If you finally made it to Bordeaux this summer and wondering what’s there to do when the locals leave the town, well quite a lot actually! The first and the last weeks of August are filled with so many events that choosing one will be impossible! We have several music festivals happening in Bordeaux itself and tens of events (sports, gastronomy, art, etc.) in other parts of Gironde such as Arcachon, Cap Ferret, and Saint Emilion. The list is long so I divided it into things to do in Bordeaux and events in Gironde and other parts of the SW of France.
There aren’t as many events taking place here in mid-August so if you don’t find anything interesting here check out my article about things to do in Bordeaux during the summer. Also, I update about many more events taking place every weekend in Bordeaux in my newsletter, so don’t forget to subscribe to my email list if you’re not on it yet. If it’s your first time in Bordeaux free to also join my Travel in the southwest of France group on Facebook or follow me on my Facebook/ Instagram accounts.
Here are some of the best things you can do in Bordeaux in August 2022!
What to do in Bordeaux Metropole in August 2022?
L’Astroshøw Open Air
L’Astroshow Open Air is a free festival taking place on August 5-7 at Quai Deschamps (the Bastide district). The outdoor festival includes a long lineup of artists from different genres (electro dark disco, psychedelic rock garage, garage punk, and more). See the full program here.
When: August 5-7 / Where: Quai Deschamps
If you want to discover some of the best districts outside of the old center of Bordeaux, check out my district guide.
Bordeaux Open Air
Bordeaux Open Air is a series of free summer electronic music events, all set in different locations and with a great city vibe to them. For more details and the full summer program click here.
When: August 7, 21, 28 Sept 11, 18 / Where: Follow the website for the exact location
Open-air Cinema
Every Wednesday during the month of August, Blonde Venus (the Iboat) will host an open-air cinema event. You can see the program here, booking in advance is recommended.
When: every Wednesday / Where: Bassin à Flot n°1, Cours Henri Brunet, 33300 Bordeaux
If you want to discover other things to do in the Bassin a flor district, check out my article about the North of Bordeaux.
Relache Festival
Relache Festival, created by the Allez les filles association, is a series of free concerts taking place at different venues and dates during the summer. For the lineup and more details click here.
When: August / Where: Square Dom Bedos and Esplanade Charles de Gaulle
Festival Balterno!
Festival Balterno is a music festival taking place on August 26-28 in Parc de Mussonville in Bègles.Three days of non-stop music in one of Bordeaux’s most charming parks. For more info click here.
When: August 26-28 / Where: Avenue Alexis Labro, 33130 Bègles
Discover other parks in Gironde in my article about the most beautiful parks around Bordeaux.
Les Odyssées
Les Odyssées is a free stage arts festival taking place every year in Ambès, about 30 minutes from Bordeaux. The festival will take place on August 26-27 at the Stade Municipal. Check out the full program here.
When: August 26-27 / Where: Stade Municipal d’Ambes
Go for a drink in one of Bordeaux’s summer bars
Plenty of rooftops, terrace cafes, and open bars are surging all over the city starting from the end of May/beginning of June. Some are more posh and chic, others simple and chill but they are all super fun to hang out in during the summer in Bordeaux. Check out the list of the best summer bars in Bordeaux.
Bordeaux Metropolitan Summer
Like every year Bordeaux Metropolitan invites you to discover the city and the area around it through a series of cultural events and activities. More than 100 activities of music, dance, public reading, theater, circus, and gastronomy are taking place between July 16 and August 28. These events are so widely spread across the metropolitan area of Bordeaux that you are guaranteed to discover places (especially parks) that you have never heard of before. Check out the full program of events here.
When: Daily from July 16 to August 28/ Where: Bordeaux Metropolitan – check out the exact location of every event in the program.
Puppet Theater for Kids
Le Guignol Guérin, founded in 1853, is the oldest puppetry show in France with daily spectacles for kids in Parc Bordelais during the summer (July and August). The show usually starts at 16:00 but can be canceled or postponed when it’s raining or getting too hot. Read more about the theater here.
When: Daily during July – August at 16:00 / Where: Parc Bordelais
What do in August in Gironde and other parts of SW France?
Go to a night market in Arcachon
A night market is taking place in the center of Arcachon every night (Tuesday to Friday) from July 1 to August 31. For more details click here.
