
October – Paris
"Montmartre Harvest Festival" – Montmartre invites everyone to celebrate the arrival of the precious “Clos Montmartre” wine. Sip the 2005 vintage and enjoy the highlights of this classic tradition: displays of regional produce, street musicians and singers, the election of the Harvest queen and a parade dedicated to Bacchus. www.fetedesvendangesdemontmartre.com (French only) or www.parisinfo.com
October – Reims (Champagne)
"International Reims Marathon" – Organization of five races on the same day: marathon, half-marathon, the 10k run, and two races designed for teenagers. http://reimsatoutesjambes.fr
October to November – Troyes (Champagne)
"Champagne Nights Festival" - This festival celebrates French songs and songwriters and focuses on a different composer each year. www.nuitsdechampagne.com (French only) www.abcoffrance.com.
November – Reims (Champagne)
"The Reims Jazz Festival" - The Reims Jazz Festival dates back to 1994 and hosts a variety of innovative jazz (contemporary, fusion, etc.) concerts throughout the city. www.djaz51.com (French only) www.reims-tourisme.com
November – Lyon (Rhône-Alpes)
"Fête de la Chataigne" - The chestnut fair is a tradition that dates back to the 19th century in Lyon. As soon as autumn makes an appearance in Lyon, stalls carousels, and a Ferris wheel with fantastic night-time views over the city center, are set up at the top of the Boulevard de la Croix-Rousse. The fair always starts just before the Toussaint (All Souls Day) holiday and lasts for a month. www.en.lyon-france.com
November to December – Montbéliard (Franche-Comté)
"Les Lumières de Noël" – A veritable sea of lights in Montbéliard during the most festive season of the year. One of the best Christmas markets of the area, Montbéliard offers a range of activities and attractions including pastry-making workshops for children, Christmas decorations and lights, chocolate tastings, sleigh rides, warm wine tastings and more. http://lumieresdenoel.fr
November to December – Alsace
"Traditional Christmas markets" in 35 cities and smaller towns throughout the region. The festive outdoor markets offer Christmas trees and decorations, seasonal preserves and sweets, as well as decorative objects for nativity scenes, local crafts, toys and gifts. The oldest Christmas market, held for 432 years, is in Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace. www.noel-alsacetourisme.com (French language only)
November – Dijon (Burgundy)
"Dijon International and Gastronomic Fair" - With over 500 exhibitors and 200,000 visitors every year, the International and Gastronomic Fair is one of the ten most important fairs in France. www.dijon-expocongres.com
November – Beaune (Burgundy)
"Les Trois Glorieuses" - Prestigious three-day international Burgundy wine auction in the renowned 15th-century Hospices de Beaune, with events at the Clos de Vougeot and in Meursault. www.ot-beaune.fr
Mid November – France
"Fête du Beaujolais Nouveau" – Cities and towns throughout France celebrate the new wine on the day it’s released. Tradition dictates that massive barrels of Beaujolais Nouveau be pierced at midnight, releasing a torrent of wine for the thirsty. www.beaujolaisgourmand.com
December – Lyon (Rhône-Alpes)
"Festival of Light" - For over 150 years, the city’s residents place candles on their window sills and balconies in celebration of the season. Over the years, the festival has grown to include illuminations throughout the city. See Lyon transform and transcend by light. www.en.lyon-france.com
Contact: Katherine Johnstone
Tel: (212) 745-0966
katherine.johnstone@franceguide.com
France - Major Events for 2007
