Summer in the South of France is full of festivals and fairs,
and there are over a hundred in the Midi-Pyrénées alone! See
the official festivals website
(in French only).
We've tried to summarise the huge range of events and here is just a selection of local attractions
- there are many more which don't make it onto the offical website.
These are some of the events which take place every year, there are many more 'impromptu' events
which occur in the nearby towns and villages, mainly during July and August.
Approximate Date
Town/Village
Style/Link
Description
Jan - March
Limoux
Street carnival
Festival de Fécos - 11am, 5pm and 10pm, every Sunday
Easter
Jazz
'Swing à Mirepoix'
May & Oct
Pamiers
Classical
Festival of Gabrielle Fauré (classical composer born in Pamiers 1845)
24 June
Many locations
Fireworks festival
Festival of St Jean commemorated with firework displays
14 July
Carcassonne
'City in flames'
One of the best firework displays in France on Bastille day
mid July
Mountains
Tour de France
late July
Foix
14 'pay' concerts, open Jazz in the cafes and bars
late July
Medievals festival
A celebration of the medieval history of the town
Early August
Puppetry
International puppetry festival, more than 20 acts
mid August
Prat Bonrepaux
Rock festival
Open air country music festival, between Foix and St Girons
Mid September
Street carnival
'Grand festival of the Cathedral of St Maurice'
Mid October
Apple festival
Annual celebration of the harvest with huge sculptures
covered in apples
Religious Festivals
Most French villages host festivals on the major religious holidays:
- Easter (Paques)
- Ascension day (40 days after Easter)
- Pentecost (50 days after Easter)
One of the Mirepoix apple festival sculptures
