Provence Fall Festivals to Discover 2022 Events

Festivals and Fall Events in Provence

Fall in Provence directs you towards a heartier menu. Enjoy meat (lamb, wild boar, taureaux, rabbit, fowl) roasted with herbes de Provence, root vegetables and delicious red wine blends. At this time of year, the hiking is fabulous, biking is possible, and golfers might get lucky with an extended season. Best of all, for many people living in or visiting Provence, the autumn months move at a slightly more relaxed pace. The summer hordes have left replaced by smaller groups of visitors. In the fall, there is no guilt involved in lighting a fire and curling up with a book or perhaps taking a une sieste.

Fall Dinner Menus Inspired by Provencal Flavours:

The Colors of Fall in Provence

One September morning in Provence you wake up to notice there’s a difference, something is missing. The chirping choir of the cicadas has stopped, in their place the abrupt sound of hunter’s dogs barking followed by gunshots. There is a slight, dampness in the air that makes its presence known when you walk. Despite a chilly start it is completely normal to be in shirtsleeves by lunchtime. Depending on Mother Nature’s whim, the annual grape harvest may take place in September.

October often rolls in like a lamb with a gentle touch. There is a soft pink hue “painter’s light” in the evenings and mysterious foggy mornings. The smell of bonfires in agricultural zones scents the air and the olives begin turning a deep shade of purple-black. Eye-catching red, orange and yellow berries of Pyracantha bushes (Firethorns) along the roadsides replace the fields of lavender and sunflowers. The Plane trees begin dropping their big, noisy brown leaves.

November is crisp like a freshly minted bill. The sunny skies remain a brilliant blue but leaving the house without an extra layer of clothing would be folly. The Mistral wind which might be mild in the summer months blows in an Artic chill from the NW increasing in its forceful gusts as it rolls down the Rhône River. The grapes have been harvested and crushed. The winemakers carefully watch the fermenting juice as the vines turn to gold and red in their fields.

NOTE: The cultural events and festivals listed below are annual (or bi-annual) happenings in September, October and November in Provence and on the Côte d’Azur. However, the actual dates for these events will change from year-to-year. The websites are listed below so that you can find out the current details. Please note this is not a comprehensive list of all the current events. For activities near to your location, check local newspapers, flyers at the grocery stores and tourism websites for festivals.

September: Provence and on the Côte d’Azur

Shopping! (September 2-4, 2022), Provence Prestige Village in Saint Maires de la Mer. Discover products by artisans from the region.

Until September 18, 2022, visit Hôtel de Caumont in Aix-en-Provence to see the exhibition of 90 works by Raoul Dufy, from the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris and private collections. More information here.

Visit the Musée Granet in Aix-en-Provence. The museum’s collection has evolved over the years, swelled by the city’s acquisitions and several major bequests, including works donated by François-Marius Granet, to become what it is today – a collection of more than 12,000 works and masterpieces!

Bulls and Rice: (September 10-11, 2022) the annual Feria du Riz in Arles weekend includes festivities throughout the city and plenty of rice to sample.

Until September 25, 2022: The Rencontres d’Arles – Les Rencontres de la Photographie. The Rencontres is a big deal photography festival drawing international photographers and viewers from around the globe.

So much to do in Avignon! There is always something going on in Avignon with galleries, concerts, guided tours, markets and much more. Visit the Avignon Tourist Office in person or online for all the current activities.

Book Your Stay in Provence – Côte d’Azur

Sound, Light and Art (until January 2, 2023): Carrières de Lumières in Les Baux de Provence, a production by Culturespaces. The current program includes Venise, La Serenissima and Yves Klien Infinate Blue. This old limestone quarry – Carrières de Lumières – is France’s largest fixed multimedia installation. The 14-metre high walls are the backdrop that 70 video projectors use to broadcast images. Here are our tips for your visit to Carrières de Lumières.

September 17-18, 2022 – Everywhere in France the Journées Européennes du Patrimoine (European Heritage Days). Public buildings, private homes, gardens and much more are open to the public free of charge. Many of these venues are only open once a year. Check the official website for the program near to you.

Check the Tourism website for the list of activities in Saintes Maries de la Mer.

