There is something going on in Nice and the surrounding towns every month of the year. Here are just a few:

16 Feb – 6 March – Le carnival de Nice www.nicecarnaval.com and La fete du citrons at Menton www.fete-du-citron.com (photos taken at Carnival 2013)

Early March – The Paris to Nice cycle race. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris-Nice

May / June – Festival des Heures Musicales de Biot. The music festival of the hilltop village of Biot started back in the early 80s and is a series of concerts by both professional musicians and young talent.

15 May – Cannes film festival.

19 – 25 May – Nice Tennis Open. www.opennicecotedazur.com

23 – 26 May – Monaco Grand Prix. Every other year (even numbered years) is the Historic Grand Prix.

June – Festival de Musique Sacrée, Nice. The Festival of Sacred Music first began in 1974. All concerts take place in the churches in the old town of Nice.

21 June – Fete de la Musique, Cannes. This music festival first took place in 1982 when the minister of culture invited all musicians to perform in the streets of towns and villages across France. Since then, it has become an annual arts event taking place on midsummer’s night. www.palaisdesfestivals.com

July – Jazz à Juan. The annual Jazz at Juan les Pins festival welcomes some of the most best known international jazz artists.

02 – 03 July – the Tour de France, Nice. The 100th Tour promises to keep fans on the very edge of their seats. With an unusual June start in Corsica (the ‘Isle of Beauty’) on June 29, the 2013 race remains on the island until Stage 4, when the riders will be back on the mainland for an urban excursion through Nice for the team time trial. Missing from the Tour for several years, the team time trial is a popular event with spectators. From there, the race heads west through Marseille, Montpellier, Albi, Castres and Saint Girons before the first significant climbing of the race to Ax 3 Domaines and Bagnères-de-Bigorre in the Pyrénées.

06 – 08 July – Cannes Salsa Festival, Cannes. www.cannessalsafestival.fr

08 – 12 July – Le festival de Jazz, Nice. Over 75 concerts take place with more than 45,000 spectators and 500 musicians each year, the Nice Jazz festival is one of the largest in Europe. Performances every evening on several different stages in the olive groves and Roman arenas in the area, from 7pm to midnight. All genres of jazz, blues, gospel, fusion and urban funk are played. www.nicejazzfestival.fr

04, 14, 21, 29 July, 07, 15 & 24 August – Festival d’art pyrotechnique, Cannes

11 – 13 July – Festival pantiero, Cannes

14 July – Bastille Day with live music around the old town and a huge fireworks display on the beach (free, approximate start 22:45)

16 – 20 July – Crazy Week, the Nice pop rock festival. www.ivoiremusic.fr/crazyweek/

19 – 20 July – Fiesta Flamenca, Cannes

July – August – Festival des Nuits du Sud, Vence. The festival showcases sounds from the South, with music by celebrated performers and musicians from Chili, Columbia, Cuba, Brazil, Ivory Coast, Mali, Spain, Senegal and many more countries. During the festival there are also exhibitions, activities and free concerts.

July and August – Le Sporting Summer Festival, Monaco. The Sporting Club Monte-Carlo hosts international music artists every summer for performances in the spectacular Salle des Etoiles.

August – Festival de Musique de Menton. The festival welcomes well known musicians from around the world for three weeks of classical music at Le Parvis de la Basilique Saint-Michel Archange in the old town. Tickets are available for one concert or in a book of tickets available for 3-10 concerts.

03 August – Break the Floor Summer / Defipayette, Cannes

09 – 12 August – Jazz a Domergue, Cannes

19 – 23 August, Festival du jeune art russe, Cannes

23 – 27 August, Festival de l’art russe

23 – 28 August – Nuits Musicales du Suquet, Cannes. www.palaisdesfestivals.com

15 – 20 October – Nice film festival. www.nicefilmfestival.com

TimeOut Guide has some good tips as well. http://www.timeout.com/nice