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 31st July 2010
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 Languedoc-Roussillon Events 2010Listings of the unmissable events across the region for 2010Start planning your year ahead in the region with our guide to the unmissable cultural and sporting highlights in 2010 across the Languedoc-Roussillon: from the Tour de France to the International Photojournalism Festival, from the traditional Fecos Carnival to one of the largest Fireworks display in Europe! For more detailed information about these events and to confirm dates, please contact the Languedoc-Roussillon tourism agency or local tourist offices. The Cavalcade of the Kings, Perpignan : 9th January Traditional celebration of the arrival of the Three Magi with a parade and festivities. Flamenco Festival, Nîmes: 9th – 22nd January Nîmes' Flamenco Festival, held throughout town, is both a fiery and subtle affair. Fecos de Limoux Carnival, Limoux: 10th January – 21st March The annual Carnival is a tradition that has been followed for centuries, where over a series of Saturdays and Sundays different masked and costumes “guilds” parade through the town three times a day playing music, singing songs and playing pranks (all conducted in the ancient Occitan language). The torch lit evening procession, however, is more sombre and mystical. This year, the main highlight is on Sunday 8th March when all the groups parade, a total of around 500 ‘Carnavaliers’ and 90 musicians! Truffle Day, Uzes: 17th January Spend the day in Uzes sampling local truffles which are celebrated at this special market day, with local restaurants serving truffle based dishes too! Christian Festival of Film, Montpellier: 24 - 31 January Not to be confused with a festival of Christian cinema, Montpellier's Christian Festival of Film, held at venues across town, showcases films with an important moral or spiritual message. 13th Festival of British Film and Cinema, Nimes: 5th – 14th February As well as an exciting programme of the current crop of new releases from Britain, there will be two themes: the ‘Free Cinema’ movement of the 1950s and 1960s, which includes some of the work of the famous directors Tony Richardson and Lindsay Anderson ; and the British films of the second World War, 1939-1945, both documentary and fiction. Vinisud 2010, Montpellier: 22nd – 24th February With more than 1 650 exhibitors present this year, VINISUD revels in all the wealth and the diversity of Mediterranean wines and spirits. Festival de l’Ours, Prates-de-Mollo-la-Preste : 14th – 16th February An idiosyncratic and ancient festival and carnival in the Pyrenees Mountains celebrating the bear. Itinerances Film Festival, Ales: 19th – 28th March Enjoy pre-premiers, director’s cuts, animations, documentaries and short films at this increasingly popular film festival. Toques & Clochers Wine Event, Couiza: 27th - 28th March The 21st Toques & Clochers wine festival will be held in the town of Couiza south of Carcassonne, over the weekend of the 27th - 28th March 2010. The festival, celebrating and promoting the chardonnay wines of the region, is an important date each year for local wine producers and international wine buyers. For the rest of us the festival is simply a good old-fashioned knees up! Festival of Sacred Music, Perpignan: 26th March – 3rd April A festival celebrating sacred music from across the world, with an accompanying series of debates, guided visits of local churches and exhibitions. Holy Easter Week and the Sanch Procession, Perpignan: 2nd April This important Christian tradition is celebrated in Perpignan with the sombre Sanch Procession - penitents dressed in black and red hooded robes walk to the rhythm of black-veiled drums and melancholic chanting behind carved sculptures representing scenes from the Passion of Christ - a beguiling sight. La Grande Ourse Teddy Bear Festival, Arpaillargues: 4th April A brilliant day out for the kids, visit Arpaillargues where the local Museum of Trains and Toys organises an annual teddy bear festival: around 80 artists and creators set up stalls selling their wares, as well as offer workshops and demonstrations of how teddy bears are made. Jazz Festival, Carcassonne: 27th – 30th April If you’re into Jazz then you can’t afford to miss this event - five evenings of dedicated Jazz gigs which take place in the recently restored Chapelle des Jésuites which benefits from ideal acoustics, and the final night is at the Théatre Jean-Alary. Confrontation Film Festival, Perpignan: 8th - 14th April In 1965 Marcel Oms choose the notion of "Confrontation" to describe this original thematic festival. The festival lasts a week, during which time a selection of about fifty films linked by a particular theme are screened. The aim is to ‘confront’ their approach to the theme, be it a period in history or a specific genre, in order to establish a dialogue between the audience and specialists and to create a dynamic film culture. The theme for 2010 will be “The Arts on Screen”. International Festival of Extreme Sports - Nokia FISE, Montpellier: 12th - 16th May The annual Nokia Fise Montpellier festival (the biggest extreme sports gathering in Europe) hosts the best riders in the world today, challenging the laws of gravity on roller-blades, skateboards, BMX, wakeboards, freestyle motocross, and, believe it or not, on skis and snowboards – with real snow! After the competition, slide into evening concerts with top DJs... Museum Night: 15th May Museums across the region join in this national open day, allowing visitors free access from 7pm to 1am.  