This weekend there are several very nice events in Bordeaux, such as the Swing festival and the annual humor festival. But you don’t need much to be entertained this time as Saint Patrick’s day is on Sunday. Many bars and covered markets are organizing celebrations with plenty of alcohol involved. If you want a calmer activity head to the new design exhibition at the cité du Vin. Here’s the list of things to do this weekend in Bordeaux (March 15-17).

Swing Festival

Every March, for more than a decade now, Bordeaux has been hosting the Swing Art Festival (March 15-17) where swing dancers come from all around the globe to teach the dancers of Bordeaux their art of swinging. This festival is much more than just swing dancing, it’s three days of live music, art, vintage markets, workshops, and a get together of many people from all around the world to celebrate this sweeping dance. The event will take place in Halle des Chartrons and it’s Free! For more details click here.

When: March 15-17 / Where:  10 Place du Marché Chartrons, 33000

The Italian Spring Festival

Le printemps italien is an Italian literature festival taking place on March 14-16 in several locations around Bordeaux Metropole. The program includes meetings with Italian writers, screenings of Italian films, wine tastings and more. For the full program and tickets to events click here.

When: March 14- 16 / Where: different locations around Bordeaux

Les Fous Rires de Bordeaux

Les Fous Rires de Bordeaux (16-23 March) 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!

There are two parts to the festival: Festival IN, with well-known artists on stage. Festival OUF– that proposes free activities during the whole week of the festival such as workshops, happenings, entertaining children in hospitals and more. See the full program here.

When: March 16-23 / Where:  Different locations in Bordeaux

La compagnie Panik

La compagnie Panik is a circus incorporating horses as well as dance, body theater and mime techniques as integral parts of the show. The theater will install their blue tent at the Quai de Queyries on March 8- 31 and will perform two different shows:  “Cabaret de Côté” and “Cirque Bleu”. For more details and tickets click here.

When: March 8-31 / Where:  Quai de Queyries 33000 Bordeaux

Printemps du sport 2019

A big sports day will take place this weekend (March 16-17) in Pessac. The program includes dance shows, discovery workshops of martial arts, a sports village and more. For the full program click here. The event will take place at the Stade André Nègre and at Piscine Caneton.

When: March 16- 17/ Where: Avenue des Provinces 33600 Pessac

SoliFest OFF Festival

Solifest is a associative festival that will take place this Saturday (March 16) at the Garage Moderne in the Bacalan district. The program includes a lineup of Djs, an art exhibition, workshops and food made at the restaurant of the Garage Moderne. For the full program and more information click here.

When: March 16 / Where: 1 rue des Etrangers, 33300 Bordeaux  

Base – opening night

Big news for Bordeaux’s nightlife! Le Base, one of the biggest night clubs in Bordeaux is about to open its doors this Friday (March 15). It’ll be a big opening night with a Cabaret show that will include 20 dancers and performers. The entry is 10€. For more details and reservations click here.

When: March 15 / Where:  287, boulevard Alfred Daney, 33300 Bordeaux

Gala de fin d’année

Le club d’œnologie de Sciences Po Bordeaux Vins/20 invites you to its traditional end of the year gala. The event will take place this Friday (March 15) at Palais de la Bourse. It’s a great evening of Bordeaux wine tastings. The entry is 25€. For more details click here.

When: March 15, at 20:00 / Where:  17 Place de la Bourse, Bordeaux

Visit the Sam Simon ship

This weekend (March 16-17) you have the chance to embark on the Sam Simon ship, which will be docking next to Place des Quinconces. The beautiful ship belongs to Sea Shepherd, an organization devoted to ocean preservation. For more details click here.

When: March 16-17 / Where: Quai de Bordeaux, next to Place des Quinconces

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. This year the celebrations will take place on Sunday (March 17) so there will be a weekend of nice events in many bars. If you’re looking for a bar to celebrate the Saint Patricks’s day check out my list of Irish/English bars in Bordeaux. Here are some Saint Patrick’s day parties and events taking place this weekend in Bordeaux:

Les Halles de Talence- see more details.
La Boca FoodCourt- see more details.
The Connemara Irish Pub- see more details.
The Houses of Parliament- see more details.
HMS Victory- see more details.
Mama Shelter- see more details.

When art and design take on glass

A new temporary exhibition will be inaugurated at the Cité du Vin this Friday (March 15). The exhibition beautifully combines the wine and design worlds. It includes the works of several designers who all modified and reinvented wine glasses. For more details click here.

When: March 15 – June 30 /Where: Esplanade de Pontac, 134 quai de Bacalan,33300 Bordeaux

Récital de piano : Natasha Roque Alsina

This Friday (March 15), l’Institut Culturel Bernard Magrez invites you to a piano concert of the pianist Natasha Roqué Alsina. The concert will be followed by the Bernard Magrez wine tastings at the salon of Château Labottière. For more details click here.

When: March 15, at 20:00 / Where: 16 rue de Tivoli, 33000 Bordeaux

Go to a Samba concert in Central Do Brasil

A concert of Nosso Destino will take place this Friday (March 15) at Central Do Brasil. For more details click here.

When: March 15, at 22:00 / Where: 6 rue du Port, 33800 Bordeaux

Carnaval de Bergerac 2019

After the carnival of Bordeaux earlier this month, it’s time for Bergerac to celebrate. Carnaval de Bergerac will take place this Sunday (March 17) at place de la République. For more details click here.

When: March 17 / Where:  97 Rue Neuve d’Argenson, 24100 Bergerac

Carnaval de Saucats

Another nice carnival for kids will take place this Sunday (March 17) in Saucats. The theme of the carnival is Venise with princesses and superheroes. For more info click here.

When: March 17, at 15:00 / Where:  center of Saucats, 33650

That’s all for this weekend! If you’re not on my email list yet, join me and get more exclusive tips about Bordeaux – subscribe here! 

If you want to know what other events are taking place this month in the city, check out my post about the 15 things not miss in March in Bordeaux.