What’s on in and around Pézenas
in March ?
It’s carnival time !
CAUX : On Saturday March 4th from 9 pm in the " Salle des fêtes " : into the party spirit with a masked ball (tel. 04 67 98 40 09)
PEZENAS : Here the carnival lasts four days starting with the traditional "Machou" show on March 4th and 5th at 9 pm at the Foyer des Campagnes, which is very popular and sold out long before the date. Satirical and cynical humour the Machou spirit is biting and makes fun of local life.
Monday March 6th, "danse du soufflet" in the streets of the town
Shrove Tuesday, March 7th the " Poulain " will be at the heart of the carnival in the afternoon. Park your car well away from the centre and wear old clothes if not fancy dress – spraying visitors with shaving cream, throwing eggs and flour at onlookers is just considered part of the fun.
BEDARIEUX : Past, present and future is the theme of the carnival in Bedarieux on Saturday March 18th. The parade will leave Place Pasteur at 2 pm.
L’Union Sportive Bédaricienne is organising a dinner from 8 pm at the Espace Léo Ferré, followed by a fancy dress ball open to everyone from 10.30 pm. To be taken seriously, you’d better come in costume !
HEREPIAN : The carnival will take place during the afternoon of March 25th.
Festival
LAMALOU : "Fête du Cheval et de l’Ane", a horse and donkey show on Sunday, 26th March. All day there will be horses, ponies and donkeys for sale, also pony rides. You can tour the town in a horse and carriage. At 2pm there will be a competition at the riding centre ("centre équestre") and a display at 4pm. There will also be a flea market just in front of the Casino.
Concert
BEDARIEUX : Renaissance motets by Palestrina, Vitoria, De Lassus and also Fauré’s "Requiem" interpreted by the "groupe polyphonique Notre Dame" in Saint Alexandre church on Saturday March 11th at 9pm. Entry free.
MONTAGNAC : Choral music with " Bella Ciao " and " Nacoma " who will be singing Mediterranean and Eastern European melodies in the St. André church at 9 pm on Friday, March 17th.
Entrance : FF 25 in aid of " Retina Fa " association to fight eye disease.
LAMALOU : Concert organised by the Hérépian choir, Se Canto at 4.30 pm on Tuesday March 7th in Lamalou.
Tourism
PEZENAS : A 12.5 km hike around Graissesac will be organised by the "Maison pour Tous" on Thursday March 16th (Tel. : 04 67 98 98 58).
LAMALOU : Rally around the "Espinouse" hills – beautiful scenery on March 11 and 12th. Information at the tourist office (tel. 04 67 95 70 91)
LAMALOU : Throughout the year, every week the tourist office organises visits on foot or by bus (tel. 04 67 95 70 91 for information and to reserve). For example, excursion to the flower market in Béziers by bus (60 F. per person) on March 17th or a walk to St. Michel de Mercoirol – 14 km – free – on Thursday March 16th.
Pétanque – Bowls
LAMALOU : Discover the joys of playing "pétanque" in the sun and shade of Plane trees. The tourist office at Lamalou organises regularly competitions and leisurely games of this French version of bowls – this is real French life, it gives you a chance to meet the locals – and other tourists. It’s fun and free in Lamalou where you don’t have to be an expert to join in !
Tournaments are organised every Tuesday at 3pm, at the "Boulodrome" near the Ulysse centre.
Exhibitions – on the theme of carnival
PEZENAS : "Fêtes et jeux traditionnels en bas Languedoc" original documents - photos, prints, posters, etc. illustrating carnival and other popular festivities in this part of France, at the Hotel de Lacoste (a must in Pézenas for the wonderful Renaissance courtyard). From March 1st to 28th Open every afternoon (2pm-4pm) except Mondays. Entrance free.
PEZENAS : Post art presented at the Médiathèque (pl. Frédéric Mistral) on the theme of the carnival. Organised by "les timbrés de l’art postal", an association of artists and postcard collectors, they launch an annual event open to enthusiasts throughout the world. After the exhibition, contributions are sold by auction for a good cause. This year, for Vietnam. It is an amusing event – you might just pick up a masterpiece for a song, or a unique postcard to send back home for no more than an ordinary Christmas card. Exhibition : March 3rd to 26th and the auction will take place on March 26th at the Maison des Métiers d’Art at 2 pm.
– other exhibitions :
BEDARIEUX : An exhibition of the work of German artist Petra Schubert will be on show at the Maison des Arts from March 10th to April 2nd. Entrance free.
PEZENAS : An exhibition of Mediterranean pottery at the Maison des Métiers d’Art, place Gambetta until March 19th – entrance free.
Coffee time
PEZENAS : On Wednesday March 1st, from 6.30 pm the Pézenas-Market Drayton twinning committee is organising its first monthly "café anglais" in the "Glacier" café on the place 14 juillet.
In the thick of the Loto season
The people of Languedoc are keen gamblers – they love their version of Bingo known as " Loto ".
Throughout the winter and during the long summer evenings in June before the tourists arrive there are many very good opportunities for improving your knowledge of numbers in French (complete with bad rhymes) and who knows, if you get good at it and understand the rules, you may even have the good fortune to win a " quine " or hamper with all sorts of edible goodies in it, including vqst quantities of the local plonk.
Vegetarians or squeamish should refrain – there is often half a pig or a large cured ham to be won. There is usually a worthy cause behind such a bad habit, such as cancer relief, boy scouts, local choir, primary school trip to the mountains, etc...
To name but a few in March :
Caux : Saturday 11 March at 9 pm (organised by "Comité des Fêtes")
Adissan : Sunday, March 5th at 5:30 pm (organised by "Nature et Decouvertes")
Pézenas : Sunday 19th March at 5 pm, foyer des campagnes (organised by "Secours catholique")
Lamalou : Sunday March 12th at 5 pm (salle des Fêtes organised by society of blood donors)
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