January
Lunapark – indoor covered funfair
Palais des Expositions
1 Avenue de la Republic
06300
The Mimosa Trail,
When the mimosa blooms it signals the end of winter in Provence and time for the festivities to begin. Commonly called the mimosa trail the mimosa route spans 80 miles and incorporates 8 towns and villages, Grasse, Bormes les Mimosas, Le Rayol-Canadel, Sainte Maxime, Saint Raphaël, Mandelieu-la Napoule, Tanneron, and Pégomas For 2 months between 15th January and 15th March a string of events are organised parades, flower battles, guided walks, courses in perfume making in Grasse and much more.
For more information: Contact the Saint Raphaël tourist office or visit
www.tourismevar.com/carnetsderoute/mimosas.htm
Temperatures: average high 55f average low 42f
February
Nice Carnival - The carnival in Nice dates back to the middle ages and draws visitors from the world over. (For more detailed information look under the February tab in the archives on the right of the page).
The Nice Carnival draws visitors from all over Europe and North America. It is held each February and dates back to the 13th century. Traditionally it was a time of festivities when the Nicoise could indulge themselves eating lots of rich food in preparation for the 40 days fasting during Lent. At this time rules were relaxed. People wore disguises and masks and let off steam by playing jokes on their peers and even masters. It was a joyeuse time with much dancing in the streets of the “old town”. Over the years the festivities must have become more and more boisterous because in the 18th century there was a crack down and the celebrations became more sedate. Masked balls were held and street entertainment declined.
By 1873 the carnival had developed into something we would all recognise today with the introduction by the local artist Alexis Mossa and his son Gustave of the giant figures (grosses têtes).
Each year the carnival tries to find a topical theme and each carnival finale is a firework display which lights up the Baie des Anges (Angel Bay) and the carnival king is pushed out to sea on a lighted pyre.
The Battle of Flowers
The spectators are bombarded by thousands of petals as they watch this procession filter past. The event culminates in a beautiful firework display over the baie des anges.
The lemon festival in Menton
This is an annual festival held from mid February to early march. Approximately 130 tons of citric fruit, both oranges and lemons are constructed into carnival floats which roll slowly along the Baie de Soleil to the accompaniment of musicians, jugglers and pretty girls in national costume.
Each year the theme is different and floats are imaginatively constructed to depict anything from the Taj Mahal to a giant banana. The main processions take place on Sundays in the afternoon and evening.
In case you were worrying about the waste of fruit, it is juiced, chrystallised, made into jam and the tarte du citron that Menton is famous for. It is possible to visit the workshops where the jam is made. You can also visit the lemon plantations. Ask at the tourist office.
http://www.menton.fr
a flicker show of the 2009 lemon festival can be seen on:
http://www.feteducitron.com/photos-fete-du-citron.html
Temperatures: average high 55f average low 43f
March
Held in Cimiez, this typical Nicoise festival is a mixture of Christian and pagan tradition. There is folk dancing in the street to local bands, serenading and local delights such as fougasse, socca, and pissaladière are eaten. Gourdes are brightly decorated and transformed into bird baths, ladels, vases and anything else that its imaginative creator could think of.
Temperatures: average high 58f average low 46f
April
Temperatures: average high 61f average low 49f
May
May festival
In the gardens of Arènes de Cimiez
1st, 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th May 2009
traditionally symbolic of end of winter. dancing round the maypole is replaced with dancing round a pine tree.
The Grande Prix
The next Grand Prix will take place on the following dates:
May 21-24, 2009
May 20-23, 2010
May 26-29, 2011
May 24-27, 2012
May 23-26, 2013
May 22-25, 2014
Tickets
The Automobile Club of Monaco organizes the race each year. There are more than 3,000 seats available for sale on the circuit. To order tickets or to receive information regarding ticket ordering, please contact the Automobile Club of Monaco directly. They start sending out information in November. Tickets are also available from ticket booths set up during the race. Prices for tickets range anywhere from 90€ to more than 500€ for really good seats.