The Transhumance, Aubrac: May Every year, usually on the Sunday after Ascension Day, troupes of the Aubrac livestock are lead up to high pastures for the summer months. The event is cause to celebrate and has progressed into a very important livestock fair and agricultural show in the region, with artisan produce, prize-giving and traditional festivities. Saperlipopette, voila enfantillages ! (Heavens, what childishness!), Montpellier: May Set in the delightful atmosphere of the Château d’Ô, a combination of theatre, music, dance, circus, street theatre, arts and crafts, and all disciplines of live entertainment for the enjoyment of children and parents alike - in Montpellier and then on tour in the region. Sand Sculpture Festival, Cap d'Agde: May For massive sand castles and sculptures of all shapes and sizes, enjoy an alternative day out at the beach this year! Feria de Pentecote, Nimes: 19th May – 24th May World-famous bullfighting event and street fiestas at the Arenes de Nimes in celebration of Pentecost. Printemps des Comediens, Theatre festival, Montpellier: 3rd – 7th June This extremely popular and varied festival stages a series of outstanding theatre events, circus entertainment, and world culture. Every year, thousands of spectators are moved and inspired by the festive atmosphere, extraordinary performances, and boundless imagination. International Dance Festival 2010, Montpellier: 18th June - 7th July For its 30th festival season, Montpellier Dance is expected once again to be the ultimate gathering spot for all dance styles from all cultures. Over 300 companies and the world's greatest international choreographers will be present to stage innovative performances for all to enjoy. Festival de Carcassonne, Carcassonne: 19th June – 15th August This year Carcassonne has rebranded its two annual festivals as the Festivals de Carcassonne, with as usual an eclectic line-up of opera, dance, theatre, circus and music events in the atmospheric surrounds of the medieval Cité and the Bastide. 2010 highlights include performances by Bob Dylan, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Mika, Jacques Dutronc, Jamiroquai, Simple Minds, The Cranberries and productions include Carmen and Romeo & Juliet. There are also 75 concerts and shows which are absolutely free! A superb mix of genres and venues - visitors can really get a feel for the breadth and passion of contemporary French culture, and all that Carcassonne has to offer! La Nuit des Jardins Festival, Nimes: 22nd June - 3rd July A series of jazz and classical music concerts, ballets, operettas and recitals organised in the beautiful Fontaine gardens. Summer Evening Markets, across the region: July and August A lovely particularity about this region is the summer evening market held in towns and villages all over Languedoc-Roussillon. A chance to buy some local wine and freshly cooked food, see what local artisan’s and craft makers are doing and sometimes enjoy live music too. Ask at your local town hall or tourist office about the nearest evening market to you. St Peter's Festival, Sète: 1st - 5th July The fishermen’s festival, this is a very popular event in Sète. On Friday evening the statue of the patron saint of fishermen, St Peter, is perched on a boat carried in procession by fishermen from the chapel of the Penitents Décanale to Saint Louis. The procession is followed by the children of fishermen in traditional costume. On Sunday, a procession of trawlers carry the statue of St Peter, out of the port to pay tribute to those who have been lost at sea. Over the weekend a fun fair and traditional games is held at the marina and the Old Port. Les Estivales - Summer Festival, Perpignan: 3rd – 30th July The summer festival in Perpignan was created in 1987 to showcase Mediterranean culture through theatre, dance, music and song. Over the years the line-up of participating artists and performers have come from further and further afield, making the Estivales an important international event - this year includes performances by Vanessa Paradis, Alain Souchon and Salif Keita. Festival de Nîmes, Nîmes: 4th – 24th July Complementing the classic and jazz music festival, this is the Nimes summer highlight for popular music: highlights of the 2010 programme are performances by Stevie Wonder, Pink, ZZ Top, Mike, Jamiroquai, Florence and the Machine, Jacques Dutronc and Mark Knopfler. Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Festival, Sète: 8th - 11th July A 4-day clubbing marathon created by BBC Radio 1 DJ Gilles Peterson and described as an “explosion of cutting edge grooves by the best of today's inspired artists” culminating in a mammoth 16-hour beach party on Sète's best private beach on the last day! Les Déferlantes, Argelès-sur-Mer: 9th - 12th July Following two years of unprecedented success this excellent pop music festival hosted in the coastal town of Argelès-sur-Mer has grown in size and venues with both French and international performers including Iggy Pop, Patti Smith, Suzan Vega, Jacques Dutronc, Deep Purple and more! Féria de Céret, Céret: 10th and 11th July Bull running festival with street entertainment and bodegas. Soirees Pyrotechniques, Le Cap d'Agde: 10th - 14th July Cap d'Agde stages five nights of glorious firework action to rival any in the world - the annual Soirées Pyrotechniques. Every year, villagers and tourists alike gather together to marvel at skies of fire. Fantastic displays fill the night as the numbers of "ooohs" and "aaahs" reach epidemic proportions. The Radio France Festival, Montpellier: 12th - 30th July Festival is unique in its eclectic and daring musical programming. Originally presented as a classical music festival, it has truly distinguished itself from other festivals by expanding its offer to include all kinds of music: opera, symphony, jazz, electronic music, reggae, world music, film projections, conferences, lectures and master-classes with more than 100 concerts programmed in Montpellier, its suburbs and across Languedoc-Roussillon. Jazz Festival, Sète: 12th -17th July A festival that has become over the years, thanks to the dedication of Louis Martinez and his team, a major summer event for jazz fans in the south of France. Les Nuits de Sel, contemporary dance festival, Aigues-Mortes: 12th – 13th July Within the atmospheric walls of the fortified town of Aigues-Mortes this two-day festival celebrates contemporary dance with the featured highlights being performances by the Béjart Ballet Lausanne and the Murray/ Brosch Productions dance companies. Festa d’Oc, Béziers: 13th – 18th July Various concerts, street bodegas and entertainment in Béziers, celebrating tolerance for all cultures.  Fireworks at the Cité, Carcassonne: 14th July Bastille Day in Carcassonne is celebrated like no other in France - they quite literally fire up the medieval Cité with the most incredible fireworks display! The legendary display - in part a commemoration of the original burning of the Cité in 1898- is one of the largest in Europe, lasting 25 minutes and culminating in 1200 charges detonated over the 600 metres of the Cité’s facade in just 6 seconds! But visitors beware - with over 700,000 spectators Carcassonne gets very, very busy. It’s best to be in Carcassonne already on the day - make a picnic, set yourself up on the banks of the River Aude and wait for the show to start (at about 11pm). Fireworks, most cities, big towns, and even some small villages: around the 14th July A number of fireworks displays take place across the region and France to celebrate France’s national day, Bastille Day - ask at your local tourist office or town hall for more details; note that not all local displays happen on the 14th, some of them are on days either side. Tour de France 2010, Lozère and Aude departments: 16th and 18th July The 12th stage sees the tour riding from the city of Bourg-de-Péage in the Drôme department, across the hilly countryside of the Massif Central, into the Languedoc-Roussillon in the department of Lozère, and ending in the city of Mende. The tour reappears in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in the 14th stage when passes through the western extremities of the Aude department – a challenging mountain stage starting in Revel, heading down through Castelnaudary, towards Plavilla, heading briefly out of the region through Mirepoix and then back into the Aude to Chalabre, then across to Espéraza before heading over to Quillan, through the stunning Gorges de Pieres Lys, before heading up into the Pyrenees at Axat, crossing the southern perimeter of the Plateau de Sault before ending in Ax-les-Thermes! Festival de Sardanes, Céret: 23rd – 25th July A celebration of Catalan culture and heritage with traditional sardanes dances, conferences and entertainment. Tradition Sea Festival, Cap d’Agde: 24th - 25th July This traditional festival at Le Cap d’Agde honours those lost at sea and features music, nautical jousting competitions, mass and a ceremony on the water. The Marvejols/ Mende Semi-Marathon, Mende: 25th July This event attracts three to five thousand runners every year. The semi-marathon Marvejols/ Mende is one of the most famous and challenging road races in France. Fiest'à Music Festival, Sète: 25th July – 7th August Festival of world music which starts up with smaller concerts in venues around the Thau Lagoon before returning for the grande finale at the Théâtre de la Mer in Sète. This year’s headliners include the Gotan Project, Salif Keita and Angelique Kidjo. Pablo Casals Festival, Prades: 26th July - 13th August More than 50 years old, the Pablo Casals festival is one of the most respected chamber music festivals in Europe. The organisers consistently attract soloists and groups of the highest quality to perform in the beautiful abbey of Saint-Michel de Cuxa and other churches in the Prades area. Fireworks, La Cap d’Agde: 6th,15th and 20th August Amazing fireworks displays at various locations at this top Mediterranean resort. Fête Votive, Uzès: 6th - 11th August Numerous bull running events including the abrivado, bandido and encierro events, along with live music, boules competition and street theatre. Feria de Béziers, Béziers: 11-15th August The famous bullfighting event sees tens of thousands of people flock to Béziers for five days of street parties celebrating local traditions, with a lively programme of Catalan, salsa, groove and R&B music concerts (Kid Creole & the Coconuts amongst the headliners), flamenco shows, equestrian display shows, parades, and – of