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What’s on: Ten cool things to do in France in August 2016

Les Vacances - the holidays - are upon us, and Paris is already emptying out. Here is a selection of the best events on the calendar.

Published: 29 July 2016 11:49 CEST

What's on: Ten cool things to do in France in August 2016

Photo: AFP

If you've chosen to stay in the capital for August (and we understand that it's a tough choice), don't forget that the Paris Plages will be running all through the month.

Here are ten other events in France in August that are well worth a visit.

1. Rock en Seine, Aug 26th – 28th

This three-day rock festival is without doubt a Paris favourite. This year promises to be a great one, too, with headline acts such as Massive Attack and Iggy Pop.

(Rockers at the 2014 Rock en Seine festival. Photo: AFP)

The event itself is held just west of Paris in the Domaine National de Saint-Cloud, with three-day passes on sale from €119. Find out a lot more about the event on their English-language website here.

2. Night of Stars, Aug 5th – 7th

For three days, the Nuits des étoiles, (“night of stars”) will be held all over France. There will be around 300 events across the country, with hundreds of sites welcoming both amateurs and certified astronomists to contemplate the Milky Way.

(Star-gazing in Lille, northern France, at a previous event. Photo: AFP)

The event has proved so popular that it has even taken off in other European and African countries. It's run by the Association Française d'Astronomie – find out more here.

3. Celtic Festival, Aug 5th – 14th

This festival, known as InterCeltique, will see thousands of Celtic musicians descend on the town of Lorient in Brittany, western France. Brittany is one of the six “Celtic nations” where Celtic traits have survived (the others are Cornwall, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and the Isle of Man).

(Dance a jig with the Celts in Brittany. Photo: AFP)

Expect Celtic music in various styles, including traditional, classical, folk, jazz, and even rock. All aspects of Celtic art will be explored over the ten days, with writers, film directors, painters and lecturers on hand for the estimated total audience of 500,000.

There will also be headline guests including The Corrs and Joan Baez.

More information here (only in French).

4. Lama Film Festival, July 30th – Aug 5th

Always wanted to head to Corsica but never had a reason? Why not pop down to the Lama Film Festival. Granted, you'll need to have a good grasp of French to understand the films, and considering it's a European Film Festival the subtitles will be in French – BUT – take a look at the video below and tell us that you wouldn't want to visit this charming town.

Festival du film de Lama from Bilitis Poirier on Vimeo.

Association festival du film de Lama

The event runs until August 5th and features open-air film screenings, workshops for the children to learn about how movies are made, and meets for theatre and music enthusiasts. Read more here (in French).

5. Festival du Comminges, August

Do you like classical music? Look no further. This music festival is celebrating its 41st year in 2016, and it's already showcased some since it opened earlier this summer.

August will be no exception, with the southern French town playing host to a range of choirs (including Gregorian, Orthodox Russian, and Basque), and indeed fine music on most days – check out the full schedule here.

6: Fete du bruit, Aug 12th – 14th

This music festival will be headlined by Die Antwoord (pictured below), Iggy Pop, Garbage, and The Cranberries, and will take place in Landerneau, in Brittany, western France. Tickets for the three-day pass are on sale for €114.

7. International Festival of Photojournalism, Aug 27th to Sept 11th

This event, held in southern France's Perpignan, is described as the biggest festival of photojournalism in the world and attracts around 230,000 visitors as well as 3,000 professionals.

The event which kicks off on August 27th, is called Visa pour L’Image and it started in 1989 with the idea to “create a photography festival dedicated entirely to photojournalism.” As well as being able to see some spectacular photos from the world of journalism, visitors will also be able to meet the people behind the lenses. For more info, click here.

8. Festival de Musique, Menton, July 29th – Aug 14th

Is classical music your thing? Then what better way to enjoy it than in the stunning Menton, out the front of the Saint-Michel Archange cathedral (among other places).

There will be names from around the world performing, with some tickets as cheap as €10. Read more here.

9. Foire aux Vins d’Alsace, Colmar, August 5th – 15th

A ten-day festival with performances from the likes of Pete Doherty, Limp Bizkit, and Manu Chao.

As for the wine, there will be over 300 exhibitors displaying their goods.

Below is a video giving you an idea from last year's event. Click here for more info about the 2016 event.

10. Fête du Cassoulet, Aude, August 24th – 28th

Who doesn't like a good cassoulet? This festival obviously promotes the French specialty (learn how to cook it here while you're at it), but also offers sporting activities, music, and over 40,000 cassoulets.

Get an idea from last year's even in the video below. More info here. Bon appetit.

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Eight corona-safe events not to miss in Germany in October 2020

One of the displays at the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival in 2019. Photo: DPA

The coronavirus pandemic has significantly disrupted Germany’s events calendar this year, with staple celebrations such as Oktoberfest being cancelled due to safety concerns.

But despite restrictions, organisers have adapted to the circumstances and put together corona-safe events that can be enjoyed by all (albeit at a safe distance).

