Bauduen is nothing like a busy seaside resort. It’s a small village that moves at its own pace, even in July and August. Even so, the calendar fills up: lakeside market every Tuesday, brewery nights every Friday, concerts, fireworks, the village fête. Here’s everything happening this summer, week by week.
Three weekly rendez-vous and one every evening
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday. And every evening at the guinguette.
Tuesday evening, head down to the lakefront for the night market. Craftspeople and local producers set up from 5 to 11 pm, from 7 July to 25 August. A sunset walk along the water, a quick drink, a plate of something, and you linger.
Wednesday, head to the Nocturnes at Accro Verdon: after-dark tree-climbing sessions with a live concert and food at the Accro Guinguette. Places are limited, booking strongly advised (+33 7 86 20 30 27).
- 8 July, French chanson (harmonica & guitar)
- 15 July, bluegrass
- 22 July, French chanson
- 29 July, gypsy jazz
- 5 August, traditional Mexican
- 12 August, latino
- 19 August, gypsy jazz
Friday, it’s Brasserie Sainte-Croix’s turn. Guinguette-style terrace, organic beers brewed on site, food truck and music, from 7 to 11 pm. Free entry, dogs on a lead welcome.
- 10 July, food truck & music
- 17 July, food truck & concert
- 24 July, food truck & music
- 👀 Monday 27 July, the brewery opens exceptionally on a Monday for a saxophone night
- 31 July, food truck & concert
- 7 August, no evening: that night, the village summer fête takes over, with the Dust concert
- 14, 21, 28 August, food truck & music
- 5 and 12 September, closing nights, food truck & concert (Saturdays, to stretch the season)
And every evening, through July and August, Pierre (who runs Verdon Bike Location) is trying out a new concept just outside Bauduen: Les Apéros Sunset du Verdon, a guinguette open every evening. A drink on the terrace at sunset, a small menu to snack on, and somewhere to linger late without leaving the village. Our tip for the night owls.
July: mid-month piles concerts on top of animations
The second half of July is dense.
- 13 July, the Impulse Quintet plays in Bauduen as part of the Festival Jazz Verdon.
- 16 July, Guinguett’estivales: open-air concerts, popular ball.
- 19 July, Book Gratiferia: give what you have, take what you like, everything free (second edition 23 August).
- 25 July, SunRiff night by the lake. (Cancelled.)
- Monday 27 July, Brasserie Sainte-Croix opens exceptionally on a Monday for a saxophone night.
August: the big week of the summer fête
Peak season. The village tips into its big summer fête from 7 to 13 August. Day-by-day programme:
- Friday 7 August, pétanque tournament (4 pm, boulodrome) and Dust concert opening the fête.
- Saturday 8 August, fireworks over the lake (cancelled due to fire risk), followed by the Back Stage dance concert (10 pm, beach and open-air theatre). Drinks on site.
- Sunday 9 August, pétanque tournament (4 pm, boulodrome) and festive aperitif on the Post Office square (6 pm).
- Monday 10 August, morning pétanque tournament (9 am, boulodrome).
- Wednesday 12 August, solar eclipse visible from the village, 95.6% obscuration. Our full guide: timing, safety, where to watch.
- Thursday 13 August, ninepins tournament (5 pm, boulodrome) to close the week.
Then the end of the month rolls on:
- Saturday 15 August, DJ set by Flavio Cuz at Les Apéros Sunset du Verdon (8 pm to 1 am).
- Thursday 21 August, DJ set at Les Apéros Sunset du Verdon.
- 22 August, Upgratt in concert
- 28 August, Cicada Lodge in concert
September: the best month, quietly
The tourists gone, the light shifts. It’s also the best time for the village, no crowds, no heat. And the calendar stays busy.
- 5 and 12 September, closing nights at Brasserie Sainte-Croix, food truck & concert.
- 11 to 13 September, Bauduen celebrates Lake Sainte-Croix, three days of free activities on and around the water.
- All three days
- Big book gratiferia on the pier
- Exhibitions: Niko’s photography, “From the need for water to the building of the dam” by EDF, photos by C. Parodi & drawings by D. Tomatis, postcards at the Petit Four
- Friday 11
- Scarecrow festival in the village streets
- Boat baptisms and astronomical observatory (booking required), library events
- Guided village tours at 10am and 3pm from the Tourist Information Office
- Saturday 12
- 9am, mêlée pétanque contest (sign up on site, draw at 9:30am)
- 9:30am, cyclists’ gathering on the pier
- 9:30-11:30am, horse-drawn carriage rides
- 12pm, aperitivo on the pier
- 12-6pm, sailing, wing, kite and foil demos and lessons with Sulagran
- 2:30pm, square-boules contest
- Sunday 13
- 9am-12:30pm, balloon creations with Maëva on the pier
- Boat rides on the water with Alize Electronic
- All three days
- Sunday 13 September, Saint-Lambert festival, free (contact 09 67 73 43 25).
- 10:30am, procession on rue du Cimetière
- Followed by mass at Église Saint-Pierre
- Blessing and sale of pullets
- Friday 18 September, official library reopening, 4:30-7pm at 19 rue Longue. Closed for years, reopened in June. Warm, festive atmosphere around reading, come discover the collections and meet the team. Free.
- Saturday 19 September, Bauduen, tracing the Resistance, a day of memory at 60 rue Grande.
- 2pm, heritage walk through the village, its lanes and old houses
- 3:30pm, screening of the film Maquisards
- 5pm, talk by historian Jean-Marie Guillon, “The Resistance in Bauduen and the Verdon”
- 6:30pm, apéritif and traditional aïoli (€25, €20 under 12, booking required on 07 66 46 81 83)
- 9:30pm, fireworks
- Saturday 26 September, Along the Paths of the World, musical storytelling by Pat Decerf, behind Église Saint-Pierre.
- 7pm, a journey through tales and music from around the world, striking characters, distant landscapes and imaginations from here and elsewhere. Age 8+, families welcome.
- After the show, shared meal around a communal table.
- Contribution: €10 (07 66 46 81 83).
Over to you
This list isn’t exhaustive: the village moves, programmes shift, new evenings sneak in at the last minute. If you catch wind of a good concert, a fête or a rendez-vous worth the detour in Bauduen or nearby, drop us a line at isa.haumea@gmail.com, we’ll add it gladly.
For more: our secret spots in Bauduen · things to do in Bauduen · the beach in Bauduen.