Since we are in the heart of the summer season now, I'm beginning Provence Travel and Culture with a brief introduction to some of the music and fireworks festivals.
If you've never experienced a European-style pyrotechnic competition and are in the area in July and August consider spending an evening looking at the stars.
My favorite fireworks festival is Le Festival d'Art Pyrotechnique, in Cannes. I like it for a variety of reasons, including that you can spread a blanket on the beach, open a bottle of wine and enjoy a baguette topped with some cheese or tapenade while waiting for the show to begin.
Each year six countries compete for the prize of being the pyrotechnic king of Cannes. The result is a ballet of colors and light set to music on the Mediterranean. The themes vary according to country. This year France's performance depicted the stages of life from birth to death and beyond. Italy chose a few songs from Hair intertwined with a few classical selections that were synchronized perfectly with the fireworks. The displays last a minimum of 25-minutes but usually last longer and are guaranteed to delight audiences of every age. Showtime is 10 p.m. This year's remaining dates are August 7, 15, and 24.
Consider spending the afternoon of the show in Cannes. Wander the Rue Meyandier, a pedestrian street filled with shops selling everything from petit fours to T-shirts. Stop at the Forville Market at the end of the street and gather wonderful fresh products to supplement your evening picnic. If you are in the mood for gourmet, Le Suquet has delicious pasta dishes you can carry to the beach.
A few train stops away, Juan les Pins hosts an international fireworks festival that is as good as the one in Cannes. Music Festival Pyromelodic takes place off the Promenade du Soleil, in a section of the beach occupied by restaurants. A beach picnic is out, but a late-night dinner at one of the restaurants on the beach is a great alternative. Even on the most crowded night it is possible to get a table in the sand, just a few feet from the sea. Settle in and enjoy a delicious meal of fish, pizza or steak and a good bottle of wine. If you time it right you will be sipping a cup of coffee as the fireworks light the night sky above you. Afterwards, join the crowds who meander the Promenade du Soleil's evening open-air market before heading to the Casino or a club.
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