March is the month of uncertainty here in Bordeaux. There will be sunny days which will make you crave a glass of rose on one of the squares of Bordeaux. It can even be hot enough to go to the beach, and in that case, you should check out my article about the best beaches near Bordeaux.
However don’t be surprised if suddenly you’ll wake up to a cold or a very rainy day, these are very common in March as well.
The good news is that there’s always something to do here in Bordeaux. So in case it’s cold you should check out my article about the best things to do in Bordeaux in the winter. And for rainy days, here’s my guide to all the things you can do in Bordeaux when it’s raining.
However, in this article, I’m going to talk about all the best events, exhibitions, and concerts taking place in Bordeaux and its surroundings in March 2023. If you’re reading this article in February check out my article about what to do in Bordeaux in February.
You can also subscribe to my newsletter where I update you about all the best things happening in the city every weekend.
If it’s your first time in Bordeaux I recommend reading my article about the best things to do in Bordeaux and the best districts in Bordeaux in case you’re still looking for accommodation.
What to do in Bordeaux city in March 2023
Carnaval des 2 rives
Le Carnaval des 2 rives (March 5) takes place on both sides of the Garonne river. This modern festival (created in 1996) has all the best features of a traditional carnival such as costumes, shows, and a big parade.
The big parade starts start at 14:00 at the Allée Serr, on the right side of the river, and then passes to the other side through Pont de Pierre and ends at the Village Carnival at Place Pey-Berland at 16:00. The Village Carnaval will be open until 18:00. For more details click here.
When: March 5 / Where: Starts at Allée Serr, Bastide, Bordeaux
Grand Salon Habitat De Bordeaux
Bordeaux’s big habitat fair will take place on March 3-5. The salon will include a huge variety of stands and professionals specializing in construction, house renovation, interior design, and more. The event will take place at Hall 3 of le Parc des Expositions de Bordeaux – Hall 3. For more details click here.
When: March 3-5 / Where: Cours Jules Ladoumègue, 33000 Bordeaux
Fête de l’Orange
Fête de l’Orange, the feast of the Orange is celebrated every year in Podensac, the town of the famous Lillet liqueur. The program includes a big orange market and different orange specialties, a guided visit to the Lillet cellars, traditional dancing, and more. The event will take place on March 4-5. The full program will be published here.
When: March 4-5 / Where: the center of Podensac
Foire aux Plaisirs
This is the spring edition of the traditional Bordelaise Fair that is taking place at Place des Quinconces from March 3-26. It’s a perfect activity for kids and for those who are young in spirit as La Foire aux Plaisirs de Bordeaux has it all: a big wheel, roller coasters, ghost trains, bumper cars, donuts, crèpes, and more.
See more info about the fair here.
When: March 3-26 / Where: Place des Quinconces
Salon des Vins des Vignerons Indépendants de Bordeaux
The Salon des Vins of the Bordeaux independent winemakers will take place on March 10-12 at the Parc des Expositions de Bordeaux (Bordeaux Lac -Hall 3). Wine producers from the region will present their wines and will invite you to a free taste. This event is not geared toward professionals but rather toward all wine lovers. For more info click here.
When: March 10-12 / Where: Parc des expositions de Bordeaux Lac – Cours Charles Bricaud – 33000 Bordeaux
Bordeaux Rock Festival
The Bordeaux Rock festival is a big gathering of independent and alternative bands that takes place every year in Bordeaux. This year it will take place on March 9-12 at la Salle des fêtes du grand parc. For the full program and tickets click here.
When: March 9-12 / Where: 39 Cours de Luze 33300 Bordeaux, France
Salon du Vintage
The annual vintage salon will take place in Darwin on March 11-12. This chic event will gather more than 50 exhibitors with a great selection of accessories, furniture, vinyl records, classic cars, jukebox, paintings, and more. For more details check the Facebook page and the website of the event.
When: March 11-12 / Where: 87 Quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux
Saint Patrick’s day
Saint Patrick’s day is always a good opportunity to get drunk from an Irish beer or whiskey while listening to good music.
Most Irish (and English) bars in Bordeaux make a big Saint Patrick’s day celebration with music and a lot of drunk and happy people. Check out my list of Irish/English bars in Bordeaux and choose one for March 17!
