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WHATS ON

What’s on in France: Ten fun things to do in April

Spring has finally sprung in France, and there are plenty of ways to celebrate up and down the country.

What's on in France: Ten fun things to do in April
Photo: AFP

Printemps de Bourges, central France, April 12th-17th

This music festival is now in its 40th year and gets bigger every time; over five days, more than 100 artists will perform from a diverse range of genres, with concerts showcasing big names as well as newcomers.

Photo: AFP

Music industry professionals regularly recruit new talent at the Printemps du Bourges, so if you’re the type of person who likes to hear new sounds before they hit the charts, it’s a good chance to spot about-to-be-discovered stars. There are discounts on tickets if you’re going to multiple concerts, and even reduced rates for public transport tickets between Bourges and Paris.

Paris marathon, 3rd April

There will be 57,000 runners pounding the streets in the 40th edition of the Paris marathon, one of the world's biggest, with a route taking in iconic Parisian views. Even if you won’t be participating, you can find a scenic spot to watch the racers and enjoy some of the entertainment on offer for the occasion. 


Photo: AFP

Mini marathons will take place on April 2nd for children between the ages of five and ten, who can also enjoy live music and face painting. And if you’re inspired to take up running yourself, the Paris Color Run, a manageable 5km race where participants are covered in coloured paint along the way, takes place on the 17th – and there's still time to enter.

Art and antiques fair, Antibes, southern France, April 16th – May 2nd

It's easy to see why the ancient city of Antibes, founded centuries BC and a favourite of Monet, Picasso and Renoir to name just a few, is an appropriate venue for one of Europe’s largest antiques and arts fairs. 

Photo: Martin/Flickr

The stalls, some covered and some open-air, will showcase jewellery, artworks and furniture, and the event has become popular with international traders and collectors. A new addition this year is the option of a professional guide to show you around the stalls, meaning that even novices can get a good understanding of the goods on display.

The Great Roman Games, Nimes, southern France, April 23rd-24th

If you sometimes feel like you were born in the wrong century, this historical reenactment gives you a chance to experience life in Roman times, in the atmospheric setting of Nimes's Roman amphitheatre. 

With gladiator games, street entertainment and workshops for children taking place throughout the day, the Games culminate with a huge reenactment of the Naval Battle of Actium involving over 500 actors. This was the last war of the Roman Republic, fought against against Marc Antony and Cleopatra, and led to the founding of the Roman Empire.

British cinema festival, Bastia, Corsica, until April 12th

France is renowned for its cinematic traditions, but homesick UK expats, or anyone interested in film, might appreciate something a bit different. 

Photo: Studio Cinema

For a fortnight, Bastia’s Studio Cinema will show a different British film each day at 10am (check their website for details) accompanied by a brunch.

Kite Festival, Berck-sur-Mer, Hauts-de-France April 9th-17th

The long, windy beaches of Berck sur Mer see hundreds of thousands of tourists gather annually to admire giant kites of all shapes, sizes and colours. 

Photo: AFP

There are displays, shows, and workshops on making and flying kites, plus firework shows at night. 2016 will also see the biennial International Kite Championships take place as teams from all over the world compete for the title, currently held by a British team.

Scallop Festival, Brittany

It's a sad time of year for seafood-lovers as the scallop season comes to an end, but Brittany fishing towns Saint-Quay-Portrieux, Loguivy-de-la-Mer and Erquy ensure it goes out in style with a dedicated festival.

Photo: Christopher Bulle/Flickr

There will be a parade, street entertainment, music and obviously plenty of food. Many restaurants offer special menus for the occasion and you can even go out with the sailors on one of the final fishing trips.

Foire de Paris, April 29th-May 8th

Now running for 112 years in Paris, the fair focuses on innovation in five different areas of our daily life: house and lifestyle, wellbeing, fashion and accessories, leisure and everyday life and regional wine and gastronomy.

Photo: AFP  

Visitors can test all kinds of products, making it great for anyone looking to furnish a new home or just find out more about technology.

Comic strip festival, Aix en Provence, April 1st-3rd

Fans of Asterix and co will enjoy this three-day festival at the Cite du Livre library. 

Photo: AFP

As well as checking out the wide range of comics on sale, visitors can also attend talks, workshops and screenings with experts in the industry from artists to publishers.

Street Theatre Festival, Cucuron, southeastern France, April 21st-24th

Cucuron and Vaugines, two mountainside villages which have each been used as locations for several movies, are worth visiting at any time of year for their rural charm alone, but on the last weekend of April their streets will come alive with different public performances both from amateur and professional groups.

Photo: LaurPhil/Flickr

Most of the shows will be free, though some will cost €5, and if you want to support the festival you can donate to their crowdfunding site.

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EVENTS

How Cologne is preparing for the start of Carnival on Friday

Dressing up, singing, and drinking: On Friday, countless Jecken (revelers) in Cologne will once again celebrate the start of the Carnival session.

How Cologne is preparing for the start of Carnival on Friday

Dubbed Germany’s “fifth season” by locals, the event starts every year on November 11th at 11:11 am, and typically stretches into February or March, when colourful parades spill into the streets.

Carnival stronghold Cologne in particular is preparing for the onslaught of tens of thousands of people who will flock to its Altstadt (old town), and especially to the student quarter, starting early Friday morning. 

READ ALSO: 10 unmissable events in Germany this November

“Far too many people want to celebrate in far too small a space,” city director Andrea Blome told DPA. “We can’t stop anyone from coming to Cologne now.” 

More security this year

In the popular Kwartier Latäng student quarter, there have been regular bouts of drinking by young partygoers in the past, who crowded into a confined space, leaving litter everywhere and publicly peeing on the corners of buildings. 

Google Maps shows the location of the so-called Kwartier Latäng part of Cologne.

But with a new security plan, the city and police hope to keep the situation under control.

Several checkpoints and road closures have been set up to secure the safety of the revelers and relieve the burden on worried residents, according to Blome. Visitors will only be able to enter the closed-off area around Zülpicher Straße via a single access point. 

On Friday, Cologne is also set to send a total of 150 employees from the Ordnungsamt (public order office) onto the streets, who will be supported by 520 private security guards. 

A glass ban will again apply in the celebration zones, and several hundred toilets will be set up at the hotspots, “which nevertheless will probably not be used by all visitors,” Blome predicted.

READ ALSO: 10 words you need to know at Cologne’s Carnival

Up to 1,100 police officers are expected to be on duty on the day – about 200 fewer than last year, said head of operations Rüdiger Fink. But he expected to keep the situation “under control with a new security plan.”

What to expect

On Cologne’s Heumarkt, there will be a stage program all day with bands such as the Bläck Fööss, the Paveiern and Brings. 

Google Maps shows Cologne’s Heumarkt along the Rhine River.

According to the Willi Ostermann Society, about 10,000 tickets were sold in advance for the event, which will be aired by German WDR for several hours.

Meanwhile, in Düsseldorf, the day will start at 11:11 a.m. with the “Hoppeditz Awakening” in front of City Hall. 

According to a spokesman, the police will be adequately prepared for the start of the season, with a particular focus on the Altstadt, where there will certainly be celebrations.

“But 11.11. is a very different event here in Düsseldorf than in Cologne,” he said, referring to a more orderly start and fewer guests.

READ ALSO: What you need to know about celebrating Carnival in Germany

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