Major Festivals of France

1. LES FÊTES DE
FRANCE
Guided By ~ Presented By
~
Prof. Nitin Verma Isha Joshi
(MIB-I
Semester)

2. CANNES
FILM
FESTIVAL
The Festival de Cannes or
otherwise known by the
world as the Cannes Film
Festival is when the best
of the movie world gather
in the town of Cannes in
the French Riviera to join
the celebration. Numerous
films are showcased with
the creme de la creme
hoping to bag the
prestigious Palme d’Or
recognition.

3. BASTILLE
DAY
The 14th of July is a very special day
in France as it celebrates and
commemorates the storming of the
Bastille. Considered a salute to the
birth of French Democracy, Bastille
Day is one of France’s biggest national
holidays.
If you are in France during this day,
you can head over to the Place de la
Bastille where a huge dance party
takes place. Or you could go to
Champs-Elysées to witness the largest
military parade. Fireworks displays will
light up the French skies all over the
country and you can see this wherever
you are in France, but one shouldn’t
miss this day’s biggest attraction –
grand firework displays at the iconic
Eiffel tower.

4. FÊTE DE LA
MUSIQUE
Fête de la Musique also known as
Make Music Day is the ultimate
festival for you. Join over 100,000
party-goers and indulge in one epic
and unforgettable party. Held in June
every year during the solstice, Fête
de la Musique is a street festival
inviting you and everyone to dance,
sing, dine and drink. Not only is it a
great way to celebrate summer but
it’s an awesome opportunity for
amateur and seasoned musicians to
shine.
The festival is one lively big concert
with hundreds of musicians courting
the crowd with different tunes. From
jazz to rock, electronic to hip hop,
the French sure know how to party!
The best part? All the concerts are
FREE!

5. FESTIVAL
D’AVIGNON
Luring art lovers from across the
globe is the yearly arts festival
known as the Festival
d’Avignon. Not only is it one of
the oldest festivals but it is also
one of the best in the world.
Celebrated in the month of July
in the city of Avignon, tourists,
critics and enthusiasts flock to
the Popes’ Palace and other
locations in the city to attend the
annual festivities.
The Festival d’Avignon revels in
various forms of art including
dance, theatre, music and
cinema. In other words, it’s the
complete package.

6. NICE
CARNIVAL
One word: CARNIVAL! And not just
a carnival, but one of the best in
the world, alongside the Brazilian
and Venetian carnivals.
So even though summer is a
favourite holiday season in France,
the month of February is also a
great time to jet off to the country
to experience this one-of-a-kind
celebration in the town of Nice in
the French Riviera. Every day is a
joyous feast you won’t easily
forget. From day one to its closing,
the festival welcomes tourists with
grand parades and spectacular
fireworks. Added to the mix music
and dancing for the ultimate French
carnival experience.

7. PARIS
QUARTIER
D’ÉTÉ
If you’re visiting in Paris in
the summer months, the
Paris Quartier d’Eté festival
just might become the
highlight of your trip. The
event lasts for a month, is
mostly free, and takes place
in several venues around the
city. The festival is another
testament to the French’s
penchant for artistry and
joyous celebrations. Tourists
can expect various shows
and concerts including open-
air performances, theatrical
events and yes, even
circuses.

8. LES
CHORÉGIES
D’ORANGE
How does a summer opera
festival sound to you?
Interesting? If you are a fan
of opera, head over to
Orange which is around 21
kilometers north of Avignon.
This festival dates back to
1860 and features
performances which are
shown in an impressive
ancient Roman theater
serving as backdrop, and
complemented by an
acoustic stage.
The present format of the
Chorégies includes six
performances consisting of
operas and concerts.

9. TOUR DE
FRANCE
The Tour de France has been
an annual event since 1903
and was only cancelled
during the World Wars. To
date, it remains a prestigious
sporting event that is known
all over the world. The route
changes every year, but
some traditional elements
such as cycling through the
mountains of the Pyrenees
and Alps and the finish
in Champs-Élysées in Paris
remain the same.
If you want to witness a
world-renowned event such
as this one, check out France
on the month of July!