French Festivals & Public Holidays |
 |
Planning your trip to see or participate in French Festivals or public holiday events can really boost your holiday’s success. So here is some useful information.
Public Holidays |
||
| January 1 | New Years Day | ||
| April | Easter Monday | ||
| May 1 | Labour Day | ||
| May 8 | Celebration of end of WW11 in Europe | ||
| May 21 | Ascension | ||
| July 14 | Independence Day “Bastille Day” | ||
| August 15 | Assumption | ||
| November 1 | All Saints’ day | ||
| November 11 | Armistice | ||
| December 25 | Christmas day | ||
| Most banks, administrative offices and businesses are closed on public holidays. However, many museums and restaurants open – possibly on a restricted hours basis. | |||
A Selection of Major Festivals in France:
France hosts over 100 festivals annually, some small and regional, others national in their significance. Whether your interest is in culture, history, gastronomy, music, sport or the arts, you can discover a festival, carnival, fair or special event that just may be a highlight of your itinerary.
A selection of French Festivals includes:
Month |
Location |
Festival/Event |
| May | Cannes | International Film Festival |
| Paris | French Open Tennis Tournament | |
| Monte Carlo | Formula 1 Grand Prix | |
| Vaison La Romaine | Georges Brassers Festival | |
| Sarlat | Journée du Terroir – 2 day local produce market | |
| June | Paris | French Open Tennis Tournament (continues) |
| Nationwide | Anniversary of “D Day” | |
| Strasbourg | International Music Festival | |
| Montpellier | International Dance Festival | |
| July | Nationwide | July 14th – Bastille Day |
| Vaison La Romaine | Vaison Dance Festival | |
| Dinan – Brittany | Fete des Remparts de Dinan | |
| Aix-en-Provence | International Arts & Music Festival | |
| Sarlat | Theatre Games Festival – one of France’s premier Drama Festivals | |
| Lille | “Carnaval Do Axe” | |
| Nationwide | Tour de France | |
| Juan-les-Pines | International Jazz Festival | |
| Souillac | “Sim Copans” International Jazz Festival | |
| Arles | “Les Rencontres Internationales” International photographic expose | |
| August | Orange | “Les Choregies d’Orange” Opera, concerts and oratorios |
| Monte Carlo | International Fireworks Festival | |
| Vaison La Romaine | Music in the Vineyards | |
| Libourne | Festival of Arts | |
| September | Dijon | International Folkloriade & Wine Festival |
| Médoc | Marathon | |
| Paris | “Technoparade” | |
| Beaune | “Jazz à Beaune” | |
| October | Nancy | Nancy Jazz Beat |
| Armagnac | Festival of Armagnac | |
| Lyon | “Fête de la Chataigne” (Chestnut fair) | |
| Paris | “Nuit Blanche” (White Night) City wide celebrations | |
| November | Beaujolais | Beaujolais Nouveau Release |
| Dijon | Dijon International Gastronomic Fair | |
| Troyes | ” Nuits de Champagne” 2 week long Music Festival | |
| December | Lyon | Festival of Light |
| Montbelliard | Lights of Christmas | |
| Paris/Strasbourg | Christmas markets | |
| Nationwide | Midnight Mass and “Réveillon” (late night feast) | |
| January | Sarlat | Truffle Festival (3rd week) |
| February | Sarlat | Fest’oire – celebrating geese with goose fair |
| March | Nice | Nice Carnival (Mardi Gras, parades and fireworks) |
| April | Chaumont-sur-Loire | International Garden Festival |
