Mary AnneEvents in France in January 2022 promise much. Let’s hope they will be able to go ahead with the current Covid-19 uncertainty.
Some may be cancelled or postponed at the last minute, so check the websites before you go.
January 1st is a public holiday in France.
Jan 6, 2022 Epiphany: This is the day when Christmas in France officially ends. The day when the Three Wise Men come from the east to visit the baby Jesus. This being France, it’s celebrated with a cake: La Galette des Rois which has a long and distinguished history. You’ll find the boulangeries are all full of these cakes, and some of the top French chefs make very expensive versions for those wishing to impress their friends.
Jan 8-18, 2022: La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc is a thrilling event, both for those taking part and those lucky enough to watch. This is one of the longest and most difficult dog sled races in the world and takes place in Savoie and Haute-Savoie in the Alps. It’s 11 days of high speed racing by the world’s best mushers and their dogs who race through 22 resorts and cover 750 kms. It opens with fireworks, walks and hikes, mulled wine, giant tartiflettes to eat, films, exhibitions, a kid’s introduction to sled driving, igloo-building and more.
Here’s what the race is all about:
Jan 12-Feb 8, 2022: Les Soldes d’Hiver. If you can, go shopping! This is the French sale season and the chance for some great bargains. And they are genuine as the January Sales dates are subject to strict law. You will however find that Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse, Moselle, Vosges, Landes and Pyrenéees-Atlantiques set their own dates so if you’re planning a shopping bonanza in any of these departments, check first.
More about sales and discount shopping in France.
Jan 15-16, 2022: the Fête de la Truffe is a glorious event entirely dedicated to the glorious truffle. This well known annual event in France is held in Sarlat, Perigord. Discover more about truffles through identification workshops, truffle hunting demonstration and cookery demonstrations from local chefs. In the grand market place you can meet the truffle growers and gatherers and buy the famous ‘black diamonds’. And indulge your taste at one of the restaurants in the Place de la Liberté with ‘croustous’ tapas with truffle and foie gras.
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Jan 18-27, 2022: Paris is all about fashion, so it’s right that the global capital of style celebrates its famous designers with Paris Fashion Week. Many of the events are open to the public.
Jan 19-23, 2022: Cheval Passion Horse Show in Avignon is a must for horse lovers. Over 1,200 horses and 90 hours of performances in the Parc des Expositions show every skill from trick riding to Western competitions. One of the great events is the Crinières d’Or. Acts created specially for the event are exciting, daring and spectacular. In addition to the acts, there are 250 exhibitors, 12 corrals, 12 display halls and more. And it’s great for children too with a special Poney Passion.
Jan 23-Apr 4, 2022: Limoux Carnival in the Aude, Languedoc-Roussillon kicks off the French carnival season in style. For over 700 years it’s been celebrating a group of local millers who, having paid off their taxes to the local monks, roamed through the streets, handing out flour and treats to the locals. And they’ve been doing it every since. This fabulous costumed event takes place every weekend to the beginning of April.
Jan 24-30, 2022: Premiers Plans Festival is dedicated to new European talent in the cinema. Around 100 debut films are shown for a whole week in Angers. Over 70,000 people come to see the festival which is supported by the greats of French cinema from Gérard Depardieu to Jeanne Moreau.
Jan 26-30, 2022: More film talent at the Fantasy Film Festival in the Gérardmer ski resort in the Vosges, Grand Est. Since 1994 the festival offers 100 screenings of 50 films. It includes around 40 new films plus retrospectives of different directors. There are 4 cinema screens.
And of course, this being a French event, there are exhibitions, theatre and street performances, make-up stands, video games and window display competitions.
Jan 26-30 2022: Nantes’ classical music festival La Folle Journée has been held annually since 1995. For five days there are around 250 concerts of fairly short duration (45 minutes) at an affordable price, encouraging those new to classic music.
Jan 27-Feb 2, 2022: Rallye de Monte-Carlo Historique in Reims, Champagne, is a great international event. Legendary cars start the race to Monaco in front of the cathedral in Reims at 7pm. At the same time, other cars start from Bad Homburg and Milan taking different routes. Like the Tour de France cycle race, it consists of different stages testing different skills.
The French route runs around Valence, through the Ardeche and over famous passes and cols. Stops are made for lunch at different now legendary places (like Antraigues-sur-Volane where the Jouanny family serves its renowned apple pie to all the crews!)
The final leg takes place during the night starting at 9pm on Feb 1, scheduled to finish around 1:10am on Port Hercule in Monaco on Feb 2.
The whole event ends with the Prize Ceremony and Gala Night in the Salles des Etoiles at Monte-Carlo Sporting Club.
Jan 27-30, 2022: The International Comic Strip Festival was scheduled in Angoulême but has been postponed. A new date later in the year will be announced after the current covid-19 outbreak ends. Let’s hope it takes place. It’s a great event where professionals from all over the world meet around 200,000 fans. Giant tents are full of stands taken by different publishers. There are signings, exhibitions, screenings, debates, conferences, meetings, concerts and competitions. For younger people, the youth area has a range of activities, games and all sorts of workshops.
I’ll post it in the correct month when the new dates are confirmed.
Jan 27-30 2022: The Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain (Global Festival of the Circus of Tomorrow) in the Bois de Vincennes in Paris is one of the world’s biggest circus festivals. Tightrope walkers, clowns, jugglers, acrobats and trapeze artists from around the world show off their considerable skills.
Jan 28-30,2022: Enduropale, Pas de Calais: Watch the wild bike racing on the beaches at Le Touquet, Stella and Merlimont. The beach circuit attracts around 150,000 spectators to watch the dare devils race through the sand.
Jan 28-Feb 5, 2022: The Festival de Court Métrage (International Short Film Festival) started in 1979 at a student film club in Clermont-Ferrand. Today’s it’s the world’s largest short film events. 13 cinemas show films to professionals, amateurs and film lovers. It’s seen the start of many a career for actors, directors, producers and technicians and has become the second biggest film festival in France after Cannes.
As in previous years, please indulge me. I am ruthlessly promoting it as my son starred in a film which was shown here in 2008: Ralph, First Love Hurts. He’s no longer in the acting profession but as a proud mum (with a house in the Auvergne), what else can I do? It was filmed in Marseille and is full of delightful touches.
Here’s the film!
Jan 29-30, 2022: Saint-Vincent Tournante Wine Celebration is an annual event in Burgundy. Winegrowers in different villages gather to thank the patron saint, Saint Vincent, for the previous year’s wine harvest and ask for his protection for the future harvest. It’s taken place since the Middle Ages.
Each year it’s a different village, hence the name Tournante (‘in rotation’). Postponed from last year, in 2022 it takes place in Puligny-Montrachet, Corpeau and Blagny. Famous names like Chablis and Nuits-Saint-Georges are featured but also smaller lesser known vintages are presented.
Events in France in 2022
I am currently updating the events for 2022. The articles here are not yet updated, but they do give an idea of what might be on as many events take place each year.
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