October: Provence and on the Côte d’Azur

Pumpkins everywhere in mid-October – The village of Rians turns shades of orange all weekend during the Fête de la Courge, a community celebration of the Cucurbitaceae family.  The annual gourd, squash and pumpkin harvest is an excuse for an autumn-themed market. Plenty of stands sell food made with squash, such as soupe à la courge, jams, cakes and more.

Head to the Beach:  Since the XII century, Saintes Maries de la Mer has been a pilgrimage site for the Romani people from Europe and around the globe. There is a large celebration in May with a smaller version on the weekend of October 15-16, 2022 (details here). The pilgrimages to Saintes Maries de la Mer began in the 12th century with more conviction when relics of the saints were discovered in 1448.  Keith Van Sickle asks, “Mary Magdalene in Provence Legend or Fact.”

Visit seaside Cassis, a picturesque town tucked into a curve along the Mediterranean Sea between the calanques. The town with 8,000 inhabitants is about 20 km east of Marseille. It’s a fishing port on a steep hillside with vineyards and pastel-coloured houses that tumble down to the seaside. Check the tourist office website for current events.

Until October 28 – Phot’Aix 2022 – Festival of photography, the 22nd edition anniversary of this contemporary photography exhibit – this year’s theme is Family(S). The concept is to bring photography to the street and to highlight talented photographers.

Yves Klein intime – head to Hôtel de Caumont in Aix for the exhibition of 60 pieces of Yves Klein’s work begining October 28 until March 26, 2023.

October 31 – Happy Halloween!

November: Provence and the Côte d’Azur

November 1 – Toussaint (All Saints) is a public holiday. Make sure to visit a cemetery to see the headstones decorated in chrysanthemums.

November  – Rognas is the place to be for a giant pumpkin festival. Fête de la Courge celebrates the harvest of this gourd with festivities and a chance to try soups, sweets and other culinary delights. This festival is a family-friendly event, which includes a market.

Book Your Stay in Provence – Côte d’Azur

November 11 – Armistice Day (1918)

Riders in the Sand. (November 11-12, 2022): Head to Saintes Maries de la Mer for the final abrivado festival of the season. One enormous equine event on the beach with 200 gardiens (cowboys & cowgirls), 1000 horses and a total of 11 abrivados. The video (below) will give you a flavour of the energy surrounding this two-day festival.

Truffles the Black Gold of Provence at the beginning of December – Ban des Truffes in Richerenches marks the beginning of the truffle season in this village.

Read: The Truffle Markets in Provence – Planning Your Visit and Recipes.

Christmas Shopping: (late November) watch the Salon Provence Prestige Facebook page for details on this annual holiday fair in Arles at the Palais des Congrès with 170+ exhibitors. Perfect timing for Christmas shopping.

December 5-10, 2022 – PriMed takes place in Marseille for the 26th time. Previously called the International Festival of Mediterranean Documentary Film and Reportage, the festival began in Monte Carlo in 1994. This annual festival has been taking place in Marseille since 2009. The public is invited to the screenings (free) of international documentaries, discussions and workshops.

Holiday markets start early in Provence. Watch for holiday markets in major centres and villages everywhere. Many vineyards decorate their boutiques for the season. What could better get you in the mood than a little wine tasting and shopping? Château de Berne (vineyard, hotel and spa) in the Var has a series of pre-Christmas markets.

Late November – Annual temptation for those who have a sweet tooth at the Palais des Congrès de Antibes – Juan-les-Pins for the Salon de Sucre et Chocolate.

Carolyne Kauser-Abbott

With her camera and laptop close at hand, Carolyne has traded in her business suits for the world of freelance writing and blogging. Her first airplane ride at six months of age was her introduction to the exciting world of travel.

While in Provence, Carolyne can be found hiking with friends, riding the hills around the Alpilles or tackling Mont Ventoux. Her attachment to the region resonates in Perfectly Provence this digital magazine that she launched in 2014. This website is an opportunity to explore the best of the Mediterranean lifestyle (food & wine, places to stay, expat stories, books on the region, travel tips, real estate tips and more), through our contributors' articles.

Carolyne writes a food and travel blog Ginger and Nutmeg. Carolyne’s freelance articles can be found in Global Living Magazine, Avenue Magazine and City Palate (Published Travel Articles).