| Jan 1 |
New Year's Day |
France |
| Jan 6 |
Epiphany |
France |
| Feb 16-March 2 |
Nice Carnival (Mardi Gras, parades, flower processions, fireworks; www.nicecarnaval.com) |
Nice (Riviera) |
| March 11-30 |
Jazz Festival (www.jazzgrenoble.com) |
Grenoble (near Lyon) |
| March 23 |
Easter Sunday |
France |
| April 30-Oct 19 |
Festival of Gardens (www.chaumont-jardin.com) |
Chaumont-sur-Loire |
| May 1 |
Labor Day (parades, closures) |
France |
| May 1 |
Ascension Day (religious festival) |
France |
| May 8 |
World War II Victory in Europe (VE) Day (ceremonies, closures) |
France |
| May 11 |
Whitsun (Pentecost) |
France |
| May 12 |
Whit Monday (religious festival, closures) |
France |
| May 14-25 |
Cannes Film Festival (www.festival-cannes.fr) |
Cannes (Riviera) |
| May 22-25 |
Monaco Grand Prix (auto race; www.monaco2008.com) |
Monaco (Riviera) |
| June 6 |
Anniversary of D-Day Landing |
Normandy |
| June 14-15 |
Le Mans Auto Race (24-hour race, www.lemans.org)
|
Le Mans (near Loire Valley) |
| June 21 |
Music Festival ("Fête de la Musique," concerts and dancing in the streets; www.fetedelamusique.culture.fr) |
France (in mid-size to large cities) |
| July |
International Festival of Baroque Music (www.festivalbeaune.com)
|
Beaune (Burgundy) |
| July |
Jousting matches (spectacle équestre) and other medieval festivities |
Carcassonne |
| July |
Nights of Fourvière (theater and music in a Roman ampitheater, www.nuits-de-fourviere.org) |
Lyon (near French Alps) |
| July 2-14 |
International Music Festival (Festival International de Colmar, classical music; www.festival-colmar.com)
|
Colmar (Alsace) |
| July 5-27 |
Tour
de France (bike race, ends in Paris; www.letour.fr) |
France |
| July |
International Music and Opera Festival (www.festival-aix.com) |
Aix-en-Provence (Provence) |
| July |
Avignon Festival (theater, dance, music; www.festival-avignon.com) |
Avignon (Provence) |
| July 12-
Aug 5 |
Chorégies d'Orange Music and Opera Festival (performed in Roman
theater, www.choregies.asso.fr) |
Orange (Provence) |
| July |
"Jazz at Juan" International Jazz Festival (www.antibesjuanlespins.com) |
Antibes/Juan-les-Pins (Riviera) |
| July 14 |
Bastille Day (parades, fireworks, closures) |
France |
| Mid-July |
Nice Jazz Festival (www.nicejazzfest.com) |
Nice (Riviera) |
| Early Aug |
Alsatian Wine Festival |
Colmar (Alsace) |
| Aug 15 |
Feast of the Assumption (religious festival, closures) |
France |
| Late Aug-mid-Sept |
Jazz at La Villette Festival (www.villette.com) |
Paris |
| Sept |
Fall Arts Festival (Fête d'Automne) |
Paris |
| First weekend in Oct |
Grape Harvest Festival (in Montmartre, food, music, parade;
www.commanderiemont.com) |
Paris |
| Early Nov |
Dijon International and Gastronomic Fair ("Foire Internationale et Gastronomique"; 500 food and wine stands; www.dijon-expocongres.com) |
Dijon (Burgundy) |
| Nov 1 |
All Saints' Day (religious festival, closures) |
France |
| Nov 11 |
Armistice Day (ceremonies, closures) |
France |
| Nov 15-18 |
Wine Auction and Festival ("Les Trois Glorieuses") |
Beaune (Burgundy) |
| Late Nov- Dec 24 |
Christmas Markets |
Alsace |
| Dec 8 |
Festival of Lights (celebration of Virgin Mary, candlelit windows) |
Lyon (near French Alps) |
| Dec 25 |
Christmas |
France |