Here are some of the most exciting events to look out for in October:

German Unity Day Exhibition: September 5th – October 4th

The commemorative exhibition is running over thirty days to allow social distancing to be maintained. Photo: DPA

The Tag der Deutschen Einheit (German Unity Day) is one of the nine nationwide public holidays in Germany and takes place on October 3rd every year.

It commemorates the formal completion of the reunification process between the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) after decades of division.

It is normally celebrated with open air concerts and attractions in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, but due to coronavirus things will look slightly different this year.

A special anniversary celebration on October 3rd at Potsdam’s Metropolis will be attended by only 240 guests, six times fewer than originally planned.

The event, which includes performances from musicians and interviews, will be broadcast for people to watch on television.

There’s also no need to miss out on celebrating entirely – a special open air exhibition is running in Potsdam, the capital of Brandenburg, until October 4th.

The exhibition has been extended to last thirty days to ensure that a safe distance can be maintained amongst visitors.

Berlin Leuchtet Illuminations: September 25th – October 4th

The light show at the Brandenburg Gate this year celebrates 30 years of German unity. Photo: DPA

It’s not too late to catch the tail end of Berlin’s spectacular illumination festival. As the darker evenings draw in, many of the city’s landmarks are being lit up with colourful projections, videos and laser shows.

The illuminated buildings are scattered all over the city, with some highlights including Gendarmenmarkt, the Brandenburg Gate and the Victory Column in Tiergarten.

It is asked that visitors maintain 1.5 metres distance and the wearing of face masks is recommended.

Halloween Horror Festival at Movie Park Germany: October 1st – November 8th

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Be warned: this event is most definitely not for the faint hearted! Head to Bottrop on North-Rhine Westphalia to test your wits in the horror mazes at Germany’s most popular Halloween Festival.

Various spooky attractions including gut-churning rides, live entertainment and haunted houses await those brave enough to visit, although most are only suited for those above the age of 16.

The park is open every Thursday to Sunday in October, as well as on November 1st and November 6th – 8th.

Advance booking is essential due to strict capacity limits, and no costumes are allowed – the only masks permitted this year are the mouth-nose coverings that prevent the spread of the virus!

European Month of Photography: October 1st – October 31st

The European Month of Photography has something to offer for everyone. Photo: DPA

This October sees Germany’s largest photography festival return to Berlin. The event has taken place every other year since 2004, and offers a wide range of exhibitions for photography enthusiasts to enjoy.

For the whole month of October, 100 galleries, photography schools, museums and other cultural institutions will offer the public a chance to see incredible work from 500 artists across Europe.

Exhibitions can be found all across the capital and also in the nearby city of Potsdam.

Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival: August 28th – December 6th

The festival boasts impressive pumpkin displays and fun-filled activities. Photo: DPA

A trip to Ludwigsburg is an essential for all those in awe of autumn, and makes for a fun day out for the whole family.

This year’s theme is music, with various impressive pumpkin displays paying tribute to famous artists ranging from Elvis to the Rolling Stones.

The programme also boasts an array of other activities: try your hand at pumpkin carving, sample pumpkin flavoured specialties or visit the pumpkin Santa Claus tent to get in the festive mood!

German Mozart Festival Augsburg: October 9th – October 31st

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A post shared by Deutsche Mozartstadt Augsburg (@mozartstadt) on Sep 14, 2020 at 3:47am PDT

Classical music fans won’t want to miss this celebration of the two of the greatest composers of all time, Beethoven and Mozart.

The German town of Augsburg, birthplace of Leopold Mozart (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s father), is hosting various concerts to celebrate the life and work of these two classical titans.

Events range from lower-key chamber music recitals to large-scale renditions of their most impressive symphonies, and includes performances from renowned soloists and orchestras.

Games Week Berlin: October 28th – October 30th

The gaming conference may be online this year, but there is still lots on offer. Photo: DPA

This year’s Games Week won’t be held in Berlin’s Kulturbrauerei as normal, but game lovers need not fear – an extensive online programme is available for everyone to enjoy.

The festival’s three strands – “Play Experience”, “Pro Experience” and “Art Experience” – offer something for everyone, from gaming enthusiasts to industry creatives.

Live ‘let’s plays’, multiplayer tournaments, interviews with gaming influencers and game development conferences are just some of the events available to those who purchase an online ticket.

Wine tasting along the Deutsche Weinstraße – Various dates in October

Despite cancellations, there are still plenty of chances to try some German wine. Photo: DPA

September and October marks grape harvesting season in Germany, meaning it is the perfect time to taste some of the best wines the country has to offer.

Sadly, many of the wine festivals that usually take place along the German Wine Route have been cancelled this year, but there are still ample opportunities that are too good to miss.

Take a weekend trip to the Bacchus Wine Festival in the town of Bad Dürkheim in Rhineland-Palatinate, where you’ll find live music, delicious food and plenty of wine.

Similar delights await visitors in the nearby Weisenheim am Sand, albeit at reduced capacity. The company BottleStops also offers group and private tours to visitors who want to get a taste of local wineries, a majority which are currently open.

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