PAMIERS / FOIX - 7 concerts between May and November
FESTIVAL MUSIQUES AU PAYS DE GABRIEL FAURE
Piano and chamber music concerts of works by this famous Ariège native, with the participation of eminent international artists, in the places he lived in.
Info : http://pamierstourisme.com/FAURE

SAINT LIZIER - second half of May
FESTIVAL D'ART SACRE DU COUSERANS ET DE L'ARIEGE
This festival presents religious art in all its forms through diverse means of artistic expression : instrumental music, song, danse, dramatic arts, visual art, etc. through concerts, recitals, theatre, conferences, exhibitions.
Info : 05 61 96 77 77

SAINT GIRONS - weekend of Pentecost
RONDE DE L'ISARD
International bike race for young racers (19-22 years) under the aegis of the Fédération Française de Cyclisme et l'Union Internationale de Cyclisme.
Info : ronde.isard@wanadoo.fr

1st and 2nd week-end of June
TRANSHUMANCES EN COUSERANS
Over 4000 cows, sheep and horses take to the roads of the Couserans to climb to the high mountain pastures for the summer. Animations, games, markets, etc. in Massat, Seix and Sentein. infos : http://transhcouserans.free.fr

Last week of June
FEU DE LA SAINT JEAN
Summer solstice festivals in many villages between the 21st and the end of June. Usually features a band, dancing, outdoor evening meal, and the setting ablaze of a tall stack of branches placed around a pole.

TARASCON - last weekend of June
CYCLOSPORTIVE : L’ARIEGEOISE
A non-competitive cycling event covering 165.30 km and 3625 m altitude change departing from Tarascon.
infos : www.cyclosport-ariegeoise.com

REFUGE DES ESTAGNOUS - RESERVE DU MONT VALIER
every Friday evening in July and August
FESTIVALIER
Evenings of music, song, dance and storytelling at the walkers' refuge on the Mont Valier reserve. Like you, the performers climb up to the refuge on foot (3 hour walk). Reservation essential. Info

ST GIRONS - around July 14
LE CHEMIN DE LA LIBERTE
Walkers cross the Pyrenees into Spain following the route taken by downed allied pilots and refugees fleeing the Nazis during WWII. Departure from St Girons and Seix. Many of the participants are descendents of the pilots who made this trek.
Info : 05 61 66 97 06

FOIX - 2nd week of July
FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL DE FILMS « RESISTANCES »
Programme of 100 films both documentaries and features on the theme of : dirty money, the automobile against nature, the family trap, the art of ignoring the poor.
:infos : www.cine-resistances.com

PAMIERS - 2nd week of July
FIESTA – FESTIVAL LATINO
Festival of latino music and dance.
Info : www.pamierstourisme.com/fiesta

LE FOSSAT - mid-July to mid-August
EVENING OPEN AIR THEATRE « LES ACCORDAILLES DE MARIOTTE »
Play tracing the life of Ariège peasants from 1788 to 1799 showing all the work in the fields from that era : sowing, haymaking, harvesting, threshing.
Info : http://festileze.free.fr

ST GIRONS/COUSERANS – mid-July
MEMORIAL FABIO CASARTELLI
Cycling event with 2 cycletourism circuits and one cyclosportif
This event commemorates the fatal accident in 1995 of the Tour de France rider Fabio Casartelli during a stage between St Girons and Cauterets. His family created a foundation to aid victims of cycling accidents. Since 1997 a local association has organised this event with the agreement of the Casartelli family and the profits are donated to the foundation.
Infos : www.ville-st-girons.fr

MIREPOIX – mid-July
MEMOIRES ET TRADITIONS – JOURNEES MEDIEVALES
Medieval festival in the town centre with crafts market, animations and concerts as well as a big costume parade. .
Infos : 05 61 68 83 76, 05 61 68 86 02

2nd half of July
TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE
The tour comes to Ariège nearly every year : www.letour.fr

TARASCON - 2nd half of July
TARASCON LATINO
Danse, music and colours of Latin America. Free evening performances.

FOIX –mid-July to mid-August
« SI L’ARIEGE M’ETAIT CONTEE »
Evening open air show. Birth of the Pyrenees, prehistory, courtly love, Catharism, 100 years war, wars of religion, Revolution, Liberation in a succession of tableaux. Actors, stunt people, singers, musicians, jugglers and acrobats mix with giant images, music, sound, lights and pyrotechnic effets to bring to life the memory of an entire land.

SEIX - mid-July
DANSOU TRADADOU
A day of traditional dance and music
Free dance workshops (dances of Ariège, ball dancing, children's dances...). Traditional ball in the evening, crafts and food market during the day.

SAINT LIZIER – 4th week of July to mid-August
FESTIVAL DE SAINT LIZIER
Chamber music festival. Concerts are held in a romanesque church under remarkable frescoes from the 10th and 12th centuries.
Info : www.austriart.chez.tiscali.fr

DAUMAZAN sur ARIZE –last weekend of July
« TERRE DE COULEURS »
Wold music, new music and street theatre.

SAINT GIRONS – first week of August
RESTIVAL RITE – DANCE, SONG AND MUSIC FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Musicians, singers and dancers from 8 countries perform in the streets and concert halls.
Info : 05 61 96 26 60

SAINT GIRONS – First half of August
FESTIVAL DE THEATRE DE SAINT-GIRONS ET DU COUSERANS
A series of plays performed in St Girons and in the villages of the Couserans.
Infos : 05 61 96 26 60

MAZERES – last weekend of July
MEDIEVALES
During 2 days, medieval village and market, tavern and artisans.
Info : mairie.mazeres@wanadoo.fr

REFUGE DES ESTAGNOUS - RESERVE DU MONT VALIER
every Friday evening during July and August
FESTIVALIER
Evenings of music, song, dance and storytelling at the walkers' refuge on the Mont Valier reserve. Like you, the performers climb up to the refuge on foot (3 hour walk). Show and overnight in with half-board. Reservation essential. Info

SAINT GIRONS – first weekend of August
AUTREFOIS LE COUSERANS
Festival of local rural traditions : market, costume parade, flea market, donkey and Mérens horse competitions, folk dancing, old tracteurs and farm machinery, food market
Info : www.ville-st-girons.fr

COUFLENS – PORT DE SALAU – 1st weekend of August
« PUJADA AL PORT DE SALAU »
Encounter between Occitan and Catalan speakers in the mountains on the French-Spanish border. Music, dancing, picnicking. 3.5 hour walk from the French side.

MIREPOIX – 2nd week of August
INTERNATIONAL PUPPET FESTIVAL
Puppets and dolls take over Mirepoix and the surrounding villages.
Info : 05 61 68 20 72

BOUAN – mid August
JOURNEES NATIONALES DU MERENS
Prestigious Mérens horse competition.
Info : www. chevaldemerens.com

PRAT BONREPAUX - mid-August
COUNTRY-ROCK FESTIVAL
Numerous concerts with French, European and American groups. Presentation of Harley Davidsons and American cars. 2-day horserides on the Estelas massif. American market, 4x4 rides, equestrian shows, Indian dances. Food on site.
Info : www.pratfestivalcountry.com

AX-LES-THERMES -mid-September
FESTIVAL DES SAVEURS
Friday night, gala dinner. Saturday : farmers market all day with musical performances in the evening and outdoor dinner. toute la journée avec animation musical en soirée et dîner champêtre. Cooking competition, prize for best stand. Sunday : gastronomic lunch and awarding of prizes.

LE MAS D'AZIL - early October
FETE DE LA FIGUE
Fig gathering, produce and food market, cold buffet, jam-making, traditional ball, many animations.
Info: 06 88 42 04 33

SAINT LIZIER - 2nd weekend of October
ARIEGE EN BIO
Organic farming fair : conferences, stands about energy conservation, renewal energy, ecological habitat
Info : 05 61 96 77 77

LAVELANET - end of Oct. early Nov..
FESTIVAL JAZZ'VELANET
Jazz festival
Info : 05 61 01 22 20

BELESTA – end of October
PUMPKIN FESTIVAL
Expo of all types of squashes and gourds. Various events including a big flea market the 31st. Witches ball, farmers and crafts market. Contest for best dish or sessert based on pumpkin.