Summer Festivals on the Riviera Worth Attending

With the exception of the Cannes Fireworks Festival, summer festivities along the Cote d’Azur focus on music, particularly jazz. The 59th Jazz à Juan takes place from July 12-21, 2019 in Juan les Pins in a one hundred year old pine forest (the Gould pine grove) facing the Mediterranean sea. Begun as a tribute to Sidney Bechet who loved Antibes, this festival celebrates diverse musical jazz styles allowing space for both the famous (among whom have been Lenny Kravitz, Charles Mingus, Stan Getz, Keith Jarret and Chick Corea) and the unknown who play “off” fringe concerts as well as hotel bars and streets.

Even more famous is the Nice Jazz Festival which started in 1948 and is considered the first jazz festival of international significance. Inaugurating the first festival was Louis Armstrong and his All Stars band. The festival originally took place in the spectacular Jardins de Cimiez which contained a Roman amphitheater but, in 2011, it moved to the Theatre de Verdure in Place Massena. Greats such as Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis among many others have played this venue. Expanding beyond jazz there are global sounds celebrated throughout this seasons offerings including Black Eyed Peas and Neneh Cherry. However jazz remains the core of this festival and some of the participants this year will be Ibrahim Maalouf, Jean Luc Ponty and Christian McBride. This year, the festival takes place from July 16-20.

If Classical music is more to your taste you must experience the Menton Music Festival. Begun in 1950 this is a festival celebrating great Classical music composers and performers. From July 25th to August 13th some of the greatest Classical musicians from around the world will come to the stunning Basilica of St Michael to entertain those lucky enough to get tickets. Some of this year’s performers are pianist Lise de la Salle, flutist Emmanuel Pahud and soprano Patricia Petibon with pianist Dimitri Naiditch and Fiona Monbet on violon jazz.

Finally, don’t miss the spectacular pyrotechnic displays that illuminate Cannes during the Cannes Fireworks Festival. Six guest countries send their best pyrotechnical experts to compete for a “Silver Vestal” award and, every four years, for a “Gold Vestal” award. Begun in 1998, the festival has presented dazzling displays of fireworks every summer. This year they will be held on July 14, 21 and 29 and August 7, 15 and 24. Book a table or lounge along La Croisette and be prepared to be awed.