Things To Do in France

Festival des Très Courts
France
May 2008

This event translates into the Festival of Short Shorts and features the screening of short films all less than three minutes! The programme features approximately 50 films and on the final night of the festival a jury will award prizes to the best films.

Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne Strawberry Festival
Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne
13 May 2008

Strawberries are everywhere during this day long event. Strawberry enthusiasts gather together to pay homage to the delectable fruit. At the festival you will find the fruit prepared in a variety ways. Watch as the festival tries to create a huge strawberry tarte that is devoured by the event goers once complete.

Guebwiller Wine Fair
Guebwiller
May 2008

Enjoy some of the finest wines that are produced in France at this fair. The Alsace region is famous for its Wine Road that weaves through its many small towns. Enjoy the many exquisite varieties of wine that are available during this event.

Fête de la Rose
Grasse
May 2008

This Rose Festival celebrates the brightly hued flower in all its glory. There are competitions for the best and most fragrant roses. Here you can expand your rose knowledge by attending the many lectures and museum events occurring during the festival.

The Ten Wave Festival
Lille
May – June 2008

This event is the highlight of the summer season in Lille. The season is over taken by live music and dancing in its various venues. There will be over 100 shows ranging from concerts, dance performances, and carnival events.

Kugelhopf Festival
Ribeauvillè
June 2008

At this event, visitors pay tribute to the specialty cake known as the Kugelhopf. The round cake is made with fruit bits and nuts and is dusted with confectioner's sugar. The popular breakfast item is enjoyed through out Europe and this event will provide you with plenty of opportunities to indulge in the sweet treat.

Cavalcade
La Rochelle
June 2008

The streets of La Rochelle are packed with partiers as this two day event hits the town each year. Be sure to catch the night parade where a large procession of colorful floats make their way down the streets of the city and enjoy all the great family entertainment that is on hand.

Jazzellerault Festival
Chatellerault
June 2008

Chatellerault plays host to this jazz event that draws thousands of visitors to the small town each year. Enjoy the sounds of professional musicians and you may even get the chance to play amongst these jazz greats during this festival.

Romantic Music Festival
Nohant
June 2008

Enjoy the sounds of romantic era composers during this series of piano concerts. The event is held at the house of 19th century novelist, George Sands. The concerts are held weekend nights during the month of June each year.

Midsummer Fireworks
Paris
June 2008

Each year Parisians celebrate the longest day of the year with an exciting fireworks display. The streets are line with hundreds of spectators as the colorful pyrotechnics displays shoot into the air.

Bordeaux Fête le Vin
Bordeaux
26 June - 29 June 2008

A four day festival devoted to all things wine, the Fête le Vin, occurs in Bordeaux each year to showcase this wine capital of France. Sip a variety of wines along the river Garonne or participate in one of the many short tasting workshops presented by local vineyards.

Anjou Theatre Festival
Angers
9 June - 5 July 2008

A wide variety of performances by various playwrights will please any theater goers during this festival. You will see both modern and classical pieces that both children and adults can enjoy in front of the region's beautiful monuments.

Red Fruit Fair
Noyon
July 2008

Local producers of cherries, strawberries, raspberries, and loganberries come together to showcase their harvest at the Cathédral de Noyon. A prize is offered to the best display of red fruits; while visitors can peruse jams, compotes, syrups, and sauces available for purchase.

Bastille Day Celebrations
Paris
14 July 2008

Celebrate the largest, most important national holidays in France: Bastille Day. Commemorating the fall of the Bastille fortress and beginnings of democracy in Western Europe, Bastille Day is an important event to attend. Head into a fire service station where firefighters host parties, or dance the night away in Bastille square. A large military parade led by the President marches along the Champs-Elysées from L'Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde, so you will want to arrive early for the best view.

Théâtre en Été
La Rochelle
19 July - 26 July 2008

The week-long summer Theater festival held in La Rochelle includes many different examples of performance art including classic plays, improvised and stand-up comedy, contemporary dance, street entertainers and even puppet shows for children.

International Marionette Festival
Mirepoix
31 July - 4 August 2008

The puppet takes center stage for this festival in the rural inlands of southern France. With performances both inside and outside, a wonderful experience can be had regardless of weather conditions.

Moonlit Cinema in Paris
Paris
6 August - 24 August 2008

In an open air setting, Parisian neighborhoods present free films in almost every quartier of Paris. Following a central theme of European cinema, many different examples of European films are shown throughout the city in quaint outdoor settings.

Medieval Spectacle
Carcassonne
July - August 2008

Steeped in medieval history, Carcassonne is the perfect location for the annual Medieval Spectacle, which showcases jousting, fencing, acrobatics, exhibitions and recitals. Much of the city is unchanged and preserved, so you will be sure to have an authentic medieval experience.

Poitiers Heritage Days
Poitiers
13 September - 14 September 2008

During this weekend, Poitiers opens up monuments and historic sites that are normally closed to the public. Walk among the ancient ruins of Poitou, a former capital city, and view Baptistère Saint-Jean, one of the oldest churches in France. A number of lesser-known landmarks and sites are available to the public only for this event.

Pottery Festival
Malicorne
September 2008

The center of town fills with potters from around France displaying their wares and selling their works. Artisans also give pottery and firing demonstrations to spectators, using the same high quality clay the region has offered for over 250 years.

Apple Fair
Vimoutiers
October 2008

Thousands of visitors flock to the Apple fair to eat apples, drink cider, and enjoy all things apple. The apple literally takes center stage in Vimoutiers during this festival, with a theatrical set made entirely from apples serving as a background for performance. Be sure to do as the Normans and enjoy a glass of calvados, or apple liqueur, with your evening meal.

Paris International Boat Show
Porte de Versailles
December 2008

Water activity enthusiasts, for any water activity, must attend this enormous show featuring over 31 sectors of the boating industry. Featuring more than watercraft, the boat show also caters to non-boaters with exhibits for wake boarders, water skiers, and even travelers to water destinations.