Check out my full guide to Arcachon before going. You can also combine it with a guided tour in Arcachon, click here to book a tour.
See other night markets taking place in Gironde this summer, read my article about night markets in 2022.
When: July 1 – August 31 / Where: Place des Marquises, 33120 Arcachon
The Fest’Arts Festival
The Fest’Arts festival in Libourne was created about 30 years ago to honor street performing artists. On August 4-6 the center of Libourne will be turned into a big promenade and plenty of performances will take place on the pretty streets of the city. Check out the full program here.
When: August 4-6 / Where: The center of Libourne
You can combine this event with a visit to Saint Emilion, here’s my article about a day trip to Saint Emilion.
Fête de la Presqu’île in Cap Ferret
Every year in August Lege Cap Ferret celebrates its oyster farming with a big event called Fête de la Presqu’île. The four-day event includes plenty of oysters, concerts, activities for kids, and fireworks on the last night. The event will take place on August 4-7 in Claouey. For more info click here.
When: August 4-7 / Where: Claouey, Place de Bertic, 33950 Lege – Cap Ferret
Discover other places to visit at the Cap Ferret peninsula in my article about a day trip to Arcachon.
Reggae Sun Ska music festival
The 22nd edition of this fun reggae festival will take place on August 5-6 at the Domaine Equestre de Nodris in Vertheuil, which is located in the Medoc area (about an hour drive from Bordeaux). The impressive long lineup includes tens of performers from the reggae scene. You can check out the full lineup here. For more info and details check out the Facebook page of the festival.
When: August 5-6 / Where: 1 rue du Maquis, 33180 Vertheuil
If you want to discover other places you can visit in Medoc, check out my article about the Medoc region.
Fête de la Ruralité et Festival du Bois
Fête de la Ruralité et du Festival du Bois is an annual feast of rural traditions taking place in Biganos on the Arcachon bay. The program includes a craftsmen market, demonstrations of past know-how and traditions (threshing machine, bread oven), an animal farm, local products market, activities for kids, and more. The event will take place August 6-7, for more details click here.
When: August 6-7 / Where: Parc Lecoq a Biganos, 33380 Biganos
Festival flam
Festival Flam is an annual classical music festival taking place in Blaye and the surrounding towns. The festival is mostly dedicated to string instruments, bringing together young and more experienced musicians. This year the festival is taking place on August 5-15. Check out the full program here.
When: August 5-15 / Where: different locations, check out the program of the festival
Les Fêtes de la Mer in Arcachon
It’s that time of the year when sailors and Arcachon lovers gather to celebrate the sea with les Fêtes de la Mer. During two days you can enjoy plenty of activities in the center of Arcachon, from music concerts on the beach to flee markets and a huge picnic. It’s also a religious event so a few big masses will be held on both days. For more info click here.
When: August 14-15 / Where: different parts of Arcachon, see the program
Caraïbos Lacanau Pro
Le Caraïbos Lacanau Pro is one of the most famous events in the surfing world, taking place in Lacanau-Océan. Every year, professional surfers from around the world arrive to the region to participate in the Championship tour. More than a surfing competition it’s a beach festival with plenty of activities, concerts, craft stands, sports and surfing lessons and more. The festival will take place from August 16 to August 21. For more info click here.
When: August 16-21/ Where: Lacanau-Océan
You can also turn it into a nice weekend discovering the whole region which also includes Lacanau lake. One of the most fun hotels on the lake is called O lac and you can book it here. If you’re traveling with kids, Lodging le Lac is a really fun family experience, with tents in the trees.
Festival Musical’Ocean
Festival Musical’Ocean is a Jazz and classical music festival taking place at Lacanau-Ocean, a beautiful coastal town, about an hour’s drive from Bordeaux. This year the festival will take place on August 21-25. For more info click here.
When: August 21-25 / Where: 33680 Lacanau Océan
Black Bass Festival
Black Bass festival is an independent rock festival taking place every year at the Domaine de la Paillerie on the Gironde estuary. This year the festival will be taking place on August 26- 27, see the full program here.
