Holiday Guides > What to visit > Festivals and Events in France
Festivals and Events in France
The French love a festival. So why not join them, and explore traditional and modern local events, fairs, festivals and celebrations during your next holiday to France.
Find out about all the wonderful events across France using our event guide below:
(N.B. Event dates are subject to change by the relevant tourist offices but were accurate at the time of being published on the website. We would advise you to contact the local tourist office before travelling.)
2013 festivals and events calendar
2012
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Disneyland Turns 20! - Paris
01 Apr 2012 - 31 Dec 2013
The Disneyland Paris park opened its doors on the 12th of April 1992. From the 1st of April, it is celebrating its 20th birthday in spectacular style.
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Disneyland Turns 20! - Paris
01 Apr 2012 - 31 Dec 2013
The Disneyland Paris park opened its doors on the 12th of April 1992. From the 1st of April, it is celebrating its 20th birthday in spectacular style.
-
Disneyland Turns 20! - Paris
01 Apr 2012 - 31 Dec 2013
The Disneyland Paris park opened its doors on the 12th of April 1992. From the 1st of April, it is celebrating its 20th birthday in spectacular style.
-
Disneyland Turns 20! - Paris
01 Apr 2012 - 31 Dec 2013
The Disneyland Paris park opened its doors on the 12th of April 1992. From the 1st of April, it is celebrating its 20th birthday in spectacular style.
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International Garden Festival - Loire Valley
24 Apr 2013 - 20 Oct 2013
The International Garden Festival is a colourful event, attracting over 150,000 people each year. Around 30 show gardens are featured in and around the château Chaumont-sur-Loire in this festival, comparable to the Chelsea Flower Show in the UK.
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Disneyland Turns 20! - Paris
01 Apr 2012 - 31 Dec 2013
The Disneyland Paris park opened its doors on the 12th of April 1992. From the 1st of April, it is celebrating its 20th birthday in spectacular style.
-
International Garden Festival - Loire Valley
24 Apr 2013 - 20 Oct 2013
The International Garden Festival is a colourful event, attracting over 150,000 people each year. Around 30 show gardens are featured in and around the château Chaumont-sur-Loire in this festival, comparable to the Chelsea Flower Show in the UK.
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French Open Tennis Championships - Paris
21 May 2013 - 09 Jun 2013
Number 2 grand slam tournament after the Australian Open, this is one of the most important hard court events.
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Les Voiles d'Antibes (Yacht Regatta) - Mediterranean
29 May 2013 - 02 Jun 2013
The atmosphere in Port Vauban and the old town of Antibes is not to be missed when the Voiles d'Antibes marks the grand opening of the Mediterranean Classic Yachts Regatta Season in Antibes. There will be cocktails, live music, barbecues and many other surprises onshore.
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Disneyland Turns 20! - Paris
01 Apr 2012 - 31 Dec 2013
The Disneyland Paris park opened its doors on the 12th of April 1992. From the 1st of April, it is celebrating its 20th birthday in spectacular style.
-
International Garden Festival - Loire Valley
24 Apr 2013 - 20 Oct 2013
The International Garden Festival is a colourful event, attracting over 150,000 people each year. Around 30 show gardens are featured in and around the château Chaumont-sur-Loire in this festival, comparable to the Chelsea Flower Show in the UK.
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French Open Tennis Championships - Paris
21 May 2013 - 09 Jun 2013
Number 2 grand slam tournament after the Australian Open, this is one of the most important hard court events.
-
Les Voiles d'Antibes (Yacht Regatta) - Mediterranean
29 May 2013 - 02 Jun 2013
The atmosphere in Port Vauban and the old town of Antibes is not to be missed when the Voiles d'Antibes marks the grand opening of the Mediterranean Classic Yachts Regatta Season in Antibes. There will be cocktails, live music, barbecues and many other surprises onshore.
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Cavalcade - La Rochelle
01 Jun 2013 - 02 Jun 2013
Two days of flamboyant celebration in La Rochelle's streets this summer. There will be fanfare, parades and music, brass bands, family entertainment and a party vibe.
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The Old Book Market - Aix-en-Provence
02 Jun 2013 - 02 Jun 2013
A delightful old book fair is held on the first Sunday of every month at Place de l'Hotel de Ville, in the historic, university town of Aix-en Provence.
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Brocante Market - Bergerac
02 Jun 2013 - 02 Jun 2013
Every month, in the attractive town square, Bergerac holds a traditional bric-a-brac fair. Popular with tourists as well as locals, come and discover a treasure for yourself.
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Festival de Marseille
19 Jun 2013 - 12 Jul 2013
This event is certainly worth visiting and making one of the high points of your holiday. It's a culture vulture's paradise, with performances ranging from contemporary dance, theatre and music to classic film.
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Carcassonne Festival - Aude
19 Jun 2013 - 03 Aug 2013
During the long, hot month of July the Carcassonne Festival takes place each year. The beautifully preserved medieval city of Carcassonne is always worth a visit - especially during this cultural feast.
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Le Mans 24-Hour Car Race - Sarthe
22 Jun 2013 - 23 Jun 2013
This event is massively popular, attracting owners and drivers from the most prestigious companies. The Le Mans 24-hour race tests the drivers' skill, the cars' performance and the endurance of both.
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Paris Gay Pride
29 Jun 2013 - 29 Jun 2013
This lively, colourful and flamboyant Paris Pride parade traditionally goes from Republique to Beaubourg via the Marais, but the exact route for 2013 is yet to be confirmed.
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Disneyland Turns 20! - Paris
01 Apr 2012 - 31 Dec 2013
The Disneyland Paris park opened its doors on the 12th of April 1992. From the 1st of April, it is celebrating its 20th birthday in spectacular style.
