THE BEST FESTIVALS AND EVENTS IN FRANCE

THE BEST FESTIVALS AND EVENTS IN FRANCE

Narrowing down the list of the best festivals & events in France to just 20 is always a challenge. With its rich landscape, history, traditions and gastronomy, France offers many opportunities to enjoy a fun day out. Add to that the national spirit of celebration and you get an incredible calendar of events across the country.

So we set out with the premise of including something for everyone and covering almost everywhere in France. This means that wherever you plan to spend your next holiday in France, there will be an amazing event nearby according to apopkarotaryfair.org!

La Grande Odyssee Savoie Mont Blanc

One of our picks starts the year at minimum temperature and maximum altitude. The annual Grande Odyssée challenges the world’s best mushers and their sled dog teams to a tough 10-stage competition. Taking place across 22 ski resorts in Savoie and Haute Savoie, the snowy Odyssey covers a distance of 384 km with each stage covering a large variation in altitude. Mushers can choose to race against 6 to 10 dogs as they compete for a huge prize of €10,000 and prizes and the honor of being named one of the best in the world.

La Folle Journée

France is famous for its music festivals and La Folle Journée held annually in Nantes is among the best. The 5-day event aims to bring classical music to everyone so that around 250 concerts are wallet-friendly or, better yet, free of charge. Each year has a different theme: in 2023 it is Ode to the Night.

Fête du Citron

Winter is anything but boring in Menton on the Mediterranean coast near the Italian border. For two weeks from mid-February, the city celebrates one of France’s most exciting events with the Lemon Festival. Some 145 tons of citrus fruit (oranges and lemons) form part of the sculptures in Blovès Park while the Corsos des Fruits d’Or parade on Sunday offers a lemony spectacle of dance, music and acrobatics.

Mulhouse Carnival

Although Carnival in France doesn’t compare to Brazil’s, it’s still a great opportunity to experience a bit of winter joie de vivre. The beautiful city of Mulhouse in Alsace-Lorraine celebrates Carnival in style with fun-filled weekend celebrations. The weekend after Shrove Tuesday includes a colorful parade with floats, music and dancing with the King and Queen of Carnival as guests of honour.

Normandy Impressionist Festival

The Normandy Impressionist Festival pays homage to one of the world’s favorite art genres with five months of celebrations. Many events took place in Caen and Rouen with Monet’s home in Giverny also taking center stage. Expect exhibitions, dance and literary performances, as well as son et lumière performances. The event is now held every 4 years, and the next will be held in 2024.