THE GUIDE WINTER 2024/25


Fête du Citron. Attracting more than 200,000 visitors every year, it stages daytime parades, evening parades, craft fairs, an orchid festival and a display of mind-blowing fruit-based sculptures – all centred around glorious citrus fruits. The event dates back to the 1930s when Menton was Europe’s leading lemon producer and one bright spark had the idea of organising an exhibition of fl owers and citrus fruits. And there have been bitter-sweet memories ever since. www.fete-du-citron.com


Lyon comes alive with the dazzling light displays of the Fête des Lumières


readings. This year’s event runs from November 15 to December 24 and includes performances from bands and artists from all over the African continent. www.africolor.com


Fête des Lumières Lyon’s fabulous Festival of Lights began on December 8, 1852, when, to celebrate the statue of the Virgin Mary being installed on Fourvière hill, the townsfolk put candles in their windows, illuminating entire districts of the city – and it caught on. Today, thousands of people come to see the four-night spectacle where accomplished light artists project their dazzling creations on the city’s most famous buildings. The French are very much world leaders in this particular art form. This year’s festival takes place from December 5 to 8. www.fetedeslumieres.lyon.fr


Fantasy Film Festival The Vosges town of


Gérardmer will host the 32nd Festival International du Film Fantastique from January 29 to February 2. Dozens of fantasy fi lms are shown during the festival, allowing lesser-known directors to showcase their work. At various venues across the


124 ❘ FRANCE TODAY Dec/Jan 2025 town, there are art


exhibitions, literary salons, workshops and performances. festival-gerardmer.com


Angoulême International Comics Festival


Around a quarter of a million people from around the world descend on the Charente city of Angoulême every January for the Festival International de la Bande Dessinée. At dozens of sites across town there are exhibitions, lectures, workshops, fi lms, enormous book markets and author signings. Whether you’re a fan of Franco-Belgian comics (think Tintin, Astérix, Lucky Luke and The Smurfs), American super-heroes, Japanese manga or the more high-brow graphic novels, there will be something here to get you excited. The 2025 festival is the 52nd edition and


it runs from January 30 to February 2. www.bdangouleme.com


Nice Carnival


Spring comes early to this vibrant city on the French Riviera. While northern Europe is still shivering in winter temperatures, the Niçois are celebrating the start of spring. First staged more than 150 years ago, the Carnaval de Nice takes over the entire city, with a carnival parade, a fl ower parade and a gay parade. It runs from February 15 to March 2, 2025, and this year the theme is King of the Oceans. www.nicecarnaval.com


Fête du Citron The Provençal town of Menton shakes off the winter blues between February 15 and March 2 with the annual


La Folle Journée de Nantes One of the core aims of this festival in Nantes is to banish the elitist image of classical music. For that reason, ticket prices are low, performances are short and visitors can wander in and out mid- concert. They are also encouraged to meet the musicians and composers involved. From January 29 to February 2 there will be more than 270 concerts staged by around 2,000 musicians at venues around the city. www.follejournee.fr


Welcome in the spring at the Carnaval de Nice


Foire aux Santons It’s a Provençal winter tradition: every year around Christmas time, local artisans create hand-painted terracotta fi gurines called santons, which represent characters from traditional Provençal village life. It’s a custom that dates back to the French Revolution when churches were closed and nativity scenes prohibited so craftsmen cunningly circumvented the ban by making their own fi gurines. Nowadays, one of the biggest santon fairs is the Foire aux Santons de Marseille at the Vieux Port, which runs from November 16 to January 5. There are also santon fairs in Fréjus (November 7 to December 22), Solliès-Ville ❯❯


IMAGES © DAVID NOUY, MURIEL CHAULET


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