Whats On

Throughout the year, there are music and dance festivals, firework displays, fayres, fetes, wine fairs, markets and brocantes to keep you amused,  listed below are a number of large annual events which should not be missed!     

 2012

Bande dessinee d'Angouleme:    27 - 30 January.    Talks, shows, films & exhibitons relating to comic striip art. www.bdangouleme.com

La Fete du Mimosa:  St Trojan les Bains. il d'Oleronne:     17 - 19 February.    A weekend celebrating the arrival of spring and the Mimosa.  Parade,with music,decorated floats and tourist train.  www.lafetedumimosa.com

National Open Garden Days:  June.  Regional garden festival with many public and private gardens open for visitors

National day dedicated to live music:    21st June.   All performances are free and typically take place in the open air - streets, squares, parks and national monuments

 Bordeaux Wine Fair 28th June - 1st July.  Set beside the quayside a 4 day extravaganza of wine workshops, wine tastings, music and firework displays www.bordeaux-fete-le-vin.com

 Nuits Romaines 30th June - 1st September.  During the summer months, music and dance events are held throughout the region at a number of Romanesque heritage sites   www.nuitsromanes.poitou-charentes.fr 

Blues Passions:   3- 8 July.   International music festival which takes over the town of Cognac for a week.  There are numerous music venues with ticketed performances by big names, but in addition most of the  squares, restaurants and bars turn themselves over to free live music performances.This year The Cranberries, Hugh Laurie & Sting will be amongst the line up.  www.bluespassions.com

Fete du Cognac:   26-28 July.  4 nights of live music, and food served alongside the quays in Cognac hosted by the winegrowers equivalent of the Young Farmers.  www.lafeteducognac.fr

Bastille Day:  14 July.   The french National Holiday - most towns organise celebrations.  The best in the area is the firework display alongside the river Charente in Jarnac, following which, there is dancing in the town centre 

Violons sur le Sable:   21, 24 & 27 July.   Hugely popular classical concerts set on the beach at Royan.  Borrow our seats/rugs and a picnic and enjoy fantastic performances, the evening ends with a firework finale choreographed to the music.   www.violonsurlesable.com

 Festival International d'art pyrotechnique   July.  St Palais sur Mer is the place to be to watch the annual international festival of pyrotechnics, with competitors from all over the world.  This event attracts crowds  of up to 40,000.   

Abbaye Fontdouce:   August.   Classical recitals, Jazz and swing performances set in the cloisters and gardens of this beautiful old abbey. You can buy a picnic on site. www.fontdouce.com

Confolens Dance Festival:   August.   A street fesitival bringing together dancers and musicians  from around the globe offering a scheduled series of shows and parades.  

Pyrosymphonique:   August.   Fireworks set to music, as a local fairytale is recounted.  Fireworks are launched from the beach and barges moored at sea to make this a spectacular event  www.royan-tourisme.com

Coupe de Chauffe:  September.   A street arts festival that takes over the streets and main park in Cognac, the first weekend in September.  Everything from puppets, stilt walkers, comedians, magicians, dance and circus performers. 

La Rochelle Boat Show:   September.    Porte Plaissance de Minimes,  The 5th largest boat show on water, in the world, brings together manufacturers and salesmen from around the world.  Demonstrations, events and fireworks add to the atmosphere throughout the wee.

Cognac Marathon:   November.    Increasing in popularity every year, our local marathon offers competitive, fun and family runs over a variety of distances.  The event also offers a food village,  muscia and a country walk on the Sunday.  www.marathonducognac.net

Les Gastronomades, Angouleme:    November.    Everything for the foodie.  Set in various locations across the town, there are exhibitions, demonstrations, the sale of local produce, cooking contests and courses.  www.gastronomades.fr

Bordeaux Christmas Market:  December.   Starting the last Saturday in November, every week until Christmas. Visit the log cabin stalls, selling crafts, specialist food & wine and other goodies. Admire the fantastic christmas lights, and explore the beautiful shops   www.bordeaux-tourisme.com