The European short film festival
The 26th edition of the European Short Film festival (festival européen du court métrage de Bordeaux) will take place on March 16-17 at the UGC Ciné Cité Bordeaux. The festival includes a program of about thirty movies from all over the world and a jury of famous personalities from the French cinema industry, from actors to directors and screenwriters. For more info and tickets check out the website of the festival.
When: March 16-17 / Where: 13-15 rue Georges Bonnac, 33000 Bordeaux
Les Fous Rires de Bordeaux
Les Fous Rires de Bordeaux (March 18-25) is a very unique humor festival hosting more than 80 artists and different activities taking place all over the city. The festival is an opportunity to experience humor in different forms, such as live on stage, in pictures, and even through cooking! See the full program here.
When: March 18-25 / Where: Different locations in Bordeaux
Swing Art Festival
Every March, for more than a decade now, Bordeaux has been hosting the Swing Art Festival (March 23-26) where swing dancers come from all around the globe to teach the dancers of Bordeaux their art of Swinging.
The program includes a lot of dancing, live music, art, vintage markets, workshops, and more. The event takes place at la Halle des Chartrons and it’s Free! For more details click here.
When: March 23-26 / Where: 10 Place du Marché Chartrons, 33000
Fête les Vins kms de Saint-Emilion
Les Vins Kms de Saint-Emilion is a walking and running race of 11 km, 21km, and 40k, taking place at the stunning village of Saint Emilion. The event starts at Château Soutard, one of Saint Emilion’s most popular wineries. The event takes place on March 26.
See the full program here.
Check out my article about all the wineries I recommend visiting in Saint Emilion.
When: March 26 / Where: Saint Emilion
Exhibitions and concerts not to miss this month in Bordeaux
Go to a concert at Arkea Arena
Arkea Arena is the place to go to if you want to see big concerts in Bordeaux. The program in March includes the Irish Celtic, an electronic music festival, Stromae, and more. See the full program here.
Dali and Gaudi – Les Bassins de Lumières
Les Bassins de Lumières is hosting a new exhibition and I’m sure it’s going to be amazing as usual! This time the exhibition is dedicated to Dali and Gaudi. Les Bassins de Lumières is a visual arts space, situated in an old submarine base, that is known for its immersive exhibitions.
You can see a video I took in their previous exhibitions just to get the vibe. The new exhibition will be presented from February 3 to January 7, get your tickets here.
When: February 3 – January 7, 2024 / Where: Imp. Brown de Colstoun, 33300 Bordeaux
Street are at L’institue Bernard Magrez
L’institue Bernard Magrez is a beautiful chateau in Bordeaux that regularly host street art exhibitions and events. Currently, there are three different street art exhibitions presented at the gallery. You can visit the chateau only on weekends. Buy tickets here.
What’s happening in other parts of the SW of France in March 2023
Piano Festival
The town of Saintes is hosting its annual Piano festival on March 3-4. The festival will take place at the Abbaye aux Dames, one of the highlights of this beautiful town in the Charentes Maritimes department. See more details and tickets here.
When: March 3-4 / Where: 11 Place de l’Abbaye, 17100 Saintes
Sarlat en Périgord Fest’oie (Goose Festival)
Every first weekend of March, the town of Sarlat is hosting the Goose festival. In the program, you find live music, great food, a big market, tours of the historic city, and more. The event will take place on March 4-5. See more details here.
When: March 4-5 / Where: Sarlat, Dordogne
South Town Jazz Festival
The South Town Jazz festival is an annual festival taking place in Soustons, a charming beach town in the Landes department. The festival will take place on March 20-25. For more info and tickets click here.
When: March 20-25 / Where: Soustons
Is it your first time in Bordeaux?
If it is you should definitely check out my ultimate guide to Bordeaux to get familiar with all the must-see places in the city. To help you choose a hotel I’ve gathered a list of the best hotels in the center of Bordeaux as well as a guide to the districts of Bordeaux to help you find your preferred AirBnB location.
If you need more tips for things to do in the SW of France I invite you to join my Facebook group ” Travel in the South West of France“. Also, every Friday I send a newsletter with plenty of additional events you can enjoy during the weekend, so hurry up and subscribe to my email list now 🙂
You can also get plenty of tips on things to do in the Southwest of France via lost in Bordeaux’s social media accounts and email list, check them out here: