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 or 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 a must for all jazz fans. 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 Europe's biggest extreme sports event featuring BMX, wakeboards, skateboards, motocross and snowboarding

Nimes Feria de Pentecote Nimes most important Feria featuring bullfighting, music, street parties and a fantastic atmosphere

JUNE

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

JULY

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

Sete - Jazz festival

Carcassonne - Festival des 2 Cités One of the largest festivals in France, big name acts for 2009 included 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. Celebrating all things Occitan, concerts in Beziers and also Zinga Zanga on the Canal du Midi

Tour de France 2009 check here for exact dates and route through the Languedoc.

Meze - Festival du Thau World Music festival with live concerts

AUGUST

Beziers - La Feria 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 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 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.

SEPTEMBER

Perpignan - Visa Pour L'Image An international photo journalism exhibition. Highly recommended and free too.

Perpignan Medieval Market

Nimes - Feria des Vendanges

The Languedoc Getting here What's On Buy Books Activities Photo Gallery Walking Cycling Windurfing Accommodation Beziers Canal du Midi Pezenas Lamalou les Bains Lac Salagou Minerve Carcassonne Rennes les Chateau Cathar Castles Knights Templar Excursions Kitesurfing Golf