When: August 26-27 / Where: Domaine de la Paillerie, 33820 Braud-Et-Saint-Louis
Journée médiévale de Saint-Macaire
The annual medieval festival of Saint Macaire will be taking place on August 27. The program includes plenty of activities for kids, shows, a big market in the city center, and more. This event is particularly fun for kids as many people come in costumes and if you don’t have a medieval times costume at home don’t worry about it, you can rent one, check out information about costumes renting here. For more info click here.
When: August 27 / Where: Saint-Macaire
Paille & Ripaille Festival
Paille & Ripaille is a local gastronomy festival taking place every year in Langon. The objective of the festival, which will take place on August 26-28 in Parc des Vergers, is to support local food producers. The program includes concerts, farm animals, and a lot of local specialties. See more details here.
When: August 26 – 28 / Where: Parc des Vergers, Langon
A beautiful 4D show on Chateau de Duras
Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday during the summer (July 3rd to August 30) the beautiful chateau of Duras is hosting an amazing 4D spectacle where they screen the history of the chateau and a fun story for kids at the end. The show is really well done and the location itself makes the drive from Bordeaux well worth it. The show starts at 22:30 but If you’ve never visited the chateau before, make sure to come earlier in the day so you’ll have the chance to visit the rooms and see the stunning view from the top. See more details here.
When: July and August / Where: Chateau de Duras
La Bataille de Castillon
La Bataille de Castillon is a spectacle taking place during the course of several weeks in the summer, replicating the famous fight from 1453. Castillon-la-Bataille, the town where the show takes place also hosts many activities and events revolving around the big show: tours of the city, exhibitions, workshops of medieval art, and more. For more info and tickets click here.
When: July 21 – August 20 / Where: Association 1453, Mairie de Castillon, 33350 CASTILLON-LA-BATAILLE
Jazz in Marciac
Marciac is a nice little village in the Gers department (about 2 hours drive from Bordeaux) that hosts one of the biggest Jazz festivals in the region. The festival takes place for three weeks (from July 22 to August 6) and has a very impressive lineup of international Jazz artists. Check out the full program here.
When: July 22 to August 6 / Where: Marciac
Go to the beach
If you’re coming here for the summer I’m sure that going to the beach is on your list. This area is abundant with beautiful sandy beaches on the Atlantic coastline as well as on the many lakes surrounding the city. If you want to discover some new beaches around Bordeaux check out my article about the best beaches near Bordeaux.
For more ideas for activities with kids, check out my article about 30 things to do with kids in Bordeaux.
Exhibitions not to miss this month in Bordeaux
Picasso, l’effervescence des formes
From April 15 to August 28, Le Cité du Vin will be presenting a temporary exhibition, called Picasso, l’effervescence des formes. The exhibition will look into the role wine and alcohol, in general, played in Picasso’s works. For more info click here.
Read about my visit to the Cité du Vin to learn more about one of Bordeaux’s modern symbols.
When: April 15 – August 28 / Where: 134 Quai de Bacalan, 33300 Bordeaux
Venise, la Sérénissime – Les Bassins de Lumières
Les Bassins de Lumières is hosting yet another exhibition and it’s very exciting! This time the exhibition is dedicated to the city of Venice and its cultural and architectural treasures. If you’ve been to the previous two exhibitions at the Bassins de Lumières you know that it’s an amazing experience and if you haven’t check out my video from the last exhibition. “Venise, la Sérénissime” will be presented from February 11 to January 2nd, get your tickets here.
When: February 11 – January 2nd / Where: Imp. Brown de Colstoun, 33300 Bordeaux
Rosa Bonheur Exhibition
This summer the Bordeaux fine arts museum is hosting a beautiful exhibition to Rosa Bonheur. The exhibition is taking place at Galerie du musée et aile nord du musée des Beaux-Arts from May 18 to September 18. See more details here.
When: from May 18 to September 18 / Where: 20 Cr d’Albret, 33000 Bordeaux
If you’re visiting Bordeaux for the first time, be sure to check up my ultimate guide to Bordeaux, which will get you familiar with all the “must” places to visit in Bordeaux. To help you to choose a hotel in Bordeaux 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 choose your preferred location.
If you’re looking for more ideas for day trips in the Bordeaux region here are a few other articles you might want to read:
The best beaches around Bordeaux
Day trips around Bordeaux – wine, beaches and villages
10 day trips from Bordeaux by Public transport
A weekend in Medoc – Bordeaux wine tours
What to do and eat in Saint Emilion
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:
