Events
January
Nice
A large funfair is held
in Luna Park with rides and attractions for the delight of young and not so
young spectators every year. (Palais des Expositions, esplanade de Lattre de
Tassigny).
New
Years Concert (Acropolis).
Concert
Lyrique at the Opéra.
Salon
du Lycéen et de l'Etudiant (Trade Fair for students) (Acropolis).
Salon
Bionazur, (Trade fair of natural and organic produce)
Salon
du Mariage (Acropolis).
February
Nice
The Nice Carnaval
draws visitors from all over Europe and North America to this ancient spectacle.
This "Mardi Gras of the Riviera" begins sometime in February, usually 12 days
before Shrove Tuesday, celebrating the return of spring with parades, floats (corsi),
masked balls (veglioni), confetti, and battles in which young women
toss flowers.. Climaxing the event is a fireworks display on Shrove Tuesday,
lighting up the Baie des Anges (Bay of Angels). King Carnival goes up in flames
on his pyre but rises from the ashes the following spring.
March
Nice
Nice
International Trade Fair. (Palais des Expositions, esplanade de Lattre de
Tassigny - Port)
Finish
of the Paris-Nice Cycle Race (Promenade des Anglais.)
Nice
International Semi–marathon.
(Promenade des Anglais).
Concerts (Acropolis).
Nice
Boat Show.
Plant Festival (Parc
Floral Phœnix).
Festin des Cougourdons.
A traditional festival with local folklore and decorated "cougourdons" which
takes place every spring. The interesting shapes of these gourds grown in the
area, lend themselves to a wide variety of interpretations ...
Printemps des Poètes
April
Nice
Nice
Tennis Tournament .
Symphonic Concerts (Opéra).
Journée
Chevalet (day of easels) (Jardin Albert 1er)
Nice
International Dog Show.
Rallye
de Tunisie.
Nice International Semi-Marathon
Egg-hunt (Parc Floral Phœnix).
Printemps des Musées
May
Nice
La Fête
des Mai
With this festival,
probably the oldest folk tradition in Nice, every Sunday in May; dancing,
picnics, folk dancing brighten up the Cimiez gardens and amphitheatre.
Fête de
la Cuisine
The cooking of Nice is
highlighted in the city's restaurants.
Symphonic Concerts (Acropolis).
Art Jonction
International, Contemporary Art Fair
(Jardin Albert 1er).
June
Nice
Sacred Music Festival
(Churches in the old town).
Fête de la musique,
free concerts throughout the city.
Salon du Livre
(Book fair) (Jardin Albert 1er).
Fête de
la Mer
Every year the fishermen
of Nice celebrate Saint Peter's day. The festivities open with mass in the Gesù
church, followed by a processsion all the way to Les Ponchettes beach (in front
of old Nice) where a boat is burned in honour of their patron saint.
Fête de la St–Jean
(dancing and bonfires) (Carras).
Pan Bagnat Festival
.
July
Nice
Voucalia, Festival of
Mediterranean Polyphony and Traditional Music .
Nice Festival du Jazz,
occurs for a week in mid-July.A roster of great jazz artists perform in the
ancient Arène de Cimiez. For information and tickets, contact the Comité des
Fêtes, Mairie (town hall) de Nice, 5 rue de l'Hôtel-de-Ville, 06000 Nice
04-97-13-20-00).
Inspired by the great
American jazz performances, this international jazz festival is one of a kind.
Every year it draws the most famous soloists and bands to the incomparable venue
of the Cimiez gardens and Amphitheatre.
Nikaïa : International
Athletics Meeting
With this meeting, the
city of Nice has obtained a leading place in the world-class athletic events
calendar. Every summer, 20 000 spectators crowd into the Charles Ehrmann Stadium
to attend a program of competitions with the world's champions
Bastille Day
Celebration July 14: Fireworks Promenade des Anglais.
Dancing.; Musical
Entertainment (Théâtre de Verdure).
August
Nice
Ball for the Libération
of Nice (Place Masséna).
International Summer Chess Tournament.
September
Nice
International Festival
of Military Music (every 2 years)
Fête du patrimoine (heritage
days)
Nice
International Triathlon
Swimming 4 km (Baie
des Anges)
Cycling
120 km (Haut Pays Niçois)
Foot
race 30 km (Promenade des Anglais).
Historic Automobile Tour de France.
October
Nice
Fête
patronale de la Ville de Nice Sainte Réparate
(Old-Nice).
Mushroom Exhibition
(Parc Floral Phœnix).
November
Nice
Children's workshops (Parc
Floral Phoenix).
Rock and Mineral Show (Parc
Floral Phoenix).
December
Nice
Bain de Noël -
Christmas dip, the first Sunday after Christmas.
Nice International
Chess Tournament .
Sailing
: International Star Regatta.
Christmas Village (espace
Masséna: jardin Albert 1er).
Arts and Entertainment
Concerts
Arènes De Cimiez
av. Arènes de Cimiez, Nice
Jazz and pop concerts are held during the summer.
Château de la Moutte
rte. des Salins, St-Tropez
Every July and August, Classical Music Concerts take
place in the gardens
For ticket information, inquire at the St-Tropez
tourist office
quai Jean-Jaurès, B.P. 183, St-Tropez,
04-94-97-45-21.
Acropolis
Classical music and ballet performances take place
at Nice's convention center
the Palais des Congrès
Esplanade John F. Kennedy, Nice
04-93-92-83-00
Festival De Jazz D'antibes-Juan-Les-Pins
04-92-90-50-00
Every July the Festival is held under ancient pines.
It's one of the oldest festivals in Europe and claims to have hosted the
European debut performance of Miles Davis. More recent jazz greats gracing the
tropical nights include Herbie Hancock, Kyle Eastwood, and Joshua Redman.
Festival De Musique De Chambre
In August, Menton's takes place on the stone-paved
plaza outside the St-Michel Church.
Nice Jazz Festival
04-92-17-77-77
In July, the Jazz Festival draws international
performers from around the world for outdoor concerts in the Parc de Cimiez
north of the center, the Matisse museum, and the Roman arena.
Salle Garnier
pl. du Casino, Monte Carlo, 377/92-16-22-99
This is the main venue of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo
and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, both worthy of the magnificent
hall.
Opera
Opéra De Nice
4 rue St-François-de-Paul, Nice,
04-92-17-40-40
The season runs from September to June.
Theater
Théâtre Municipal Francis-Gag
4 rue St-Joseph, Nice
04-93-62-00-03
This venue offers independent theater productions of
traditional and contemporary works.
Théâtre De Nice
promenade des Arts, Nice
04-93-13-90-90
headed by stage and screen star Jacques Weber,
alternates productions imported from Paris with creative experiments of the
Centre National Dramatique Nice Côte d'Azur.
Beaches
Nice's seafront is home to
at least seven different public beaches. None of them has sand; they are covered
with gravel (often the size of golf balls). The rocks are smooth, but can still
be difficult to navigate for people with poor balance or sensitive feet. Tucked
in between the public beaches are the private beaches of hotels. Most of the
public beaches are divided into two sections: a free area and an area where you
can avail yourself of the chaise longues, mattresses, parasols, changing
cabanas, and freshwater showers for a fee. Nude sunbathing is prohibited, but
toplessness is common. Take bus nos. 9, 10, 12, and 23 from the center of town
to get to the beach.
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