Lemons, hot air balloons and chocolate - you name it, the French celebrate it. So why not time your trip this year to coincide with a party?

FEBRUARY

If you’re in Provence, don't miss the Nice Carnival from Feb 13 - Mar 1, this year celebrating its 125th anniversary. The theme is ‘King of Masquerades’, which will celebrate the art of masks, costume and cartoons. The whole parade kicks off with the arrival of the Carnival King, a huge caricature that can be up to 15m in height.

At the same time, a little further along the coast, indulge in all things citrus at the Menton Lemon Festival. It’s not just the odd glass of lemonade on offer - you’ll see huge constructions made from the fruit.

A classics feast in France

The Times' cartoonist crosses the Channel to find a flourishing chamber music festival in an abbey in northern France

Teen cooking classes in France

Cathy Smith's daughter and friend weren't quite teenagers when they visited, but they were soon cooking up a storm

• 14 tasty cookery courses

BACKGROUND

• The cheese-lover's guide to France

• The cunning holiday guide to France in August

• The budget guide to the French Riviera

• Deauville: a classy Channel resort

• Don't pass Pas de Calais

Related Internet Links

• Peregrine's France: the Sunday Times francophile reveals all

Related Links

• Beach and lobsters in Ile de Re

Writer Leah Larkin went along in 2008 and says: “Last year’s theme was Cities of the World and there was a whole village made from lemons and oranges, a Mount Etna, a fire-breathing dragon and Easter Island statues.” This year’s theme – Music of the World – promises to be just as awesome.

APRIL

Chocoholics will be gearing up for Easter and there’s no better place to treat that sweet tooth than at the Grande Fête du Chocolat in Aÿ, in the Marne department from Apr 4-5. Visitors can learn the history of chocolate, but more importantly learn the art of making their own delicacies.

JUNE

The 65th anniversary of D-Day takes place and will see a variety of events along the Normandy coast. As well as the grand military parade on June 7, there will be firework displays, memorial walks, picnics and concerts throughout the preceding week.

More reading: The smart guide to Normandy

JULY

July is, of course, when the mightiest cyclists endure two weeks of gruelling racing around the country for the Tour de France. Although the detailed route hasn’t yet been announced, the penultimate stage will finish on top of Provence’s Mount Ventoux, where British cyclist Tom Simpson collapsed and died while still clipped to his pedals in 1967.

Times recommends

• 'New York has lost its edge'
• The UK and Ireland's 25 best Christmas events
• Chalet Chef 2010: the winners