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If you’re interested in French culture, we highly recommend partaking in one of France’s many unique holidays. But there are fun festivals that might intrigue you, too! French festivals offer an exciting window into French culture and history. Watch the fireworks on Bastille Day to learn how France gained its independence or catch a show at Chorégies d’Orange in one of the best preserved Roman monuments in France.
To be ready to communicate with locals, check out our essential French words to know as you navigate through France. And if you want to feel even more confident speaking French, learn how Rosetta Stone works to help you become conversational in a matter of weeks!
1. Menton Lemon Festival
When: Feb. 15-Mar. 2, 2025
Where: Menton, near Nice
What to expect: La Fête du Citron is a 20-day French festival in Menton that celebrates the region’s specialty crop: lemons. It started in 1875 as a parade to liven up the dreary winter months. Today, it includes a wide variety of shows, arts and crafts workshops for all ages, cooking classes, garden tours, and more.
The main attractions are the ornate citrus-covered floats that parade through the streets. The entire surface area of every float is covered with lemons, oranges, and accompanying citrus fruits. Each float design corresponds to the festival’s theme for the year, which can be anything from Disney to Jules Verne.
Fun fact: The Menton Lemon Festival’s most iconic citrus mascot is named John Lemon.
2. Féria de Pentecôte (Pentecost Festival)
When: Pentecost (typically May or early June)
Where: Nîmes
What to expect: Féria de Pentecôte is a six-day Pentecost celebration that brings a vibrant clash of cultures together in the once-ancient Roman city of Nîmes. The events and activities are influenced by the Spanish city of Sevilla. From bull fights to Sevillian dancing and a parade known as a Pégoulade, the sights and sounds of Spain come alive in France. The exact dates change, but it always takes place 7 weeks after Easter.
What else can you find at the Nîmes Festival in France? So much. You’ll also see equestrian parades, flamenco shows, street food, and a giant music festival. Technically, there is the feria and the festival. The latter is about the music, while the feria is about all the fun cultural activities. Try both when you come!
Fun fact: The city of Nîmes has an ancient colosseum where the music festival is held, which will be an unforgettable experience to see, hear, and feel!
3. Nice Carnival
When: Feb. 15-Mar. 2, 2025
Where: Nice
What to expect: While towering lemon sculptures are taking over Menton, Nice is busy hosting a party of its own. Le Carnival de Nice is the largest winter event in its region and is one of many carnival celebrations around the world, from Brazil’s Carnival in Rio de Janeiro to Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
Though the earliest records of the Nice Carnival’s existence date back to 1294, an official committee for the festivities wasn’t established until 1873, according to the official Nice website. By 1876, the flower parades brought extra flair to the French festival. Today, street artists make up a huge portion of the color and pomp you’ll see. If you plan ahead, you can hit up the Menton Lemon Festival and the Nice Carnival since the dates usually overlap!
Fun fact: On any given year, the Nice Carnival uses 20 tons of confetti.
4. Fête de la Musique or EF Festival by VL
When: Annually, June 21
Where: 15th arrond. in Paris
What to expect: Fête de la Musique, also known as EF Festival by VL, is a newer music festival held in the 15th arrondissement in Paris. For one night, young Parisians and tourists head to the town hall and enjoy live music from international DJs and artists. It may not be the biggest music festival you’ll ever go to, but it’s part of a larger movement founded in 1982 by French Minister of Culture Jack Lang and composer Maurice Fleuret. They hoped to promote live music with free outdoor concerts. Another 120 countries, including 117 US cities, also celebrate with a music festival on World Music Day: June 21.
Fun Fact: “Fête de la Musique” is pronounced the same as the festival’s slogan, “Faites de la musique” (make music), making the name of the festival a play on words.
5. International Garden Festival in Loire Valley
When: Apr. 23-Nov. 3, 2024
Where: Domaine Chaumont-sur-Loire, south of Paris
What to expect: Since 1992, gardeners from around the world have competed for one of 30 spots in the annual French International Garden Festival. The displays in the Château de Chaumont gardens are open to the public from April to November for a small entry fee. Each year, the gardens are designed to correspond to a particular theme that can range from splendorous to whimsical.
The castle is absolutely picturesque and is filled with art you can explore to round out your visit. During the hottest summer months, cande light tours are available to enjoy the gardens at night, which makes for an especially romantic experience. If you’re touring the Loire Valley of France this year, be sure to stop by this château.
Fun fact: The chateau’s garden was designed by Prince de Broglie and was inspired by English design.
6. Sedan Medieval Festival
When: May 11-12, 2024
Where: Château Fort de Sedan
What to expect: How about a medieval festival on the grounds of an ancient French castle? This two-day spring event is a must-see for any history buff. The Middle Ages come to life with exhibits, entertainment, and demonstrations by skilled craftsmen. The fencing tournaments are an especially popular event at the Sedan Medieval Festival.
For those interested in buying gifts and souvenirs a wide variety of wares and food inspired by the era are available for purchase at the medieval market. Pony rides, craft workshops for children, and other family-friendly activities ensure that attendees of all ages enjoy this blast from the (very distant) past. Festival attendees can also get a discount on tickets to see the château.
Fun fact: The courtyard is often busy with medieval weddings during the festival, though couples can book weddings in a more private setting year-round.
7. Cannes Film Festival
When: May 13-24, 2025
Where: Cannes
What to expect: The Festival de Cannes is one of the most prestigious events in the film industry. Founded in 1946, this festival set out to rival the 1938 Venice festival that was pressured by fascism at the time. At a private vs. public screening, due to the breakout of WWII in 1939, The Hunchback of Notre Dame was the only film viewed at the first Cannes Festival.
