Welcome to spring in France! As gardens and parks burst into bloom, fêtes and festivals galore take place, major anniversaries are celebrated and there’s loads going on. Find out what’s on in France in Spring 2025
National events in France in Spring 2025
1st April is poisson d’avril in France, April Fool’s Day in English. You’ll see fish-shaped chocolates and pastries in shops across France. It’s traditional to stick paper cut-out fish onto someone’s back and not let them know. The idea is for them to walk around unaware all day, entertaining onlookers. The origins of le poisson d’avril are not clear but it’s believed to go back to a tradition of giving fish as a gift to celebrate the beginning of Easter and the end of Lent.
18 April – Good Friday National Holiday – Alsace only
21 April Easter Monday National Holiday
1 May Labour Day/May Day National Holiday
8 May WWII Victory in Europe Day National Holiday
29 May Ascension Day National Holiday
9 June Whit Monday National Holiday
Major Anniversaries in France Spring 2025
The Caen Millenium, Caen, Normandy
Caen will be celebrating 1,000 years of history in 2025! A programme of artistic and cultural events is planned including parades, street performance, exhibitions and more from March 2025. Some events will require tickets. Read more about it in our Free magazine The Good Life France.
10th anniversary of UNESCO listing for champagne
In 2025, the ‘Coteaux, Maisons et Caves de Champagne’ (Champagne’s Hillsides, Houses and Cellars) will celebrate the 10th anniversary of their inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List. There will be sparkling celebrations throughout the year.
15th anniversary of UNESCO listing of the ‘Repas Gastronomique des Francais’
Inscribed in 2010 on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage, France’s ‘gastronomic meal’ is a customary social practice designed to celebrate important life moments. You can celebrate all over France – just eat!
What’s New in France for Spring 2025
Reopening of Cezanne’s former home and studio in Aix-en-Provence, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
Aix-en-Provence is in for a major Cézanne celebration starting in spring 2025 with the reopening of two major artistic sites: his studio, housing the models for his final still-life paintings, his furniture, equipment and objects dear to him; and his family home at Jas de Bouffan, listed as a historic monument. Cézanne’s favourite views, which appeared in around 50 of his oils and watercolours, are also on display in the house. The Good Life France will be in Aix visiting these fabulous sites ahead of the opening to bring you an update in The Good Life France Summer Magazine 2025.
What’s on in France Spring 2025?
Enjoy the Blues in Paris, 14 March – 11 April 2025: Seine-Saint-Denis: Banlieues Bleue: Jazz, blues and world music in districts all over Paris.
Kite Festival at Berck-sur-Mer, Pas-de-Calais: At the seaside resort of Berck-sur-Mer (Pas de Calais), the sky will be filled with thousands of kites – the biggest and the best in the world as this international festival takes place on the beaches: www.cerf-volant-berck.com/
La Rederie d’Amiens, Amiens, Picardy 13 April 2025: The huge flea market of Amiens takes place for just 2 days each year – April and October. The second biggest flea market event in France (Lille Braderie in September is the biggest).
Provence, Grasse – Expo-Rose, 8-11 May 2025:The annual Rose exhibition is held in Grasse and for three days the town welcomes lovers of roses, horticulturalists, growers and others to take delight in the roses.
Fête de la Fraise, Limousin, Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, 11 May 2025: At this fabulous strawberry festival there’s every kind of strawberry cake for you to try. The biggest strawberry tart in the world is made here – everyone can have a piece!
Audreselles crab festival, Pas-de-Calais, 14-15 June 2025: This authentic little festival – think sea shanties, music and the freshest of seafood – takes place in the picturesque and traditional fishing village of Audresselles and is a whole lot of delicious fun. terredes2capstourisme.fr/index.php
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