What's On around the Region of Poitou Charentes.
Festivals take place throughout the region during the summer and whatever your taste from music to dance, sailing to painting, games to film there is something for everyone. June is a fantastic month for street markets and fairs culminating in the summer solstice celebrations on 21st with live musical events of multiple genres - Niort is no exception and puts on a huge outdoor event in the city centre.
MAY
Musiques Métisses. A festival of latin american, caribbean and african music takes place at Angoulême at the end of May.
With the spring, the Festival Theatres en Fête is staged in Angoulême. Offering several shows from theatre, street circus and music.
The festival of water sports is a national event which takes place at the Vieux Port and at the Bassin des Chalutiers in La Rochelle where organisers offer entertainment, animations, free experiences, demonstrations, tests, spectacles, regattas, competitions and visits.
JUNE
This a month for celebrating the Summer Solstice. Towns and villages all over the region sing out to the sound of music for the Fete de la Musique with live musical events of different genres.
The Annual Film Festival takes place at La Rochelle and Jazz ~ Jazzellerault at Chatellerault.
For rally motorsport & motor cylce enthusiasts the Championship of France Endurance is staged at the Val de Vienne Circuit in Le Vigeant located in the south of Vienne.
JULY
Bastille day is on 14th July, the most important date in the French national calendar, celebrating the storming of the Paris Bastille in 1789 and the start of the French Revolution. Chef Boutonne celebrates with the Mayor’s picnic at the Chateaux de Javarzay, followed by music and dancing in the evening and fireworks over the lake.
The Festival de Peinture takes place in Magné a picturesque village in the Marais Poitevin. The whole village is taken over by painters from all over France and further afield, using all styles and mediums.
The Cognac Blues festival is staged around this historic town, offering 5 days of live musical entertainment mostly free.
The annual World Music and Dance Festival is staged in Airvault, and Jazz Festivals in Parthenay and Melle.
The festival of Chemins de Musique is centred at Ligugé, near Poitiers over the weekends in July.
In time for children on holiday, Parthenay has its annual FLIP festival for 2 weeks during the middle of July, where the streets of the town and the central Drapeau car park are taken over with dozens of stalls and fairground rides.
AUGUST
Confolens comes alive in August for its annual International Folklore Festival. It’s known all over the world, and brings together artistes from around the globe.
De Bouche à Oreille, an annual music festival in Parthenay, is staged along the banks of the Thouet river, under the weeping willows.
Opera lovers should not miss the Soirées Lyriques de Sanxay, in the Roman amphitheatre with a specially erected stage.
SEPTEMBER
The annual Circuits des Remparts at Angoulême every September is the weekend when classic car enthusiasts gather to celebrate one of only 3 remaining European car road races.
In La Rochelle the Grand Pavois International Boat Show in September is a huge event.
OCTOBER
The International Ornithological Film Festival is staged at Menigoute. Besides wildlife film entries from around the world, there is a photographic exhibition, together with displays by artists and sculptors, and organised wildlife walks.