Here’s our handy guide to what’s on in April all over France – we help you to make the most of your visit or your area.
We don’t want to give you any bad information so we only put the dates if we’re absolutely certain of them but we do give you a website wherever we can where you can check the dates and all other details.
If you run an event or know of an event you think we should include please do let us know via our contact form.
National Holidays in France in April
Vendredi Saint – Good Friday – is a regional holiday held in Alsace-Moselle only
Lundi de Pâques – Easter Monday
Aquitaine
Bayonne
In the market place, in front of the Market Hall, by the Nive riverside. For more than five centuries, the Bayonne Ham Fair has been the rendez-vous of conviviality and exchanges. It is a festival for the gourmets and always in the tradition of authentic regional produce, there’s also an omelette and ham competition! http://www.bayonne-tourisme.com
Corsica
Sartène – Grand Valinco
Carnival steeped in tradition of the sartenaise and a time of celebration and disguise. It has become unmissable event in the region. http://www.visit-corsica.com
Nord Pas-de-Calais
Berck-sur-Mer
Kite festival on the beach 7-15 April, with teams entering from all over the world.
Cassels
Near Dunkirk – huge carnival with 1000 characters and 6m giants, a fabulous event
Moringhem
For the whole month of April the villagers of Moringhem adorn their village with a Scarecrow Festival – 40,000 visitors turn up every year to see them!
Paris
Marathon15th April 2012 http://www.parismarathon.com
Art Fair – 120 galleries from 16 countries, with hundreds of artists showing their work. This year for the first time at the Grand Palais, Paris. The Art Fair website has lots of details about this event which promises to be an art-fest.
The Great Contemporary Art Market (Grand Marché d’Art Contemporain) offers art without limits which is accessible for all budgets. The works sell at workshop prices because there is no middle man. See the Joel Garcia website for lots more details.
Disneyland Paris celebrates its 20th anniversary with fireworks, new parades and more from 1st April to 21st December.
Pays de La Loire
Nantes
Carnival Nantes April 1 – April 7th 2012 http://en.nantes-tourisme.com
Vendée
Puy du Fou opens on April 6th through to September 30th. This spectacular theme park won a top industry award in 2012 with its lavish historical re-enactments, fabulous light shows and breathtaking night time parades and events.
Provence Alpes Côtes d’Azures
Aix-en-Provence Carnival
A heritage Carnival in the streets of Aix on April 15. A foretaste of the feast will be held the night before, Saturday, April 14. The theme for the 2012 carnival is Aix of the Night, the night lived, outputs, cabaret, psychedelic party – the night unconscious, dreams, nightmares, angels and demons – oh la la! http://www.aixenprovencetourism.com
All Over France – the last weekend in April – La France Ferme de la Ferme – Open days at Farms everywhere – you can find out what goes on, help out and try products http://www.defermeenferme.com/regions.php
