Every year in February and March Carnivals take place throughout the Pyrenees Orientales. These lively festivities include music and singing, fireworks, fancy dress parades and not forgetting, as this is France, lots of eating and drinking!
There will be major celebrations in Vernet-les-bains this year. One hundred years ago, Rudyard Kipling and his wife arrived in the town. There will be exhibitions and talks about their stay.
Canigou and Kipling
“I came here in search of nothing more than a little sunshine. But, I found Canigou, whom I discovered to be a magician among mountains, and I submitted myself to his power…I watch him in wonder and delight. Nothing that he could do or give birth to would now surprise me, whether I met Don Quixote himself riding in from the Spanish side, or all the chivalry of ancient France watering their horses at his streams, or saw (which each twilight seems quite possible) gnomes and kobbolds swarming out of the mines and tunnels of his flanks”
Canigou
All of the local towns and villages enjoy Carnival times.
A Happy Face at Ceret Carnival
Moving onwards:
April
5th Jazz – Palais des Congres in Perpignan
16th, 17th – Flower show at Chateau Valmy
16th – Blessing and distribution of Catalan Chocolate at Perpignan cathedral
17th – Olive Oil festival in Sorede
18th – Melodies of Kipling at Vernet-les-bains – Kiplings poems put to music.
21st – Beatles tribute band in Peyrestortes
24th – Fete Americaine in Argeles – Western music and dancing, American cars and motorbikes, a red Indian village, stagecoach rides and a mechanical bucking bronco.
23rd – Festival of St Jordi and UNESCO International Day of the Book as it is the anniversay of the deaths of two great writers, Shakespeare and Cervantes.
23rd, 24th – Fete des Geants and Goigs in Villefranche de Conflent.
23rd, 24th – The Mondial du Vent in Leucate. Funboard, Kitesurf, sail-carting and kite flying.
24th – Easter Egg train from Riveslat to Axat. Egg hunt and forest picnic.
Ceret Carnival
Ceret Carnival
May
1st – Fete du thym et de Forca Real in Corneilla la Riviere – street entertainment.
4th to 22nd – Girona flower festival. The whole of Girona covers itself in flowers, with free admission to parks and gardens.
7th May – 4th June The Spring Festival of the Aspres. Jazz concerts will take place in local wine domains and small village churches.
8th – Canet will host a military parade of vehicles, tanks of the 1940’s US Army, with an army camp and a live big band playing Glen Miller classics.
8th – Carnival procession in Saint Cyprien port.
14th – La Nuit des Musees - A free evening at local museums
14th – Concert “Che Tango” in Prades.
15th – Canet – Music from “Rock Country” and motorbike brocante.
28th, 29th – Cherry Festival in Ceret. A wonderful and colourful weekend with street music, dancing and entertainment.
29th – Three tenors from the opera Bastille at Chapelle du mas Riquer, Catllar.
29th – Mother’s Day in France.
