Spring into Festival Season in the Alps
Spring skiing often brings out the best in the Alps with bluebird days and fabulous festivals. It is these festivals that are growing in stature and popularity with British skiers, sunny weather has always been popular! Festivals taking place in the French Alps this spring differ in style, content, clientele and length meaning there’s something for nearly everyone.
European Gay Ski Week, Alpe d’Huez, 16th to 23rd March, www.europeangayskiweek.com This festival is in its 5th anniversary of celebrating all that is gay from the lofty position of Alpe d’Huez. This is a festival with its roots firmly grounded in having a great time with club nights every evening and other entertainment to accompany. Events include a cabaret and pool party amongst numerous club nights. For more information on late availability visit www.pv-holidays.com
Rock the Pistes, Avoriaz, 19th to 24th March, www.rockthepistes.com Avoriaz is the host of the largest rock festival to hit the French Alps with a different act taking to the stage each evening for five days. Although branded as a rock festival this can certainly appeal to British tastes, not hard rock (XFM sort of music). Concerts take place on the pistes, as the name suggests, over the Portes du Soleil area, making each concert an adventure in itself.
Brits, Tignes, 23rd to 30th March, www.the-brits.com This is the ultimate spring fun in France. The Brits has this year relocated to the home resort of the X Games (20th – 22nd March) and could even be combined together for those that can take the 10 days of events and partying! The Brits, formerly of Laax (Switzerland) is based around the British Snowboard and Freeski Championships. Competitions in slopestyle, snowboard and skier cross, halfpipe and Bangers & Cash, this latest addition allows for those Brits who have developed dry slope expertise utilising rails to showcase their jibs. The festivities of course continue into après ski and beyond with live music from the likes of The Nextmen and Lazy Habits with one night dedicated to the 90s, crop tops and fluoro at the ready!
Avoriaz Beach Party, Avoriaz, 29th March to 1st April www.avoriaz.com Two holidays in one, ski the extensive pistes of the Portes du Soleil through the day and then head back to the resort centre. The scene has changed and beaches appear in the afternoons with live bands, DJ sets, real sand and salsa dancing.
Winter Sessions, Chamonix, 30th to 31st March, www.wintersessions.net One for the dance music fraternity! Set over a weekend at the end of March the festival is an all day and all night affair. With Chamonix’s position as one of the greatest ski resorts in Europe it will be hard to leave the slopes but for those that do activities such as an Alpine Cake Bake-Off, Space Turkey Wrestling and King of Ping Pong will be happening. Into the evenings the DJ sets kick off, not ending until 4 am, stamina is a must! The recovery BBQ to finish the weekend is sure to be much appreciated.
So festival season is fast approaching and this year it is set to be a bumper year for those looking for a late season party with plenty of snow to combine excellent skiing with the party atmosphere.
To book accommodation for any of the festivals listed, and many more in France visit www.pv-holidays.com
