Med In Heaven
Nice has more festivals than most cities have streets. There is always a festival around the corner. From the famous Nice Jazz Festival to the grand Carnival of Nice, there is something for all tastes.
Nice Jazz festival, held in the historic surroundings of the Roman site at Cimiez,
is one of the three major Jazz events in Europe, drawing more than 500
musicians. Held every July, it brings together music from the full jazz
spectrum, from gospel and blues to fusion and urban funk. Jazz festivals
like this one are known to have more contemporary musicians, such as
rock bands. It is worth checking out the programme, as it sometimes
contains surprises. The Jazz festival in Juan Les Pins, also held in July, is another very popular festival that attracts equally famous artists.
Nice comes alive each June with the Fete de la Musique,
which is a huge outdoor music event. Everyone that can sing or play an
instrument stakes out a street corner and entertains the huge crowds
that gather before wandering onto the next artist. The Old Town gets so
busy it’s hard to move, with bars sporting competing bands to keep
punters from drifting too far. Every possible type of music is catered
for, and you are sure to discover something you have not heard before.
The Carnival de Nice is a centuries-old
celebration that brings together concerts, parties and numerous parades.
Held every February, the Carnival is 10 days of fun for all the family.
Dating back to the middle ages, people from all over the globe have
been descending on Nice each year to cut loose and have fun. Music
parades, mock battles and street music will entertain you for hours.
Nice’s bars and restaurants are as busy during the carnival as they are
in August, as hundreds of thousands of people descend into Nice.
Entrance fees for a handful of the sea-front carnivals are €10 for
standing and €20 for a ring seat. The Carnival in 2006, which was themed
the King of Dupes, attracted over 1.2m visitors. The torch-lit flower
parade is one of the most beautiful events of the Carnival.
The Festival Internationale de Music Milataire, the brainchild of
Mayor Jacques Peyrat, is an annual festival showcasing military music
from all around the world. An extraordinary event, it attracts close to
10,000 military enthusiasts, veterans, historians and music-lovers of
all kinds. Held in such locations as Place Massena, Theatre de Verdure
and Cathedral St. Reparante, all of the concerts are free.
The Vieux-Nice Baroque Concert is a tribute to the Baroque period
that has marked Nice’s architecture and culture. Gilbert Bezzina, first
violin and director of the Nice Baroque Ensemble, has brought a
newfound musical glory to the area’s many churches and chapels. Lasting
from October to April, this series of concerts give music-lovers the
chance to appreciate Baroque compositions in context. For tickets, go to
FNAC.
The annual Fete de la St. Jean is held on the longest day of each
year. Wood fires are lit on the beach and a torchlight procession
snakes its way through Nice. Folk dances, kid’s shows and food stalls of
local specialities are the main activities.
The Fete de la musique sacre is where music blends with
architecture. The churches of the old town are filled with the classical
sounds of Bach, Mozart and Couperin. Organ and choral music are the
main attractions, given the quality of the music.
The Orchestre d’Harmonie de la ville de Nice plays concerts every
Sunday from the bandstand in Jardin Albert 1st. From December until
March, concerts are held in the city’s churches and auditoriums.
Bastille day, a national holiday held every July 14th, brings a
stunning fireworks display on the Promenade, which can be seen for
miles.