-
International Garden Festival - Loire Valley
24 Apr 2013 - 20 Oct 2013
The International Garden Festival is a colourful event, attracting over 150,000 people each year. Around 30 show gardens are featured in and around the château Chaumont-sur-Loire in this festival, comparable to the Chelsea Flower Show in the UK.
-
Festival de Marseille
19 Jun 2013 - 12 Jul 2013
This event is certainly worth visiting and making one of the high points of your holiday. It's a culture vulture's paradise, with performances ranging from contemporary dance, theatre and music to classic film.
-
Carcassonne Festival - Aude
19 Jun 2013 - 03 Aug 2013
During the long, hot month of July the Carcassonne Festival takes place each year. The beautifully preserved medieval city of Carcassonne is always worth a visit - especially during this cultural feast.
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Provençal Festival - Avignon
05 Jul 2013 - 26 Jul 2013
The local culture is still strong in this part of the country and Avignon celebrates its Provençal heritage during this three-week festival.
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Bayeux Medieval Festival
06 Jul 2013 - 07 Jul 2013
Every first weekend in July, Bayeux hosts its magnificent Medieval Festival. The town is filled with crazy jesters, acrobats, jugglers, fair damsels and brave knights.
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Radio France and Montpellier Festival
11 Jul 2013 - 25 Jul 2013
This huge annual event in Montpellier, organised by the city and Radio France, encompasses a wide variety of music and performance. The tone of the festival is one of youth and creativity, with a lot of new works by young composers and artists.
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European Festival of Fireworks - Paris
14 Jul 2013 - 14 Jul 2013
The Hippodrome in Le Touquet hosts this exciting festival where teams from France, Belgium, Spain, Portugal and Germany fight it out to generate the biggest and loudest oooooohs and aaahs.
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World Bridge Festival - Calvados
15 Jul 2013 - 28 Jul 2013
The Casino Barrière de Deauville is the venue for the annual World Bridge Festival, now in its 55th year. The attractive Norman coastal resort of Deauville welcomes around 400 pairs for this two week event.
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Festival de Cornouaille - Brittany
23 Jul 2013 - 28 Jul 2013
Concerts, street parades and street musicians bring the perfectly preserved medieval town of Quimper to life every July. Now in its 90th year!
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Disneyland Turns 20! - Paris
01 Apr 2012 - 31 Dec 2013
The Disneyland Paris park opened its doors on the 12th of April 1992. From the 1st of April, it is celebrating its 20th birthday in spectacular style.
-
International Garden Festival - Loire Valley
24 Apr 2013 - 20 Oct 2013
The International Garden Festival is a colourful event, attracting over 150,000 people each year. Around 30 show gardens are featured in and around the château Chaumont-sur-Loire in this festival, comparable to the Chelsea Flower Show in the UK.
-
Carcassonne Festival - Aude
19 Jun 2013 - 03 Aug 2013
During the long, hot month of July the Carcassonne Festival takes place each year. The beautifully preserved medieval city of Carcassonne is always worth a visit - especially during this cultural feast.
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Honfleur Jazz Festival
15 Aug 2013 - 19 Aug 2013
The bustling town of Honfleur in Normandy is to host its annual Jazz Festival from the 15th to the 19th of August. The festival, now in its 5th year, is part of the Jazz aux Greniers Festival. It welcomes a variety of Jazz artists, including some big names like Claude Bolling, Boby Durham and the Ladies Blues Trio.
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Disneyland Turns 20! - Paris
01 Apr 2012 - 31 Dec 2013
The Disneyland Paris park opened its doors on the 12th of April 1992. From the 1st of April, it is celebrating its 20th birthday in spectacular style.
-
International Garden Festival - Loire Valley
24 Apr 2013 - 20 Oct 2013
The International Garden Festival is a colourful event, attracting over 150,000 people each year. Around 30 show gardens are featured in and around the château Chaumont-sur-Loire in this festival, comparable to the Chelsea Flower Show in the UK.
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Festival Ile-de-France
07 Sep 2013 - 13 Oct 2013
This memorable festival is set in one of France's most popular regions. The Greater Paris Festival features contemporary music, literature, painting and circus performances. All attractions are staged in and around Paris in various abbeys, churches, chateaux and other interesting venues.
-
Disneyland Turns 20! - Paris
01 Apr 2012 - 31 Dec 2013
The Disneyland Paris park opened its doors on the 12th of April 1992. From the 1st of April, it is celebrating its 20th birthday in spectacular style.
-
International Garden Festival - Loire Valley
24 Apr 2013 - 20 Oct 2013
The International Garden Festival is a colourful event, attracting over 150,000 people each year. Around 30 show gardens are featured in and around the château Chaumont-sur-Loire in this festival, comparable to the Chelsea Flower Show in the UK.
-
Festival Ile-de-France
07 Sep 2013 - 13 Oct 2013
This memorable festival is set in one of France's most popular regions. The Greater Paris Festival features contemporary music, literature, painting and circus performances. All attractions are staged in and around Paris in various abbeys, churches, chateaux and other interesting venues.
-
Disneyland Turns 20! - Paris
01 Apr 2012 - 31 Dec 2013
The Disneyland Paris park opened its doors on the 12th of April 1992. From the 1st of April, it is celebrating its 20th birthday in spectacular style.
-
Disneyland Turns 20! - Paris
01 Apr 2012 - 31 Dec 2013
The Disneyland Paris park opened its doors on the 12th of April 1992. From the 1st of April, it is celebrating its 20th birthday in spectacular style.
-
Foie Gras Fair - Aude
01 Dec 2013 - 01 Dec 2013
This annual event sees Castelnaudary celebrating with a foie gras (goose fat) competition, market and fair. After the event which judges the year's finest fat, local restauranteurs offer a special cassoulet menu for visitors to experience.