course – bullfighting corridas. Saint-Vincent Festival, Collioure: 14th - 18th August The town of Collioure celebrates its patron, Saint-Vincent, with a five-day festival. The Catalan Procession on the sea is the highlight of the celebrations and music fills the streets. Further highlights include bullfights in the new local arena and firework displays. Saint-Roch Festival, Montpellier: 15th - 16th August City tours dedicated to Saint-Roch with the tourist office guides, liturgical events, street events (shows on the life of Saint-Roch, exhibitions, medieval concerts) visit to the Saint-Roch wells (the house where he was born) and distribution of water to pilgrims. Saint-Louis's Festival and Nautical Jousting, Sète: 18th - 24th August Saint-Louis is the patron saint of Sète and its famous nautical jousters. Over 70 street shows, bodegas and entertainment cover the streets of Sète, of course, the grand rendezvous is the iconic nautical jousting tournament which is like nothing you’ve ever seen before! Saint-Louis Festival, Aigues-Mortes: 20th - and 22nd August In the medieval town of Aigues-Mortes, the anniversary of the arrival of Saint-Louis is cause for celebration, and is re-enacted in colourful pomp, complete with horses and followers of all ranks. A medieval tavern is erected in the town centre, offering local delicacies like fish with rouille sauce or a traditional bull stew. Southern Cultures Week, Carcassonne: 19th – 22nd August In the last week of August Carcassonne goes fiesta crazy, with a number of free entry concerts: salsa, rai music, flamenco, Occitan music, tango, accordion music, marching bands, Sevillana dance. There are also fifty street bodegas serving serve food, drink and a good time! Cassoulet Festival, Castelnaudary: 23rd - 29th August A chance for gourmets to revel in this much celebrated local stew! Visa Pour l’image, Perpignan: 28th August - 12th September Every year Perpignan plays host to this international photojournalism exhibition, symposium and awards ceremony, with photographic work displayed from over 3000 accredited photographers. Reporters and journalists representing over 50 countries, showcase their work and liaise with their counterpart. Visitors can enjoy a wealth of thought-provoking work on display The Medieval Market, Perpignan: mid September A reconstruction of a typical medieval market, with roast hogs on spits, minstrels, jesters and wenches to boot - the people of Perpignan go back to their roots and enjoy hearty local delicacies and wines accompanied by courtly music and street theatre. Feria des Vendages, Nimes: 16th – 19th September In celebration of the wine harvest, two days of bullfighting contests and street celebrations at the Arenes de Nimes. Jazzebre Festival, Perpignan: October Various jazz gigs and concerts around Perpignan. International Fair, Montpellier: October A major economic event in the region, the Montpellier International Fair plays host every year to more than 230,000 visitors and 1,000 exhibitors at the renovated Parc des Expositions. EQUISUD Horse Show, Montpellier: October For riders, breeders, and horse lovers. Covering 50,000 m2, including 13,000 m2 of arena space, the show offers a full range of competitions and championships, along with very impressive free shows. A rich programme of shows and events. Fete Des Vendanges, Banyuls-sur-Mer: 3rd week of October Gastronomic and wine events celebrating the year's grape harvest including the arrival of the barques catalanes (traditional Catalan boats) into the bay and then the vendanges ball in the village square. It is a week full of food, wine, traditional tastings, music and dancing. Festival of the Vin Primeur, across the region: mid-October Local wine producers take to the streets of cities, towns and villages across the region to celebrate the first barrel of wine with processions, wine-tasting, music and food! International Mediterranean Film Festival, Montpellier: October/November For the past 30 years, Montpellier has hosted this main event on the Mediterranean film scene, with an agenda that includes 250 films, competitions, tributes, retrospectives, encounters-debates, and a viewing audience of over 90,000 people! Nimagine Arts and Crafts Fair, Nimes: November Nearly 200 local arts and crafts artisans and artists are represented at this annual fair which showcases original and innovative pieces of furniture, interior decor, home furnishings, ceramics, light fittings, accessories and jewellery Antiques Fair, Nimes: December For antiques lovers, this is definitely one for the diary - one of the most prestigious regional antiques fairs featuring some 110 professional stands and expert dealers. Foire au Gras, Castelnaudary: December The capital of cassoulet stew, Castelnaudary celebrates its essential ingredient with a goose fat competition, gourmand market selling local delicacies and dance. Christmas Festivals, all the major regional cities: December There are a number of traditional Christmas markets across the region's towns and cities and the larger cities offer up various forms of entertainment, including an open-air ice-skating rink in Carcassonne and appearances by Père Noel everywhere! Events in Languedoc Roussillon Home Page |
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        • some images courtesy of David Muscroft |
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