We will be in the area on the same days as both the Avignon Festival and Festival Off. Has anyone been to either or both? I am looking for family activities, attractions and possibly just being in Avignon when there are street performers or parades. I am trying to decipher the website but its a little hard to get.
We won't be going to concerts, just wanted to know if anyone has been there during this period. Thanks. Caroline
Posted by
Long Beach, California, USA
3398 posts
Hi Caroline, I've been in Avignon several times during the Avignon Festival...there are street performers everywhere. Many of them are advertisements for plays, others are performance art pieces, and then there is the classic French assortment of indecipherable spectacles that one just can't really describe. Some of the performances are Cirque du Soleil like, others are comedy, some are just incredibly creative. There are things being done in the street day and night...you just have to wander around and you'll be plenty entertained! If you can be in Avignon on Bastille Day, the town has an amazing tradition of everyone walking through the streets with flaming torches to the river, they sit down on its banks, and the city produces an incredible fireworks show over the river. I've never seen anything quite like it anywhere else... Enjoy the Festival! I try not to miss it if I'm in France during the summer.
Anita
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10621 posts
You may catch the lantern parade elsewhere as not only is it traditional, particularly in smaller towns, but also the lanterns symbolize cut heads.
Posted by
OP
Lynn, MA, USA
104 posts
Hi Anita, Its good to hear about the festival. It sounds like a worthwhile drive to town as we are staging in Isle Sur la Sorgue and can drive there.
The thing about Bastille Day that I am unhappy about is I am in Villefrance that day and driving to Chamonix on the 14th, I tried to rearrange things but could not. I really wanted to be in Carcassonne. The Avignon Bastille celebration sounds great too. Thank you for your information Anita. Have a great day.