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Special Events
January
A large funfair is held in Luna Park with rides and attractions for the delight of young and not so young spectators every year. (Palais des Expositions, esplanade de Lattre de Tassigny).
February
The Nice Carnaval draws visitors from all over Europe and North America to this ancient spectacle. This "Mardi Gras of the Riviera" begins sometime in February, usually 12 days before Shrove Tuesday, celebrating the return of spring with parades, floats (corsi), masked balls (veglioni), confetti, and battles in which young women toss flowers.. Climaxing the event is a fireworks display on Shrove Tuesday, lighting up the Baie des Anges (Bay of Angels). King Carnival goes up in flames on his pyre but rises from the ashes the following spring.
March
Festin des Cougourdons. A traditional festival with local folklore and decorated "cougourdons" which takes place every spring. The interesting shapes of these gourds grown in the area, lend themselves to a wide variety of interpretations...
April
May
La Fête des Mai -
With this festival, probably the oldest folk tradition in Nice, every Sunday in May; dancing, picnics, folk dancing brighten up the Cimiez gardens and amphitheatre.
June
Every year the fishermen of Nice celebrate Saint Peter's day. The festivities open with mass in the Ges?church, followed by a processsion all the way to Les Ponchettes beach (in front of old Nice) where a boat is burned in honour of their patron saint.
July
Nice Festival du Jazz, occurs for a week in mid-July.A roster of great jazz artists perform in the ancient Arène de Cimiez. For information and tickets, contact the Comit?des Fêtes, Mairie (town hall) de Nice, 5 rue de l'Hôtel-de-Ville, 06000 Nice 04-97-13-20-00).
Inspired by the great American jazz performances, this international jazz festival is one of a kind. Every year it draws the most famous soloists and bands to the incomparable venue of the Cimiez gardens and Amphitheatre.
August
September
October
Mushroom Exhibition (Parc Floral Phœnix).
November
Rock and Mineral Show (Parc Floral Phoenix).
December
Christmas Village (espace Masséna: jardin Albert 1er).
Arts and Entertainment
Concerts
Arènes De Cimiez
av. Arènes de Cimiez, Nice
Jazz and pop concerts are held during the summer.
Château de la Moutte
rte. des Salins, St-Tropez
Every July and August, Classical Music Concerts take place in the gardens
For ticket information, inquire at the St-Tropez tourist office
quai Jean-Jaurès, B.P. 183, St-Tropez, 04-94-97-45-21.
Acropolis
Classical music and ballet performances take place at Nice's convention center
the Palais des Congrès
Esplanade John F. Kennedy, Nice
04-93-92-83-00
Festival De Jazz D'antibes-Juan-Les-Pins
04-92-90-50-00
Every July the Festival is held under ancient pines. It's one of the oldest festivals in Europe and claims to have hosted the European debut performance of Miles Davis. More recent jazz greats gracing the tropical nights include Herbie Hancock, Kyle Eastwood, and Joshua Redman.
Festival De Musique De Chambre
In August, Menton's takes place on the stone-paved plaza outside the St-Michel Church.
Nice Jazz Festival
04-92-17-77-77
In July, the Jazz Festival draws international performers from around the world for outdoor concerts in the Parc de Cimiez north of the center, the Matisse museum, and the Roman arena.
Salle Garnier
pl. du Casino, Monte Carlo, 377/92-16-22-99
This is the main venue of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, both worthy of the magnificent hall.
Opera
Opéra De Nice
4 rue St-François-de-Paul, Nice,
04-92-17-40-40
The season runs from September to June.
Theater
Théâtre Municipal Francis-Gag
4 rue St-Joseph, Nice
04-93-62-00-03
This venue offers independent theater productions of traditional and contemporary works.
Théâtre De Nice
promenade des Arts, Nice
04-93-13-90-90
headed by stage and screen star Jacques Weber, alternates productions imported from Paris with creative experiments of the Centre National Dramatique Nice Côte d'Azur.
Beaches
Nice's seafront is home to at least seven different public beaches. None of them has sand; they are covered with gravel (often the size of golf balls). The rocks are smooth, but can still be difficult to navigate for people with poor balance or sensitive feet. Tucked in between the public beaches are the private beaches of hotels. Most of the public beaches are divided into two sections: a free area and an area where you can avail yourself of the chaise longues, mattresses, parasols, changing cabanas, and freshwater showers for a fee. Nude sunbathing is prohibited, but toplessness is common. Take bus nos. 9, 10, 12, and 23 from the center of town to get to the beach.
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