The most established French language school in South-West France!
|

Festivals in Biarritz, France

"Biarritz offers a wealth of festivals and cultural events throughout the Spring and Summer "

Free PDF download BLS Biarritz

Whether you choose to complete a short French intensive course or an extended French language course at BLS Biarritz you will find activities throughout the year that will better familiarize you wholly with the French culture. Following is a selection of annual events, festivals and activities to help you plan your stay.

 

Tamborrada in San Sebastian
January

Occurring annually every 20th January, The Tamborrada in San Sebastian, Spain, is a feast of all of your senses. Cross the French border into Spanish to join the San Sebastian locals in celebrating the Feast of San Sebastian.

Beginning at midnight, when the Mayor of the town raises a flag in the Plaza de la Constitution to herald the beginning of the festival, San Sebastian is entirely drenched in the sound of drumming for the following 24 hours. Attendees of the festival will also enjoy the parades of adults, dressed as soldiers and cooks marching around the city, and enjoy Spanish Basque cuisine in gourmet clubs.

Le Carnaval Biarnes
February

Nestled at the foot of the Pyrenees in the French Basque region, the village of Bearn celebrates Le Carnaval Biarnes every February to celebrate the Basque winter. Dedicated to the freedom of man, Le Carnaval Biarnes is a festival based in pagan beliefs, and is the largest winter festival in the region, with over 50,000 people joining in the free celebration.

Le Carnaval Biarnes in the French basque region will be celebrated 13-24th February 2010.
Visit www.carnavalbiarnes.fr for more information.

Biarritz Antiques Show
April

Discover treasures from times long gone at the annual Biarritz Antiques Show. Every April beautiful antiques from all over France can be found in Biarritz.

Biarritz Quicksilver Surfing competition
April

Boardriders from all over the globe flock to Biarritz, the surf capital of Europe every April to participate in the Biarritz Quicksilver Surfing competition, which heralds the beginning of the Atlantic surfing season.

Les Fêtes Musicales
Late April

Hear a great selection of different music at Les Fêtes Musicales. This four-day event takes place mainly at the Casino Municipal and the Theatre Gare du Midi.

Golf in Biarritz: Makilas Eiffage
May

French students studying French at either of the BLS French schools Biarritz or Bordeaux have the opportunity to participate in the International Golf Tournament, Makilas Eiffage every May. Specifically aimed at the amateur golfer, Makilas Eiffage offers a choice of golfing experiences, for beginner golfers as well as those more experienced.

Festival des Arts de la Rue
May

If you are seeking a unique experience while you are studying French in the Basque region, the Festival of Street Arts, Festival des Arts de la rue, held in Biarritz every May may be what you are seeking. Watch as comedians, acrobats, clowns, musicians and dancers come together to display their talents in a festival specifically dedicated to the art of street performance.

Fêtes de la Mer et casetas
June

Every June Biarritz celebrates its Spanish influences with a lively street festival. Centered around food, street entertainment, surfing and tapas, there is something to suit everyone.

Fêtes de la Saint Jean
June

The Fête de la Saint Jean is held on the weekend occurring closest to the 21st June every year, and it celebrates the summer solstice. Participants in the festival can look forward to music, dancing and beach bonfires.

Biarritz Surf Festival
July

Founded in 1993, the annual Biarritz Surf Festival at the Côte des Basques attracts surfers from all over the world, including Hawaii, California and Australia. Over 150,000 surfing enthusiasts come to party at the biggest surfing festival in Europe, watching some of the top proponents of the sport in action, whilst enjoying the weeklong festivities held at every beach in town!

The Hawaiian spirit permeates the Basque town as surfers and spectators re-create the search for the endless summer…

International Roxy Jam Surfing World Cup
July

Held in Biarritz every July, the International Roxy Jam Surfing World Cup combines a schedule of professional surfing competitions with art and music exhibitions. Celebrating its fourth year, the Roxy Jam will take place 10-14 July 2009, with 32 professional women surfers participating to fight for the title of 2009 Ladies World Champion. Possibly the largest ladies surfing event in the world, the Roxy Jam is held at the gorgeous Côte des Basques. For one week Europe's home of surfing is dedicated to women's surfing and features The Women's Longboard World Championship as well as shortboard riders.

The action isn’t all in the water! This unique festival also includes music and art by inspiring and incredible artists, exploring the theme of femininity and surfing.

