15 Things to Do in France in August You Won’t Want to Miss

France comes into its own in the summer. From wine celebrations in medieval villages to open-air concerts under the stars. Life is lived outdoors, and the French know how to make everything seem like a party. 

You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to things to do in France in August. You’ll find outdoor jazz by the sea, fireworks lighting up the Riviera, and plenty of food festivals to whet your appetite. And then there’s the cycling races across mountain passes, brocante markets spilling over with antiques, and night markets that fill the villages with music. 

This guide highlights a range of the best events across the country, from the cultural events worth booking ahead to the local fêtes that give you a taste of authentic French summer.

Brittany in August

Brittany knows how to celebrate summer. August brings music by the sea, streets filled with art, and that unmistakable Breton energy. Add a plate of galettes or a glass of cider, and you’ll understand why locals love this time of year.

Festival Interceltique de Lorient

1 to 10 August 2025

If you’ve ever wanted to dive headfirst into Celtic culture, Lorient is your stage. For ten days, the city beats to the sound of pipes and drums, with musicians flying in from Scotland, Ireland, and Galicia. The Grand Parade of Celtic Nations is unforgettable, with thousands in traditional costume marching through town. Evenings are for open-air concerts where everyone sings along.

Entry is easy on the wallet too: a support badge for the whole festival is €10, and kids under 12 go free. Visit the festival website for full details >>>

Festival du Bout du Monde

1 to 3 August 2025

It’s hard to beat music stages with ocean views, and that’s precisely what you get on the Crozon Peninsula. The stages are set in the open air with views that stretch to the Atlantic, and the music is as global as it gets; folk, reggae, ska, and a few surprises. There is plenty of Breton cider flowing until the early hours.

Day tickets typically start at around €44, and multi-day passes are worthwhile if you want to experience the full event. Visit the festival website for full details >>>

Route du Rock, Saint-Malo

16 to 19 August 2025

This one’s for the indie crowd set in the gorgeous town of Saint Malo. What began as a small gathering in the early 1990s has evolved into one of France’s most respected rock festivals. Route du Rock mixes established acts with the best of the alternative scene. Past editions have featured names like The Cure, PJ Harvey, and Tame Impala, and the vibe stays true to its roots—raw, authentic, and by the sea.

Ticket prices vary by day and pass type. Visit the festival website for full details >>> 

La Gacilly Photo Festival

June and runs until 5 October 2025

For something completely different, head inland to La Gacilly, where the streets become a giant outdoor gallery. Oversized photo installations line cobbled lanes, gardens, and riverbanks. Every year, the festival focuses on new themes, often tied to nature and culture, and the village setting makes it an experience you won’t find in a museum.

The exhibitions are free to wander, and guided tours start at about €7.50. Visit the festival website for full details >>>

South of France in August

The South of France truly turns up the heat in August with seaside stages, magical fireworks over the bay, and motorbike gatherings. It’s all the Mediterranean energy you crave wrapped into music, art, and seaside breathing space.

Festival de La Roque-d’Anthéron

19 July to 18 August 2025

I haven’t been to this yet, but as a pianist, I have it on my bucket list of things to do in the South of France. This international Piano Festival takes place in the park of the Château de Florans and a handful of other Provençal spots. The setting is as much a part of the experience as the music, and if you’re lucky, you might catch a concert timed with sunset.

Ticket prices vary depending on the performance, starting from about €15. Visit the festival website for full details >>>

Cannes Pyrotechnic Festival

4 July to 24 August 2025 (firework nights in August: 5, 15, 24 August)

Each August evening, Cannes plunges into darkness at 10 pm, allowing the bay to light up with six spectacular pyrotechnic shows. These competing displays set fireworks to music and draw huge crowds down to the Croisette for waterfront viewing.

Shows are free to watch from public beaches. Visit the festival website for full program details. 

Brescoudos Bike Week, Cap d’Agde

31 August to 7 September 2025

What began decades ago with Harley riders around Île de Brescou has grown into a full week of parades, rock and blues concerts, bike shows, and food stalls along the Mediterranean.

Entry passes vary; day passes and full-week packages are available. Check the official Brescoudos site for ticket details >>>

Fête de l’Ail Rose, Lautrec

1 to 2 August 2025

Every year on the first Friday and Saturday in August, Lautrec celebrates garlic. This little medieval town in the Tarn smells like garlic for two days straight. Stalls pile high with pink garlic, there are cooking demos, and even garlic-themed art. Bands play on the square, and you’ll hear the clink of wine glasses long into the evening.

