Tours and the surrounding Touraine region pack an outsized events calendar for a city of 140,000 residents, anchored by the Vitiloire wine fair in May, the Aucard de Tours music festival in June, and a month-long Christmas market that fills the medieval old town with wooden chalets and mulled wine. Most major events are free to enter, with costs limited to food, drink, and tasting glasses. This guide lists the annual highlights with approximate dates, as exact dates shift slightly each year. For the best months to combine these events with good weather, see our best time to visit Tours guide.
Tours Events and Festivals: Spring (March to May)
Vitiloire (Late May)
The largest wine event in the Loire Valley, Vitiloire brings over 100 winemakers from across the Touraine, Anjou, Saumur, and Vouvray appellations to Boulevard Heurteloup in central Tours for a single weekend (Saturday and Sunday). Entry is free; you buy a tasting glass for EUR 5 and then pay per taste (EUR 1 to EUR 3 per pour depending on the wine). The event covers the full range of Loire wines: crisp Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre and Touraine, Chenin Blanc from Vouvray (both dry and moelleux styles), Cabernet Franc reds from Chinon and Bourgueil, and sparkling Crémant de Loire made in the traditional method. Food stalls sell local specialties like rillettes de Tours, Sainte-Maure cheese, and fouées (wood-fired bread pockets filled with goat cheese or rillettes). Arrive before noon on Saturday for the best selection before the popular producers sell out of their top cuvées. Exact date: typically the last weekend of May. For additional planning, see our Tours weather by month.
Tours sur Loire / Guinguette Festival (Mid-May to Late June)
Tours-sur-Loire is not a single event but a six-week stretch when the banks of the Loire transform into an open-air guinguette, a revival of the 19th-century riverside dance halls that once lined the river. Pop-up bars, food trucks, and live music stages occupy the Quai de la Loire between the Pont Wilson and the Pont Napoléon from mid-May through late June. Music leans toward French chanson, jazz, and gypsy swing. Most concerts are free; food and drink are priced like standard festival fare (EUR 5 to EUR 8 for a plate, EUR 4 to EUR 6 for a glass of local wine). The atmosphere peaks on Friday and Saturday evenings when the riverside fills with locals. Bring a picnic blanket and arrive by 18:00 on weekends to claim a good spot near the stage. For additional planning, see our things to do in Tours.
Tours Events and Festivals: Summer (June to August)
Aucard de Tours (Mid-June)
Aucard de Tours is a free three-day music festival held in the Parc de la Gloriette and various venues across Tours, typically the second weekend of June. The lineup spans rock, electronic, hip-hop, reggae, and French pop, mixing national touring acts with local bands. The festival has run since 1987 and has grown into one of the largest free music events in central France, attracting around 30,000 attendees across the weekend. Entry to all concerts is free; the festival is funded by bar sales and city sponsorship. The main stage operates from roughly 18:00 to midnight Friday and Saturday, with additional daytime events on Sunday. Exact date: typically the second weekend of June (Friday to Sunday). For additional planning, see our best neighborhoods in Tours.
FĂŞtes Musicales en Touraine (Late June to Early July)
This classical and chamber music festival programs about 15 concerts over 3 weeks in châteaux, churches, and abbeys across Touraine, including venues in Tours itself (the cathedral and the Grand Théâtre) and at rural sites like the Abbaye de Fontevraud and Château de Chenonceau. The programming covers Baroque through contemporary classical, with a mix of established French ensembles and emerging international artists. Ticket prices range from EUR 15 to EUR 45 depending on the venue and seat category. The festival has run since 1985 and draws a sophisticated international audience. Book tickets online at least 2 weeks ahead for the most desirable venues like Chenonceau, which sell out quickly. Exact dates: late June through mid-July annually. For additional planning, see our where to stay in Tours.
Cinéma en Plein Air (July and August)
During July and August, the city of Tours screens free outdoor films in various public spaces: the courtyard of the Château de Tours, the Jardin des Prébendes, and the Parc Honoré de Balzac. Films are shown in original language with French subtitles, and the selection mixes classic French cinema, recent releases, and international crowd-pleasers. Screenings start at dusk (around 22:00). Bring a blanket or low chair and arrive 30 minutes before showtime for the best spots. The full program is published on the Tours city website (tours.fr) in late June. For additional planning, see our Tours travel tips and FAQ.
Tours Events and Festivals: Autumn (September to November)
Journées Européennes du Patrimoine (Third Weekend of September)
European Heritage Days unlock buildings across Tours that are normally closed to the public: the Préfecture (regional government headquarters in a converted 18th-century abbey), private hôtels particuliers in the old town, the back rooms of the Hôtel de Ville (city hall), and the Tour Charlemagne. All entry is free. The event runs Saturday and Sunday, typically 10:00 to 18:00. Queues form at the most popular sites like the Préfecture by mid-morning, so prioritize the buildings you most want to see and arrive at opening time.
Foire Ă l’Ail et au Basilic (Late July / Early August)
Held in Place Anatole France on a single Saturday, this garlic and basil fair is a concentrated dose of Touraine food culture. Local producers sell braided garlic, bunches of fresh basil, olive oils, tapenades, and regional wines. Cooking demonstrations and free tastings run throughout the day. Free entry. Exact date varies, typically the last Saturday of July or first Saturday of August.
Tours Events and Festivals: Winter (December)
Marché de Noël de Tours (Late November to Late December)
Tours runs one of the best Christmas markets in the Loire Valley, with approximately 100 wooden chalets spread across Place de la Gare, Boulevard Heurteloup, and Place Plumereau, linked by Christmas lights along Rue Nationale. Stalls sell artisan gifts, regional food products (foie gras, nougat, chocolates), and hot wine (vin chaud, EUR 3 to EUR 4). An ice skating rink operates on Place de la Gare (EUR 5 including skate rental). The market typically runs from the last weekend of November through December 24, open daily from 11:00 to 20:00 (until 21:00 on Fridays and Saturdays). The old town chalets on Place Plumereau have the best atmosphere; the Place de la Gare area is bigger but more commercial. Combine with a visit to Les Halles for lunch during the market run, when extra festive stalls appear inside the covered hall.
