Festivals
In Le Var, culture is a party! By the sea in the setting sun or in the vineyards of an elegant estate, the festivals of the Var celebrate all the arts. Music, dance, theatre, but also visual arts and architecture, immerse yourself for a few days in these dreamlike worlds of wild energy.
Music festivals
From contemporary to classical, from Gregorian repertoire to electronic sounds, all musical styles are represented, some in unusual venues, others in listed monuments. As you'll have gathered, the Var festival scene is rich in diversity, both in terms of the venues chosen and the line-up.
Our destination also boasts a large number of green theatres, providing a magnificent backdrop for a number of renowned festivals, including the Festival de Ramatuelle, which has been presenting the greatest artists in both music and theatre for forty years.
The sea also plays a full part in these events, which are all about relaxation and conviviality. The sea is also an integral part of these events, which are all about relaxation and conviviality, from major summer music events such as Jazz à Porquerolles to more intimate but equally cutting-edge events such as the Moko Festival , which sees the sun set over Toulon harbour.
On the other side of the world, you can discover nuggets of talent in unusual venues such as the classical festival at Domaine Gavoty, which welcomes Storia, an ensemble made up of musicians from the Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra, every July. The Festival du Château in Solliès-Pont, meanwhile, offers an exceptional setting at the foot of the 16th-century Château de Forbin for concerts by top names in music and comedy.
While most festivals take place in the middle of summer, a few have opted for the gentler spring or autumn months. This is particularly true of the Festival Faveurs de Printemps, which takes place in Hyères-les-Palmiers in April (organised by the Tandem association) and is a meeting place for pop and folk fans keen to discover the best of the national and international scene. The Rade Side Festival is the place to be for fans of contemporary music in Toulon in October.
Lovers of classical music won't have to wait for the summer period either: the Toulon Music Festival has been offering a cutting-edge programme all year round in a wide variety of venues since 1951.
As for Le Thoronet Abbey, its prestigious festival Les musicales de l'abbaye du Thoronet begins in July and runs until October.
Culture is a festival in Le Var
While the Var's festivals give pride of place to all types of music, other cultural fields are honoured with just as much passion.
Theatre and comedy, cinema and dance are celebrated from June to August in iconic venues steeped in history. A Roman theatre in Fréjus or an amphitheatre in the heart of the pine forest in Ollioules all promise carefully chosen shows in breathtaking settings.
Design, fashion and street art also have their own festivals, always surprising, inspiring and innovative, some on an international scale. Take a stroll through Saint-Raphaël and discover the works of some of the biggest names in the urban arts, all showcased at the Résonances urbaines Festival. You can also discover the dreamlike worlds of the most promising designers in Hyères-les-Palmiers and Toulon during the Design Parade. Also in Toulon, among other artistic performances, the dance battles and open-air screenings at the Extra Muros Festival will have us holding our breath all summer long.
The elements also have their festival! This is particularly true of the sea, which has two festivals dedicated to it. Galathéa, the International Festival of the Marine World in Hyères-les-Palmiers, raises awareness of today's issues among all generations through a wide range of events. The Festival Passion Méditerranée in Cavalaire-sur-Mer offers an entire weekend dedicated to scuba diving and sea-themed music. Air is also on the agenda: the International Air Festival in Fréjus is a not-to-be-missed autumn event.
Spotlight on eco-committed festivals
Drinking in music and culture for a weekend is all very well, but doing it in a way that respects our environment, both natural and human, is even better!
As an example, two renowned festivals have spared no effort to reduce their carbon footprint. The Festival de Néoules may be one of the oldest festivals in the Var, but it is nonetheless particularly committed, and more so every year.
The festival initiated an eco-responsible and sustainable approach in 2016, then signed up to the Collectif des Festivals COFFES in 2021, to join the national Festivals en mouvements survey in 2023.
Sorting and recycling as much waste as possible, using reusable cups (eco cup), reusable and recyclable LED spotlights and installations, sales from local products, setting up a campsite, car-sharing platform, commitment to gender equality... all measures that in no way detract from the warm atmosphere of the moment, quite the contrary.
The Festival Les Grimaldines is also doing its utmost to reduce its carbon footprint as much as possible. Also a member of COFFES, with all the elements mentioned above, the festival organisation has set up similar actions to manage waste sustainably and encourage festival-goers to use the shuttles provided.
All festivals
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