Gaz de France Open de Biarritz
July

The International Tennis Open, Gaz de France de Biarritz, is a clay court competition that attracts some of the world’s top female tennis players to compete for a 100,000 euro in prize.

Fêtes de Bayonne
July

Join the biggest street party in France. Starting on first Wednesday of August every year, the Fêtes de Bayonne is a series of festivals in the Basque town of Bayonne, France. International students studying French in France will enjoy this colourful and exciting festival, featuring bull runs, musical performances and much more. The Fêtes de Bayonne begin 29th July 2009 and runs for five days and five nights.

The Biarritz Cup
Late July

Out of the water Biarritz continues to celebrate, hosting the annual Biarritz Cup, a prestigious nationwide golf competition comprised of mainly French golfers. The playoffs take place at one of the first golf clubs in Europe, the magnificent Golf du Phare.

The Rip Curl & Sprite Music Festival
August

Held on the beach at Ilbarritz, this event is seen as one of the rising stars in Europe’s up and coming music scene. With your feet in the sand, enjoy two free nights of exclusive Rock, Reggae and Ragga concerts right in the heart of the town that witnessed the birth of surfing in Europe over 50 years ago…

"To Surf and Preserve…” This is the eco-friendly concept put forward by Rip Curl and Sprite for the festival which was awarded with the “Green’n’Clean “ label in March 2008 by Yourope, the European Festival organization.

All proceeds go towards the WWF to support the “Rip Curl Coral Guard” programme, aiming to preserve the endangered coral reefs. According to estimations, 10% of the world’s reefs have been harmed beyond repair and 30% of them are seriously under threat.

French Festival Musical de Basse Navarre
August

Festival Musical de Basse Navarre, a music festival in its 10th year, will be held 5 – 13th August 2009 in and around St-Jean-Pied-de-Port, a town at the foot of the Pyrenees and celebrates Baroque music and the beautiful surroundings of the French town. Participants in the festival can look forward to beautiful dinners and musical concerts, classes in acting and improvisation and leisurely walks in the woods.

Entry to Festival Musical de Basse Navarre
Full price 13€
Reduced 10 €
Free for children under 16 years with free entertainment
Lunch + concert packages

Fête du Thon in St jean de Luz
August

The annual tuna festival is held at the quaint fishing port of Saint-Jean-de-Luz. In 2009, it will be held on 9th August. Visitors to the festival will enjoy parades and festivities, and be able to sample delicious fresh tuna.

Le Temps d’Aimer
September

This three-week-long festival is one of the best European festivals devoted solely to dance, in all its guises. From baroque dancing to breakdancing, ballet, avant-garde jazz-influenced contemporary dance and flamenco, performances can be enjoyed throughout the town, from parks and churches to larger auditoriums. The ballet on display is always of a high calibre and there is a prize for the best work.

Basque Coast Music Festival
Early September

Basque Coast Music Festival is one of France's premier classical music festivals. Orchestras, choirs and soloists come every year to perform for appreciative lovers of classical music in the glorious churches of Saint-Jean de Luz, Bayonne and Ciboure, as well as Biarritz's Casino Municipal. Celebrating its 100th anniversary in September 2009, the Musique en côte Basque festival draws international musicians to play at its many venues in the Basque region of France. International students studying French in the Basque region will be able to enjoy many performances by professional musicians in the many beautiful churches and venues throughout the Basque region.
Visit www.musiquecotebasque.fr for a full list of schedules and events.

Latin American Festival in Biarritz
Late September

The exciting Festival of Biarritz has been held annually since 1992 to showcase Latin American cinema and culture. The weeklong event includes expos, concerts, literary workshops and arts dedicated to Latino culture. The festival's highlight is its film competition, in which a number of respected directors tough it out in various categories to win the praise of the grand jury. The principal venues are the Salle Atalaya at La Gare du Midi, the Cinema le Royal and the Casino Municipal.

This is an excellent opportunity for students studying French in France to be able to soak up Latino culture in an amazing location.
Visit the website of Festival de Biarritz (www.festivaldebiarritz.com) for information about tickets, venues, concerts and screenings.


© 2010, INSTITUT PARISIEN DE FRANCAIS LANGUE ETRANGERE / BLS, 42 rue Lafaurie de Monbadon, 33000 Bordeaux, FRANCE.
   Telephone : +33 (0)5 57 34 46 29 / Fax : +33 (0)5 57 34 39 02
Valid XHTML 1.0 Clicky Web Analytics