Paris Grand Parade
Paris, France
January
www.parisparade.com
This annual festival in France is massive and very colorful.
Snow Polo
Courchevel, France
January
www.powderwhite.com
This event is great for those wanting an alternative when at the mountain
Festival de la Bande Dessinée
Angoulême, France
January
www.bdangouleme.com
This festival has been going for over 35 years now and it consists of professional drawing seminars and artist’s workshops. The main bulk of the exhibition will be devoted to a series of competitions and awards for current talent. This is an excellent festival for all those new cartoonists looking to make a mark.
International Circus Festival of Tomorrow
Paris, France
January
This annual festival in France is at the Paris Pelouse de Reuilly and it offers the chance to catch the world's finest circuses under one roof. The cream of the acrobatic crop comes together to perform in a spirit of friendly competition.
Retromobile Fair
Paris, France
February
This annual festival in France gives you the chance to discover a century of racing machines plus more than 300 cars, motorbikes, boats and collectors' toys.
Holiday on Ice
Paris, France
February
www.holidayonice-presse.com
This annual festival in France brings its show, festival to Paris with pyrotechnics, arcobatics and some spectacular choreography on ice.
Nice Carnival
Nice, France
February – March
www.nicecarnival.com
Located on the promenade of the city, this Carnival attracts thousands of people to see over 200 gigantic caricatures on floats throughout the city.
Strasbourg Carnival
Strasbourg, France
March
This French Carnival is all about the party time in Strasbourg. There are over 40 floats and 3000 entertainers that go through the town and its followed by live music and samba dancing.
Xbox Big Day Out
Val d’ Isère, France
March
This is a massive winter festival and is more than a decade old. It attracts more than 30,000 people annually and every snow boarder in the area turn out for the event.
Transalpine XS
Val Thorens, France
End of March
This festival has house and hip-hop playing on bars on the mountain.
Babel Med Music
Marseilles, France
March
www.dock-des-suds.org
Banlieues Bleues
Paris, France
March – April
http://www.banlieues-bleues.fr
Festival on Ice
Meribel, France
April
This six week festival attracts thousands of people.
Altitude Comedy Festival
Meribel, France
April
www.altitudefestival.com
This French festival attracts big name DJs and comedians and it’s all with the backdrop of the mountains.
Le Printemps De Bourges
Bourges, France
April
www.printemps-bourges.com
This French festival showcases more than 200 eclectric artists, this major music event is known for presenting the best new talent.
Balade Au Clair De La Lune Festival
Brittany, France
April – July
www.mama.musique.free.fr
Musiques Metisses
Angoulême, France
May
www.musiques-metisses.com
Les Nuits D’ Inde
Marseille, France
May
www.exodus-spectacle.net
Chaumont Garden Festival
Chaumont, France
May 15 – 19th
www.eurabbey.com/garden
This festival has 30 wonderful and sometimes wacky show gardens around a perfect chateau [castle], every year.
International Film Festival
Cannes, France
May
www.festival-cannes.com
This is a star studded event, as all the stars are here on the red carpet to promote European films.
French Open
Paris, France
May / June
www.fft.fr/rolandgarros
The French Open is one of the most important Grand Slam's on the tennis circuits. The question every year is who will conquer the clay this year? The Roland - Garros French Open is considered by many to be the most physically demanding on the professional tennis tour. The clay surface creates a slower pace of play which is a disadvantage to those relying on big serves.
One of the most famous and someone who always seems to flurish on the clay is Rafael Nadal. The crowd love great tennis and if you have a chance to watch some of games live you will be in for a treat.
Nuits Sonores
Lyon, France
May
www.nuits-sonores.com
This French festival attracts thousands annually
Fete de la Musique
Paris, France
June
www.fetedelamusique.com
This free event is a musical celebration that attracts thousands of people.
Festival Rio Loco
Toulouse, France
June
www.rio-loco.org
Festival Des Hauts De Garonne
Bordeaux, France
June
www.musiques-de-nuit.com
Les Suds A Arles
Arles, France
July
www.suds-arles.com
Festival de Marseille
Marseille, France
July 13th
www.festivaldemarseille.com
This is arts festival attracts some of the worlds most accomplished and innovative acts on the international dance and music scene.
Dinan International Harp Festival
Brittany, France
July
www.harpe-celtique.com
Festival De Cornouaille
Brittany, France
July
www.festival-cornouaille.com
Gay Pride
Paris, France
July
www.gaypride.fr
There are street parades throughout the major cities in the country.
Eurockeenes’ De Belfort
Belfort, France
July
www.eurockeennes.fr
Gilles Peterson Worldwide Festival
Sete Harbour, France
July
www.worldwidefestival.com
At this festival you have a chance to watch artists perform under the shadow of a huge lighthouse and is in an open air theatre, which is surrounded by rocks. The festival attracts some of the biggest bands from all over France and Europe.
Bastille Day
France
July 13 – 14
www.paris.fr
This is France’s Independence Day and throughout the country there will be parties, parades, and fireworks.
Festival d’ Avignon
Avignon, France
July
There are hundreds of street performers and other buskers, as this festival attracts thousands from around the world.
Festival of Giants
Douai, France
July
www.northernfrance-tourism.com
This annual Festival of the Giants in the French town of Douai is the largest event of its kind and features over 100 effigies that parade through the streets. The giants or 'gayants' are made from wickerwork to represent colourful characters from local legends.
The festival also features music, theatre and food stalls. The origins of the event date back to 1530 and are very much a part of the Flemish tradition of the region. The giants, including figures representing the devil and dragons, were banned in 1667 by the religious orders of the day and their use was intermittent over the next 200 years. The tradition has survived many bans and has become a great celebration and is now one of the most popular festivals in France.
Rock En Seine
Paris, France
August
www.rockenseine.com
This is one of the biggest festivals in Paris and it has attracted bands like Prodigy and Oasis in the past.
La Pourcailhade
Trie-sur-Baise, France
August
www.pourcailhade.com
This French festival you can watch the pig squealing championships, while enjoying eating a cooked pig sandwich. Also, there is a black-pudding contest for all you brave people.
The Song of Sailor Festival
Brittany, France
August
www.paimpol-festival.com
Festival Interceltique
Lorient, France
August
www.festival-interceltique.com
This event has Celts though out Brittany and the UK, as they come together for a huge celebration.
Groundswell Festival
Hossegor, France
September
www.groundswell-festival.com
This French event takes place in France's surf capital. It combines live music, surfing and beach parties. Instructors will be on hand to give surf lessons and yoga classes. The festival draws thousands annually and is worth a visit.
Le Printemps de Septembre Festival
Toulouse, France
September
www.printempsdeseptembre.com
This French Festival has taken place in Toulouse since 1991. The festival celebrates contemporary art in all manner of unusual venues. They have over 40 artists all around the city.
Grape Harvest Festival of Montmartre
Paris, France
October
This festival celbrates world-class wines from all over France. This is a free and one you don't want to miss.
Les Amis Du Vent
Calvi, France
October
www.lefestivalduvent.com
This festival has kites, balloons, hang-gliders and sculptures
Salon du Chocolat
Paris, France
October – November
www.chocoland.com
Africolor
Paris, France
November – December
www.africolor.com
Turkey Festival
Licques, France
December
This town in France is famous for its turkeys and every year they have a big cook up and party.
