THE GUIDE FESTIVALS 2019/20 DISCOVER THE BEST OF THE FESTS…


Above and below: Le Carnaval de Nice; le Festival Interceltique de Lorient


“LA VIE EST FAITE DE PETITS BONHEURS”, as the saying goes. “Life is made of small pleasures”. And there are plenty of petits bonheurs to be enjoyed in France’s crowded events diary. The warmer months bring sun-soaked music festivals, beach parties and street carnivals, while autumn and winter see food take centre stage; from chocolate to chestnuts and everything in between. No matter what floats your boat, you are sure to find it in this land of plenty…


THE ARTS Carnaval de Nice Feb to March 2020 (Dates TBC) This two-week celebration leading up to Mardi Gras is a wondrous marriage of art, dance and music – and one of the Hexagon’s wildest bobby-


142 ❘ FRANCE TODAY Jun/Jul 2019


dazzlers. Entertainers don elaborate costumes and hundreds of flowers are thrown to spectators in the Bataille de Fleurs, but the parade – a procession of floats seating giant political parodies – is the main crowd-pleaser. After all, how could you resist a smile at Trump in full Pennywise-the-Dancing- Clown garb, clutching an unsuspecting Macron in his paw? (Even if it is the stuff of nightmares.) With ‘King of Cinema’ done and dusted, we await 2020’s ‘King of Fashion’ theme with baited breath. www.nicecarnaval.com


Festival Interceltique de Lorient August 2-11, 2019


As much a celebration of music as of local heritage, Brittany’s annual Celtic festival is a lively


IMAGES © JACQUES MULLER, CHRISTOPHE LOISEAU, CIDREETDRAGON.EU, SHUTTERSTOCK, VILLE DE NICE, FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL DE COLMAR


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