Local Festivals and Carnivals near Laroque
There are many festivals and carnivals throughout the region and throughout the year - too many to list them all individually. As well as the extensive celebrations of Christmas and Easter and the local saints days which are celebrated in all the villages and towns, there are festivals related to harvesting local crops and the sea. A selection of some of the more unusual are listed here.
In February are the highly unusual bear festivals in Prats de Mollo and St Laurent de Cerdans. These involve traditional costumes, reenacting traditional scenes involving chases through the streets and drinking. See more pictures and information about the strange custom by clicking here. Also in February there is a carnival in Amelie les Bains.
The end of March/start of April sees the Arles sur Tech goat fair and in April the Catalan festival of giants in Villefranche de Conflent, where the giants parade through the streets asking the residents for chocolate eggs in exchange for songs.
In June Amelie les Bains has a mule blessing fete.
In July Rivesaltes hosts an apricot festival, Port Vendres has a fishermen's festival, and Argeles a sea festival. Amelie les Bains holds a Catalan festival, Ceret hosts a feria (bullfighting) and Arles sur Tech holds the fete de la rodella.
Argeles holds a harbour festival in August, Ceret the cherry festival, Port Vendres holds regattas. Ceret also holds a sardane (traditional local dancing) festival in August. Toulouges holds an onion festival. Collioure also holds a ferria.
In September Amelie holds a Catalan festival and Arles sur Tech holds a mediaeval fete.
In October there are festivals celebrating the grape harvest in Elne, Banyuls sur Mer, and many other towns and villages.
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