Antibes Juan-les-Pins is a forward-looking town that nevertheless keeps up local traditions that are integral to daily life in the town. Everyone is welcome to come along to see and experience these religious and pagan celebrations that have endured through the centuries.
June
Battle of the flowers
The traditional battle of the flowers is organised by Friends of Old Antibes and local associations take part with their very inventive creations: Amicale of Antibois, Cyrnos, Saint Marie School, Antibes Kurnis, the autonomous commune of Safranier, ASOA, Amicale 48, Association of pieds noirs and families …
A parade of flowers with glorious decorated floats and plenty of humour, interspersed with music by brass bands and groups from around the world.
June
Festival of Saint John
Legend has it (or is it only a legend) that couples who jump over the flames of the fire of Saint John will be married within the year.
Wishes come true on this magic night, as shooting stars fall from the heavens.
A refreshment van is available all evening for snacks and drinks.
July
Festival of Saint Peter
Saint Peter is the well-known patron saint of fishermen, and each year they organise a festival in his honour. Ten men carry his statue, with silver fishes hanging round his neck, from its usual resting place in the cathedral to the port, accompanied by fife and drum.
There are many events which accompany this celebration.
July
Festival of Notre Dame de Bon Port
Since 1016, barefooted sailors have carried the statue of Notre Dame de Bon Port to the cathedral on the first Thursday of July and returned her to her sanctuary the following Sunday, by the chemin de Calvaire.
Services, sermons, songs of the sea, concerts and the fire of joy accompany this event that is dear to the hearts of residents of Antibes.
September
Grape-pressing festival
In September, the autonomous commune of Safranier stages a grape-pressing festival. Led by chief magistrate Joseph Marcona aka “Zézé” and president Peter Thybaud, residents and tourists gather around the barrel and press to watch the bottling of the precious potion pressed from grapes grown on trellises in the commune.
An event which grows in popularity each year, which surprises visitors stumbling on a grape-pressing in the heart of town for the first time.
November
Chestnut festival
To combat the first nip in the air, friends of the autonomous commune of Safranier invite everyone with a sweet tooth to come along and eat piping hot roasted chestnuts washed down with mulled wine in the tiny Safranier square.
Not to be missed at any cost!
December
The Christmas log
The autonomous commune of Safranier holds a traditional Christmas log festival every year. Some forty families bake the giant 10 metre long cake, which is rolled and iced and decorated with butter cream. Appreciative visitors, their numbers growing each year, are given a slice of log and mulled wine or hot chocolate for the children. The Safranier chorale provide the music and songs, singing Provençal and Italian numbers with everyone joining in the chorus. A wonderful get-together for residents of the commune and everyone in the town, where visitors mingle with them all at this very special traditional festival each year.
