Nice, Nice Carnival 13 February – 1 March. Processions, flower parades and flower battles, rock, pop, fireworks and giant heads (les grosses têtes) and giants. Over a million people flock to Nice to join in the fun heralding the start of spring. www.nicecarnaval.com
Dunkirk – Pas de Calais, Carnaval de Dunkerque, 15-17 February. Three days of street carnival and mayhem for The Trois Glorieuses at the Dunkirk Carnival – fabulous free street carnival, lots of bonhomie and entente-cordiale with dressing up de rigeur! www.ville-dunkerque.fr
Menton – Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Lemon Festival of Menton 14 February – 4 March. The fabulous and famous Menton lemon festival includes parades and immense structures built with thousands of lemons and oranges and one of the most popular festivals in the region attracting many thousands of visitors from all over the world. fete-du-citron.com
Paris, Chinese New Year 15th February – join in the fun and celebrations in this beautiful city with a colourful parade through the Quartier Chinois stretching between the Place d’Italie and the Porte de Choisy in the 13th Arrondissement.
Sarlat: Perigord, Dordogne – Geese Festival Fest’Oie 16-17 February. This famous festival takes place in the picturesque town of Sarlat and celebrates all things goose! Noisy flocks of geese honking through the medieval city, tastings, workshops and demonstrations. www.sarlat-tourisme.com
Alpes Maritimes, Mimosa Festival 15-24 February. In Mandelieu-La-Napoule the flowering of millions of sweet smelling Mimosa flowers known as “yellow suns” is honoured. An annual festival in which the locals celebrate protecting the precious blooms from bad weather for this flower which is used in the production of medicines. Parades and processions, singing and dancing, this event signals the coming of spring and the end to winter. www.ot-mandelieu.fr
Nord-Pas de Calais – Le Touquet Car Rally, 13-14 March, crazy car rally through the countryside and along the coast of Pas de Calais,over 150 rally drivers converge on the lively seaside resort of Le Touquet for this one . www.letouquet.com
Please note: We check every website for dates and details personally but changes do happen from time to time – please check website for confirmation.