For more information, visit the official festival website >>>

Fête du Cassoulet, Castelnaudary

20 – 24 August, 2025

If you love Cassoulet, then Castelnaudary is the place to be towards the end of August. Five days of music, fireworks, and communal tables all dedicated to one dish: cassoulet. Chefs compete for bragging rights, locals argue about which recipe is “the real one,” and visitors just keep eating. 

For more information, visit the official festival website >>>

Alsace in August

The Alsace villages look like something out of a storybook, but this is the month when Colmar becomes a playground for wine lovers and Mulhouse turns into a stage for jazz.

Colmar Wine Fair (Foire aux Vins d’Alsace)

25 July to 3 August 2025

Part wine showcase, part music festival, the Colmar Wine Fair has been an institution since 1948. Inside the Parc des Expositions, you can taste your way through Rieslings and Gewürztraminers, sample local cheeses and charcuterie, and then catch a major concert in the evening. Past headliners have included big international names, so it’s worth booking early if there’s an act you love.

Entry for the fair is affordable, and wine tastings are included. Concert tickets are sold separately and vary depending on the artist. Visit the wine fair website for full details >>>

Météo Music Festival, Mulhouse

20 to 23 August 2025

The Météo Festival takes over the gorgeous town of Mulhouse for four days, with jazz shows in quirky spaces like old factories turned creative hubs.

Evening tickets start at about €30, and a full pass is around €100. Find the program and book online >>> 

Midi‑Pyrénées in August

Earlier this year, I visited the Gers region for the first time and fell in love with the small town of Marciac. In summer, Marciac becomes a jazz village. People from all over descend on this tiny Gers town to share outdoor gigs, late-night jam sessions, and wine-sipping under arcades. It’s magical.

Jazz in Marciac

21 July to 7 August 2025

This festival takes over the town for more than two weeks. Nighttime concerts take place under a vast tent that can accommodate around 6,000 people. During the day, you’ll find free “off” shows in the square and small events around town. The lineup this year includes Robert Plant, Santana, Melody Gardot, Gregory Porter, Ben Harper, and still more jazz artists.

Evening shows under the big tent are ticketed, but the off‑stage performances on the square are free to enjoy. Some concerts sell out early, so check the official website for full details >>>

Paris & Île‑de‑France in August

Paris slows down in August, but the city isn’t asleep. There are big festivals, lazy afternoons by the water, and enough open-air music to make you forget most locals have skipped town.

Rock en Seine, Saint‑Cloud

20 to 24 August 2025

If you’re craving loud guitars and a festival buzz, head to Domaine National de Saint‑Cloud. Rock en Seine brings in major names across five stages, and the setting in a historic park feels a world away from city streets.

Day tickets start at about €75, and passes run higher. Check the official site for details.

Classique au Vert, Parc Floral

28 June to 6 September 2025

Classique au Vert is the antidote to summer heat. It’s live classical music in the gardens of Parc Floral on weekend afternoons. People sit on the grass; some bring picnic baskets, others just show up and listen.
Park entry is around €2.70, but the concerts are free. Check the official website for full program details >>>

Paris Plages

5 July to 31 August 2025

Paris Plages turns the Seine and Bassin de la Villette into riverside hangouts with sand, deck chairs, and space to cool off. It’s not the Riviera, but it’s free, fun, and perfect for an afternoon with an ice cream. For more details, visit the Paris City Website >>>

Brocantes & Vide-Greniers in August

If you love rummaging for treasures, August is prime time. Almost every village or town holds a brocante or vide-grenier at some point this month, usually on weekends. You’ll find everything from old enamel signs and vintage linens to crates of vinyl and forgotten toys.

The biggest one near me in the Charente is held in a little village called Fourquere, it’s where I go line dancing every week. They even have a large display of vintage cars that participate in a procession through the brocante towards the end of the day, which draws the crowds and is quite a theatrical performance.

It honestly feels like someone has emptied their entire house onto a field, as you never know what you’ll uncover. Go early if you’re serious about finding something good, and bring cash because cards aren’t an option at most stalls.

To find out where there is a brocante near your accommodation, use this website.