regular events
Markets
Market selling local products, produce and crafts in Rue St Claire, three times a week throughout the year on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Antiques & Art market
Antiques market every last Saturday of the month, all day long in the old town. There is also an art market on Vicenza quay together with the "Createurs" market - a dozen jewelry, clothing and furniture artists.
Brocante
Second-hand goods market held on the last Saturday of every month in the old town and arts market at the quai du Semnoz.
Roll'n'Cy
Every Friday night there is an organised tour of Annecy and the lakeside on skates. To join in, meet at 20:00 in front of the Mairie. The evening is cancelled if it is raining or the ground is wet.
Dancing by the lake
Every Sunday 6.00pm-10pm from late June to early September - there are dances on a wooden dancefloor built in the open air just beside the lake beside the Lover's Bridge. There are open dances and displays of salsa, jive, le roc and ballroom. They are fascinating to watch and anyone seems able to join in.
events through the year
There are so many events in Annecy itself, on the lake or in the surrounding area that it is impossible to list them all. The tourist information pages can provide full details for the particular period in which you are interested, but here are a few highlights.
www.lac-annecy.com The official tourist site in English has searchable events pages and loads more useful information.
March
Friday 11th March to Sunday 13th March
Over 250 masked characters slowly wander through the old town, pose for photographs and meet on the bridges.
April
Lac in Blue
5th to 9th April
Jazz musical festival in Annecy, in several venues.
Lake Annecy interntational marathon
Sunday 17th April
Starts right in front of the apartment and now one of the top 10 marathons in France. For more details see www.marathondulac-annecy.com
May
Greenweez Maxi-Race at Lake Annecy
From Saturday 28th to Sunday 29th May
The Maxi-Race goes around Lake Annecy - via the mountains that surround it! Several race formats are available to give athletes of all levels the opportunity to participate in this great celebration of trail running.
June
AlpsMan Xtrem triathlon
4th and 5th June
What better playing field could there be for an Ironman triathlon than Lake Annecy and its surroundings?
AlpsMan, a day’s journey through the exclusive landscapes of the Haute Savoie region, an unforgettable experience.
International Animated Film Festival
13th June to 18th June
A six day festival of animated films from all over the world. The Festival also includes pre-release and retrospective showings, exhibitions, projections from 10.30 a.m. to 11 p.m. in 8 sites spread around the town, and late night open-air shows on a giant screen by the lakeside just close to our apartment. The main site at the Bonlieu is only about two minutes walk from the apartment. www.annecy.org
July
Bastille Day
14th July
The centre for these celebrations is just in front of our apartment on Le Paquier. At 10 p.m. there will be fireworks followed by public dancing at 11 p.m. Free public access.
August
Fête du lac d'Annecy - fireworks and lake spectacle
Saturday 6th August at 9.45 PM. A spectacular feast of Fireworks, water jets, colours and so much more over the lake. Our apartment faces directly towards the centre of the show and is in the cordonned off zone. It offers a view over the trees, or tickets can be bought for an uninterrupted lakeshore view or seat. Details and online booking from about April
Martin Fourcade Nordic Festival
??? AugustThe international elite of biathlon and cross-country skiing will be in Annecy for the second edition of the "Martin Fourcade Nordic Festival". A meeting of roller skiing.
October
Retour des Alpages
Saturday 8th October
A very popular festival marking the return of the cattle and sheep down from the mountains. Includes traditional craftwork events and stalls, demonstration of old trades, parade of Alpine herds - you name it they will walk through the old town and town centre! (cows with floral headresses, goats, sheep, ducks, geese, St Bernard dogs, horses, donkeys etc), traditional singing and music groups plus alpine horns - all washed down with apple juice pressed in old steam driven presses and bags of bugnes (sweet and delicious twists prepared by locals in traditional costume at stalls throughout the town). Huge fun and extremely popular with families and adults alike.
December
St Andrew's Day fair
1st December
With its five centuries of history behind it, the traditional St Andrew's Fair with its 1100 tradespeople and its 5.5 km of stalls, will once again this year attract tens of thousands of patrons on the lookout for bargains.
IBU World Cup Biathlon
12th to 18th December
Annecy - Le Grand-Bornand hosts the French stop of the Biathlon World Cup tour at the "Sylvie Becaert" stadium in Le Grand Bornand. Le Grand Bornand is only about 30 minutes drive into the Aravis mountains. Bus services also run from Annecy to Le Grand Bornand.
Alps Christmas
Throughout December
During December, Annecy dresses up for a party with fairy lights, concerts, cribs, Christmas markets, a skating rink and a little train to visit all the places easily...
