The unmissable festivals in la Manche

Our selection of the biggest events hosted in the department

Do you want to kick back and have some fun for an evening or a weekend? Come and discover la Manche, an exciting cultural destination! Every year, around 20 festivals are held in the department. The programmes are varied, and include street performances, jazz concerts, brass bands, world music and current music, and heritage festivals. Head to one of these events for which the Manche is renowned, and prepare to treat your eyes and ears!

In February

Granville Carnaval

9 to 13 february 2024

This popular celebration is one of the oldest events in Granville. The carnival is usually held in late February. For several days, the lively streets of Granville go crazy, filling with colourful and costumed carnival-goers. Join the revellers for some festive madness, with floats, parades and plenty of confetti! Granville Carnival takes a satirical look at the latest news. On the programme: an opening concert, a children’s ball, the famous Bal à Papa, a confetti fight, and much more. Prepare for an unforgettable experience!

Granville Carnival

In May

Jazz sous les pommiers festival

13 to 20 may 2023

For more than 40 years, Coutances has moved to the rhythm of jazz for one week every year. Latin jazz, nu jazz, blues, funk and soul: combining the different genres has been the DNA of this festival since its creation. Big names, new discoveries, street performances, brass bands, and an “amateur” stage: come and enjoy the music! Are you a jazz fan? Then this festival is the place to be!

Jazz sous les Pommiers

Papillons de Nuit festival

26 to 28 may 2023

Papillons de Nuit is definitely one of the biggest musical events held in la Manche. Every year in Saint-Laurent-de-Cuve, thousands of festival-goers meet for two or three days of partying. Lots of artists, both national and international, have already hit the stage at this famous festival in la Manche. Every year, the Papillons de Nuit lineup goes from strength to strength, and has something for everyone. Grab your wellies and get ready to dance!

Papillons de Nuit

In june

Les Art’Zimutés festival

28 june to 1 july 2023

Art’Zimutés is a multidisciplinary festival that hosts big regional names, ensuring a lively atmosphere at the Plage Verte in Cherbourg. Organised by the Musiques en Herbe association, the festival has an eclectic programme including concerts, art, circus, sustainable development events for all ages, and much more.

Les Art'Zimutés

Dox'Art Festival

29 june to 2 july 2023

In Hambye, take part in the 6th edition of the Dox'Art Festival. This electro and techno music festival is one of the big events in La Manche. Free activities are organised in the afternoon for all ages, and you can also sample local products at the festival. Prepare to dance till the early hours!

Dox'Art Festival

Photo, © Xavier Lachenaud

Jazz sous les pommiers
Photo, © Xavier Lachenaud

Papillons de nuit
Photo, © Xavier Lachenaud

Papillons de nuit
Photo, © Xavier Lachenaud

Papillons de nuit

In july

Green River Valley

7 to 8 july 2023

Every year the Cara-Meuh Farm in Vains hosts the Green River Valley festival, with a varied musical lineup and a big festival village showcasing different associations. With games and activities, conferences and debates all focusing on a given cause, Green River Valley is an eco-friendly festival that’s committed to tackling the climate problem.

Green River Valley

Sorties de bain festival

6 to 9 july 2023

The Sorties de Bain festival is a cultural event that’s family-friendly and completely free. The lineup of this street performance festival includes dance, theatre, comedy, storytelling and singing. A fun way to celebrate the beginning of the holidays and to enjoy the long summer evenings in Granville!

Les sorties de bain

Photo, © Benoit Croisy - ville de Granville

Les Pluies de Juillet

7 to 9 july 2023

Les Pluies de Juillet is a cultural festival to promote the ecological transition, held in Villedieu-les-Poêles. During the event, a festival village is set up, with conferences, workshops and exhibitions. Over three days, a number of artists and bands put on a great show. Listen out and discover the names of the future!

Les pluies de juillet

Chauffer dans la noirceur festival

14 to 16 july 2023

This contemporary music festival is held in a protected natural site, right by the sea. Chauffer dans la Noirceur spotlights new musical discoveries, without forgetting some big names. An unmissable festive event that’s held every summer on the beach in Montmartin-sur-Mer.

Chauffer dans la noirceur

The Grandes Marées festival

22 to 30 july 2023

The Grandes Marées festival is a unique experience that you can enjoy over nine days in some of the exceptional sites of the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel. This small-scale contemporary music festival is driven by a desire to share, to protect and to engage. Get ready for some magical moments at the Grandes Marées festival in 2023!

The Grandes marées festival

In August

MusikenSaire festival

24 to 27 august 2023

MusikenSaire is the Cotentin festival that marks the end of the summer. Concerts and free events are organised on the quayside of the charming port of Barfleur, with a great family-friendly atmosphere. It’s the opportunity to discover contemporary Norman bands. With pop, rock, blues, folk and electro, there’s something for everyone!

MusikenSaire

Traversées Tatihou festival

30 august to 3 september 2023

The Traversées Tatihou Festival is one of the most emblematic of la Manche, where sea, nature and music merge into one. This festival, backed by the departmental council of la Manche, is organised to the rhythm of the tides and has an eclectic lineup of world music. To attend the concerts, you’ll walk across the sand at low tide from Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue to Tatihou Island. You’ll be able to enjoy this idyllic setting, with music as a bonus! The tides determine the times of concerts, giving the festival its unique local flavour!

Les traversées Tatihou

Voiles de travail festival

23 to 27 August 2023

Granville, the number one shellfish port in France, and one-time privateer port, is the emblem of fishing in la Manche and Normandy. So it’s only natural that Granville has been hosting the Voiles de Travail festival since 2012. On the programme: boat trips, exhibitions, concerts, seafood tasting, and much more. Plenty of enjoyable ways for you to discover the maritime heritage of Granville.

Voiles de travail festival

In september

Via Aeterna festival

30 september to 15 october 2023

Via Aeterna is a classical music festival that’s held in the heart of the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel. In an almost mystical atmosphere, famous artists, including musicians, soloists and singers, perform in the most emblematic sites around the bay. Come and enjoy a unique experience, combining music and heritage!

Via Aeterna

Toute la mer sur un plateau festival

30 september to 1 october 2023

Head to the fishing port in Granville to try some delicious seafood in a musical atmosphere! This event is held every year for the launch of the scallop fishing season. On the programme: cookery workshops, market stalls, tasting sessions, concerts, and seafood straight from the boat. Don’t miss this fantastic festival showcasing the local produce of la Manche.

Toute la mer sur un plateau

In November

Les rendez-vous soniques

6 to 12 november 2023

A festival to “change your perspective on music”. Singing in French and English, lots of different artists have already hit the stage at Le Normandy in Saint-Lô. The Rendez-vous Soniques is an unmissable festival held in the town every autumn.

Les rendez-vous soniques

Les Égaluantes

November 2023

Since 2016, Carentan-les-Marais has hosted the film festival Les Égaluantes. The name comes from the Norman dialect: “égaluer” means “to dazzle”. This promise is kept every year with a fantastic programme including films and documentaries, some of which are being screened for the first time. Les Égaluantes is also the opportunity to meet French film stars.

Les Égaluantes

Of course, this list is not exhaustive. Many other events are held every year in la Manche.

Agenda of events in la Manche