Automobile Club de Monaco
BP 464 - 23, blvd Albert Ier
MC 98012 Monaco
Principality of Monaco
Tel: (+377) 93 15 26 00
Fax: (+377) 93 25 80 08
Web site: www.acm.mc
There are many people selling tickets on the streets around the authorized ticket booths, but try the ticket booths first. Be sure to get a map of the circuit so you can see the spot where the seat is located. The best sections are A1, A4, V, Z1, Z2 and O. Many Monaco residents rent out their terraces for the event and prices range from about 8000€ to 140,000€ for the four days. These renters advertise in the International Herald Tribune and the Nice Monaco Matin newspapers. In addition, restaurants and hotels along the course offer special lunch menus that include watching the race from their terraces. This is a way to get a seat for the race and eat a meal. Prices range from 90€ to 500€ on race day.
http://www.visitmonaco.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageId=383
Cannes Film Festival
Every May the Palais de Congres at Cannes plays host to the film festival. A visit to the Cannes Film Festival allows for great sun-bathing, shopping and celebrity-spotting. Although the official film screening is reserved for filmmakers, actors and the media, regular tourists can still get a taste and even watch some of the films in the selection.
Cinéma de la Plage
Although tourists cannot attend the official screenings, they can still see some of the amazing and groundbreaking films. The Cinéma de la Plage, which is situated on the beach at Plage Mace. This is a great outdoor film screen, and tickets to attend can be obtained at the Cannes Tourism Office.
There are also tents set up at the perimeter of the Cannes Film Festival grounds where you can buy great souvenirs, such as t-shirts, posters and other festival swag. In the evenings, you can crowd the barricades near the red carpet for some celebrity-spotting. Be sure to check the festival schedule, though. Some nights, only barely-known celebrities hit the red carpet.
Bring a camera, get there early and get a good spot. Then you will get a chance to shoot some of your own celebrity photos.
Adapted from http://gofrance.about.com/cs/filmfestival/a/cannesfestival.htm
Temperatures: average high 67f average low 56f
June
Temperatures: average high 74f average low 62f
July
2 July 2009 the official team presentation of the 20 teams taking part in the Tour de France will take place at the north harbour of the Port Hercule.
It will be preceded at 5pm by the parade of around 50 vehicles of the advertising caravan followed at 6pm by a parade of the cyclists.
Singer Akram will perform .
Getting to Monaco
By car – Highway A8 – exit no 56
By train - Nice station.
Liaisons Nice-Monaco (station 15 minutes away by foot from the Grimaldi Forum)
5 July 2009 the Tour de France will pass through Nice on their way to Brignoles on the second leg their journey out of 21.
14th July
BASTILLE DAY (more commonly known in France as “le quatorze juillet” 14th July)
It commemorates the storming of the Bastille on 14th July 1789 when all the prisoners were set free. This preceded the French Revolution which changed the French constitution from a monarchy to a republic. Traditionally presidents have pardoned petty offenders on this day but President Sarkozy has decided not to continue the practice. The tour de France also occurs each year during this time and the French riders try extra hard to win on this day.
There will be a procession on the promenade des anglais in the afternoon followed by a firework display over the “Baie des Anges” Angel Bay. A free ball will be held in the Albert 1 gardens in the evening.
17 July onwards, the City of Nice will be offering 1,750 free-service bicycles at 90 stations right across the city. Bikes come with a small basket and are painted azur blue, Available at €1 per day or €5 per week they are set to become really popular amongst tourists and indigenous alike.
18th July, official election of Miss Nice 2009 at the Casino Ruhl
18th July - 25th NICE JAZZ FESTIVAL
Venue Cimiez/Arenes
bus 17 to Les Arenes stop
bus 15 to the Cimiez stop
For the first time Sonny Rollins will be appearing at the festival.
more details from nicejazzfestival.fr
La Castadellada festival
Chateau from July - Aug 2009; not Mon or Sun (annual)
tickets cost €9; concessions €6
Opening Hours:
Tue-Sat - audience should be seated by 8.30pm; show 9pm
Nice's hillside Château hosts the summer Castellada festival, celebrating the season with medieval and Baroque music concerts, and puppet shows for children. Walk through the gardens, with costumed actors from the Aimée Company recounting the city's history on the way.
Those wishing to take part should wear comfortable shoes and head for the meeting place at the base of the steps winding up the hill (for the walk), or the square in front of the old Chateau Cathedral for the concerts.
For more detailed information on what is on day by day visit:
www.riviera.angloinfo.com/whatsontoday.asp
Temperatures: average high 79f average low 67f
August
22 August, Miss Cote d’Azur in the Albert 1er gardens
Temperatures: average high 80f average low 68f
September
Temperatures: average high 75f average low 63f
October
Temperatures: average high 68f average low 56f
November
Temperatures: average high 61f average low 48f
December
Temperatures: average high 56f average low 43f
http://riviera.info.angloinfo.com/information/whatsontoday.asp
www.nicetourisme.biz/fr/choix.php
