Traditional Festivities in the Tarascon area |
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| November______________________________________________________________________________________ |
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 Santon
market and Christmas market
November à : Fontvieille, Port-Saint Louis du Rhône,
Cabannes, Plan d'Orgon, Rognonas, Sénas, Tarascon.
December : Baux de Provence, Châteaurenard, Eyguières,
Graveson, Mallemort, Noves, Saint Rémy de Provence
Abrivado Festival: Saintes
Maries de la Mer
Mid novembre
On this occasion, a large number of local cowboys gather
for this traditional spectacle, in which most of the Camargue
cattle ranches participate .
 Provence
Prestige - Arles
Late november
Discover the Art of Living in Provence through a large range
of fine
products.
Salon International des Santonniers
- Arles
Late November through to January.
A magnificent exhibition of Christmas crèches and
santons in the halls of the Cloister of Saint Trophime.
The largest French exhibition of this speciality. More than
a 150 creators to have a different view of Christmas and
the art of the crèche
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| Décember
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Pastrage and Midnight Masses
December (Christmas) : Baux de Provence, Saint Michel de Frigolet,
Fontvieille, Barbentane,
Saint Martin de Crau, Saint Rémy de Provence.
A lamb is offered to the priest during midnight mass.
The Fête of the Shepherds
- Istres
December 3rd to December 7th:
Traditional evening with the shepherds, sheep dog competition,
wool and sheep bell fair, mass in Provençal and procession
of the transhumants (shepherds who take their sheep up to
the mountain pastures in summer) through the streets of
the town.
Sea Urchin Festival – Carry Le Rouet, Sausset Les
Pins and Port de Bouc
From December through to January : Tasting these sea foods
accompanied by wines of the area
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| Easter_
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Easter Feria - Arles
3 days of festivities centered on Spanish bullfights. |
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| May
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Cowboy
Festival - Arles
May 1st
Gathering of the cowboys and their Brotherhood. Mass and blessing
of the riders. Cowboy games on horseback and folk groups.
Pilgrimage to Our Lady of
the Castle – Tarascon
May 2nd
Gipsy Pilgrimage to Les Saintes
Maries de la Mer
May 24th and 25th.
Procession of Saint Sara, Patron Saint of the gipsies, Ceremony
of the Blessing of the Sea.
Transhumance Festival –
Saint Rémy de Provence
At Whitsuntide, reconstitution of the departure for the
mountain pastures of the shepherds and their flocks, an
impressive sight in the streets of the town where you can
see hundreds of sheep and rams.
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| July
– August___________________________________________________________________________________ |
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Crazy
Mussel Fête in Port Saint Louis du Rhône
June :
The Carteau Marine Fête (local specialities), cultivated
mussels from the Bay of Carteau. For 2 days, the “Carteau
mussel” reigns over Port Saint Louis du Rhône
Fishermen’s Fête
St Peter’s Day
Late June in Martigues and Port de Bouc : Procession of
a hundred fishing-boats and old sailing-boats. Festival
of sea shanties.
 Costume
Festival - Arles
First weekend in July.
During the Arles Fêtes, in the streets of the old
town, the people of Arles pay tribute to the local costume.
Religious ceremony and procession in costume to the Roman
Theatre bring life to the town.
Fêtes of St Eloi, St
Roch and the carts of St Madeleine
June : Barbentane, Eyragues, Maussane Les Alpilles, Mollègès,
Noves.
July : Chateaurenard, Maillanne, Rognonas.
July and August : Graveson.
August : Boulbon, Chateaurenard, Saint Rémy de Provence.
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| September
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 Green
Olive Festival - Mouriès
September
Mass to celebrate the olive harvest, processions in costume.
Rice Harvest Festival - Arles
Mid September
Every two years, a Rice Ambassadress is elected in Arles.
Blessing and offering of a sheaf of fresh rice by the Rice
Ambassadress. An imposing procession of decorated floats,
with a prize for the best, processions in costume, cowboys,
folk dancing.
The Rice Harvest Feria - Arles
A weekend of Spanish bullfighting with a festive atmosphere
all over town.
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