ATTRACTIONS
EVENTS NOT FAR FROM US
National Pétanque Championships - Carmaux - July
Every year Carmaux hosts the National Pétanque championships where competitors come for a week of competition - men's events, women's events, and team events. The events are held in the park in Carmaux and are free to watch, there is also food and refreshments available.
Agricultural show - Tanus - 1st sunday in September
An agricultural show well worth a look round, they showcase vintage agricultural machinery with demonstrations of how they were used on the fields and drive through on a parade. There are livestock sales of chickens, turkeys, ducks, pigeons, rabbits and many more animals of common and rare breeds, live shire horses, ponies and oxen. Undercover buildings showcase the history of the region with displays, lacemaking and traditional dancing. There are many many stalls outside available for local produce - food, drink, artisan wares and market stalls and also a car boot sale and vintage cars and motorbikes.
Medieval Pagaent - Monestiés - 1st weekend in August
Monestiés holds a medieval pagaent every year with lots of people involved dressed in period costume giving demonstrations of battle skills, audience participation, swordsmanship, marching with battle chanting, royals on horseback and monks - all very entertaining for the family. There are also local artisan demonstrations of the period and a car boot, and in the evening a medieval meal.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
BIG EVENTS NOT FAR FROM US
JUNE - Route du Sud - Occitanie - cycling race from Cap Decouverte near Carmaux
JUNE - Trail des Pigeonniers - 2 running courses of 13 & 25km and 2 rambling courses of 9 & 13km.
JULY- National pétanque championships - Carmaux - people from all over France compete.
JULY- Tour de France often passes near - in 2017 it passed on the N88 at Croix de mille just 10 minutes away.
JULY 14th - Fete National - Albi has a huge firework display over the river by the cathedral and music events in town.
AUGUST - Medieval Fete in Monestiés over the first weekend (see further information above.) 2pm - 7pm
AUGUST - "Xtreme fest" music festival - Cap'Decouverte -Le Garric, near Carmaux, for Punk, heavy metal and rock.
SEPTEMBER - Automobile Grand Prix - Albi
SEPTEMBER - Agricultural Fayre - Tanus has a huge fayre every year on the first sunday in September with farm machinery, livestock for display or sale, vintage cars, traditional crafts, medieval displays, local and artisan food and drink, and many more stalls besides. 9am - 7pm
EVENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR: Albi stadium hosts many music concerts, live events, stock car racing, monster truck racing, brocantes and Antique faires.
SMALLER LOCAL EVENTS WE RECOMMEND
APRIL- Spring fayre - Pampelonne - with poultry shows, traditional skills, and plant sales. Held on the last sunday in April.
MAY - Spring fayre - Monestiés - Brocante, carboot and collectors fayre 8am-6pm
JUNE - Village Fete of St. Jean de Marcel - our local village fete with various activities that are free to spectate with stalls for locally produced foods such as cheeses, charcuterie, honey, fruit juices, fresh food - hot and cold.
JULY - Book and Food fayre - Pampelonne - local food producers and writers.
JULY & AUGUST - Summer market at Tanus every sunday 9-12am
JULY & AUGUST - Summer market at Monestiés every thursday 5.30-8pm
JULY & AUGUST - Night market - Carmaux - every wednesday from 7pm with live music.
NOVEMBER - Xmas market at Les Farguettes , St.Gemme
Exact dates to be published so check out the appropriate websites for the event itself, or the carmaux or albi tourist office or contact us for info.