Carnival
February/March
Celebrate carnival in Nice for an incredible 15 days. Take in the floats strewn with flowers that parade the city, with the flower battles on the Promenade des Anglais a real highlight. Impressively decorated floats are ridden by equally impressively decorated locals, who throw flowers out towards the crowds, a ritual that works its way through 20 tons of mimosa.
Gourd Festival
March
Celebrate the welcome end of winter at the Gourd Festival in the Jardins de Cimiez with gourd-inspired food, painting and competitions.
Fête du Château
June
Delightfully set in the grounds of Nice’s château, enjoy this contemporary music festival free of charge as you listen to rock, jazz, funk, trip hop and Latin acts, in addition to arts and craft stalls and opportunities to fill your stomach.
Nice Jazz Festival
July
Nice Jazz Festival has been an annual event since 1948, and is one Europe’s premier jazz events. There are a number of stages on Place Masséna to accommodate the acts over eight days, which include noteworthy international musicians delivering traditional and contemporary sounds.
Marathon des Alpes Maritimes
November
The regional marathon makes its way each year along the coastal road towards Cannes.