Today, this exclusive film festival is invitation only. If you’re lucky enough to make it there, you’ll get a front row seat on an age-old tradition: audiences give a standing ovation for each film, the length of which is seen by some critics as a measure of the film’s quality.
Fun fact: Since 2001, the Palm Dog has been awarded to the best performance by a dog—live action or animated. Notable winners include Bruno from The Triplets of Belleville, Mops from Marie Antoinette, and Uggie from The Artist.
8. Paris L’été (Paris Summer Festival)
When: July 3-16, 2024
Where: throughout Paris
What to expect: Festival Paris L’été is a multi-day art and culture extravaganza that takes place in July. Every part of the city, from museums to schools, is transformed into spaces for performances and displays. There are over 20 artistic events across the city in total. Whether you’re a fan of theater, visual art, music, cabaret, or anything in between, there is something for you.
Fun fact: Until 8 years ago, the festival was called the Quartier d’Été festival.
9. Village International de la Gastronomie
When: Sept. 5-8, 2024
Where: on Quai Jacques Chirac near the Eiffel Tower
What to expect: The International Gastronomy Village is a fairly new festival, but it’s a must for any foodie. The festival welcomes food from over 60 countries so the tens of thousands of visitors can fill themselves with delicious international cuisine. Presentations are also held, with various topics like women in gastronomy, country spotlights, and all about cheeses.
10. La Fête Nationale (Bastille Day)
When: July 14
Where: All around France but especially Paris
What to expect: France’s Fête Nationale commemorates the storming of La Bastille on July 14, 1789, which is seen by most as the beginning of the French Revolution. In France, it is more commonly known as Quatorze Juillet (referring to the date) or La Fête Nationale, though many English speakers know it as Bastille Day.
The independence holiday is celebrated across the country, but the most iconic scenes take place in Paris. The banner event is a military parade down the Champs Elysées with a bleu, blanc et rouge (red, white, and blue) flyover by military jets. Fire stations in the city host dances, called Bals de Pompier (fireman’s balls) that are open to the public. Some are free to attend, others suggest a donation. You’ll also be treated to fireworks, music in parks, and free entry to museums. Other cities and towns host similar festivities but on much smaller scales. Public transportation may be spotty at best on this day.
Fun fact: Paris’ Fête Nationale parade is known to be Europe’s longest-running military parade.
11. Festival d’Avignon
When: July
Where: Palais des Papes, Avignon
What to expect: Since 1947, the Festival d’Avignon has been one of the largest art festivals in Europe. The inaugural festival took place when theater director Jean Vilar, art critic Christian Zervos, and poet René Char all hosted shows at the Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes) in Avignon during the same week. You’ll find events happening at over 30 venues. One that might interest intellectuals is an open-door invitation at the Ceccano library to discuss monumental works like Republic and The Odyssey.
Fun fact: The Palais des Papes, the flagship venue for Festival d’Avignon, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
12. Chorégies d’Orange
When: August
Where: Théâtre antique d’Orange
What to expect: Chorégies d’Orange is an annual opera festival that takes place in the ancient Roman theater in the city of Orange. The festival dates back to 1869 and is considered France’s oldest music festival! The venue where it takes place is also one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters in France, which feels like you could be inside a landmark in Rome. Over 10,000 attendees come from around the world to see the biggest names in opera in this historic, acoustically breathtaking space.
Fun fact: Chorégies comes from the Greek word for choir leader.
13. Salon du Chocolat (The Chocolate Fair)
When: Oct. 30-Nov. 3, 2024
Where: Paris Expo Center
What to expect: If you are a chocoholic, then the Salon du Chocolat is a French festival you can’t miss! In late October, the Paris Expo Center hosts the world’s largest exhibition dedicated to your favorite sweet. Over 700 chocolatiers, pastry chefs, and confectioners from all over the world gather to share their skills to delight your taste buds. You’ll find plenty of scrumptious chocolate to eat, demonstrations from the world’s best chocolate pros, cooking classes, and more. The festival ends by crowning the best chocolatiers in the world with the Chocolate Award.
Fun fact: The festival includes a chocolate fashion show where models display costumes made out of chocolate.
14. Fête des Lumières (Festival of Lights)
When: Dec. 5-8, 2024
Where: Lyon
What to expect:
Held annually in Lyon on December 8, Fête des Lumières is one of the most popular festivals in France. The origin story of the festival dates back to 1852, when the city installed a statue of the Virgin Mary during a time of unrest. The inauguration of the statue was postponed twice due to weather, with the second time occurring on December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
After the second cancellation, locals lit candles on their window sills and balconies in honor of the wish to light the Virgin Mary statue. The tradition of displaying candles on that night has continued ever since. In the 1960s, the festival evolved with window light competitions and lighting displays on local monuments. Today, the entire city is alight with mesmerizing colors and is an international spectacle.
Fun fact: Lyon’s traditions of honoring the Virgin Mary dates back even further than the statue inauguration. In 1643, the city’s leaders prayed to Mary to protect the city from the plague. The Lyonnais have thanked her ever since.
>> Learn about La Chandeleur, France’s holiday that’s also known as Crêpe Day!
Get to know the culture and festivals of France with Rosetta Stone
France’s wide variety of festivals are a testament to how much the culture has to offer. Experiencing events like these can open up the world for longtime Francophiles and novices alike. But attending these events isn’t the only way to get better acquainted with the country. A deeper knowledge of French requires immersion as well as cultural and historical context. That’s why Rosetta Stone goes above and beyond with real-world, culturally relevant exercises using our Dynamic Immersion method.