What's on in the Languedoc, a list of festivals, concerts and events throughout the year

During the summer months you will find a different festival every weekend in the Languedoc. These range from the big ones like the Feria's at Beziers and Nimes to the tiniest little event we found last summer - the tortoise festival! Here we highlight the major ones, and if you want us to take you there please email us for a quote.

JANUARY - MARCH

Limoux Carnival, possibly the longest carnival in the world? Limoux carnival runs every weekend from mid Jan - March, and being the first carnival of the year certainly brightens up the winter. Enjoy a glass of Blanquette, the local sparkling wine whilst watching the procession of masked pierrots and goudils dance by, meandering beneath the old arcades and dancing around the bistro tables in the Place de la Republic. There are three processions a day each Saturday and Sunday.

Roquebrun Mimosa Festival Another early festival, usually the 2nd Sunday in February, the little sleepy village of Roquebrun comes alive, with the streets lined with stalls selling food, wine and local market produce attracting thousands of people. The local wine cellars open their doors for tastings The highlight of the day is the procession, be careful od you may end up covered in flour!

APRIL

Perpignan Good Friday Sanch Procession Slightly spooky, this procession, where the people are hooded and robed, silenty marches through the streets of Perpignan.

Carcassonne Jazz Week commencing 21 April 2009, a must for all jazz fans. 40 euros gives 4 evening performances in the Jesuit College Chapel

MAY

throughout the month - Printemps dans les Vignes Discover the different wine regions of the Languedoc through organised wine tasting, vineyard walks, concerts and meals.

throughout the month - festival 'de circulade en circulade' A programme of events in 9 of the circular villages. Download the brochure here (in French)

Montpellier Extreme Sports Festival 20-24 May 2009. Europe's biggest extreme sports event featuring BMX, wakeboards, skateboards, motocross and snowboarding

Beziers - Caritats Medieval Festival, 22-23 May 2009. This year sees the 800th anniversary of the massacre at Beziers. Attractions include a medieval market, archery, games for the children, medieval dancing and a sound and light show.

Nimes Feria de Pentecote 27 May - 1 June 2009. Nimes most important Feria featuring bullfighting, music, street parties and a fantastic atmosphere

JUNE

Beziers 9 Locks - Les Ecluses en Fete 13/14 June 2009. Celebrating 400 years since Pierre Paul Riquet was born

Perpignan Festa Major 23 June 2009. Celebrating the summer solstice with music, dancing and fireworks.

JULY

Sete - Le grand pardon de la Saint Pierre 3 - 6 July 2009. St Pierre's feast is a fishermans festival with processions and water jousting.

Sete - Jazz festival 7 - 13 July 2009. This years highlight is Jeff Beck

Carcassonne - Festival des 2 Cités 4 - 31 July 2009. One of the largest festivals in France, big name acts for this year include Depeche Mode, Seal, Status Quo and Lenny Kravitz. There are over 80 performances consisting of dance, opera, theatre and music, and apart from the big names most of it is free.

Carcassonne - Bastille Day fireworks 14 July. An annual event attracting thousands of people. View Europe's largest firework display lasting almost half an hour from the banks of the river Aude. Be prepared for crowds though, over 700,000 people flock to Carcassonne for this show.

Beziers - Festa D'Oc. 15-19 July 2009. Celebrating all things Occitan, concerts in Beziers and also Zinga Zanga on the Canal du Midi

Tour de France 2009 4 - 26 July 2009. check here for exact dates and route through the Languedoc.

Meze - Festival du Thau 15 - 26 July 2009. World Music festival with live concerts

AUGUST

Beziers - La Feria 13 - 16 August 2009. Not to be missed for all party goers! Beziers comes alive with street bars, music and dancing, bullfights, parades and general non stop entertainment and partying.

Carcassonne - Spanish Week 21 - 24 August 2009. Spain pays a visit to Carcassonne during the last week in August. Shows, events, concerts, dance performances, and gastronomic specialities will inspire all to live to the rhythm of Spanish culture.

Sete - Fete de la St Louis 19 - 26 August 2009. The Saint Louis feast is the saint patron feast of Sète and also the jousters feast. More than 70 shows in the streets and bars open until very late make the town very lively.

Perpignan - Visa Pour L'Image 29 August - 13 September 2009. An international photo journalism exhibition. Highly recommended and free too.

SEPTEMBER

Perpignan Medieval Market

Nimes - Feria des Vendanges 17 -20 Sep 2009

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