From Wolfi Jazz at Fort Kléber to the Saint John's bonfires on the Haut-Rhin ridges, eleven Grand Est picks for solstice weekend, between music, medieval pageantry and terroir.
What's on in the Grand Est this weekend of June 20 and 21? The solstice sets the tone: the shortest night of the year blazes with ancestral fires in the Alsatian valleys while jazz settles into a Strasbourg fort and Lorraine turns back the clock. Our pick of the week goes to the Wolfi Jazz Festival, tucked into a 19th-century military fort, and to the Saint John's Bonfires of the Haut-Rhin, a thousand-year-old tradition that crowns the hills with flame at nightfall. Between medieval fairs, Gérardmer cheese, Meuse baroque and Vosges alphorn, the lineup ranges wide. Here are eleven handpicked outings.
Wolfi Jazz Festival at Fort Kléber in Wolfisheim (67): jazz in the moat
Through Sunday June 21, the Wolfi Jazz Festival takes over the singular setting of Fort Kléber in Wolfisheim, on the edge of Strasbourg. Since 2011, the event has run two stages: the Esplanade for ticketed concerts and the Moat for a free programme of emerging talent. Jazz, blues, funk, soul and world music follow one another within the walls of a 19th-century military fort, an unexpected and resonant backdrop. The closing weekend gathers the headliners and the densest atmosphere. It's one of the most endearing jazz gatherings in the Bas-Rhin, both sharp and approachable thanks to its free stage. A fine way to open the solstice a stone's throw from the Alsatian capital, between stone and improvisation.
Saint John's Bonfires in the Haut-Rhin (68): the ridges blaze at solstice
On Saturday June 20 at nightfall, the villages of the Haut-Rhin carry on the ancient tradition of the Saint John's Bonfires. In the Saint-Amarin valley and beyond, pyres known as "fackels" in Alsatian are raised on the heights from March onward, crowned with fir branches and topped with the tricolour flag. As the solstice falls, the flames rise on the hills, visible from afar, in a rite that blends paganism, popular faith and village pride. Each commune has its own ceremony, often followed by a dance or a refreshment stand. It's a living gem of Vosges intangible heritage, to be experienced once in a lifetime for the magic of fires answering one another from summit to summit.
Fête du Munster in Gérardmer (88): the AOP cheese in all its glory
On June 20 and 21, Gérardmer celebrates the Munster-Géromé at the Fête du Munster, in the heart of the Pearl of the Vosges. Tastings, a farmers' market, cheese-making workshops, musical entertainment and a shepherd's feast bring locals and visitors together around this flagship cheese of the massif. The name "Géromé" is simply the dialect form of Gérardmer, proof of how locally rooted this AOP is. Between the lake and the summits, the festival pairs indulgence with the Vosges art of living, in a resort made for walking. Recommended for lovers of regional produce and for families after a weekend in the open air, with the cheese as the guiding thread.
Toul Flamboyante (54): the cathedral town turns back the clock
On June 20 and 21, Toul Flamboyante transforms the fortified town into a living medieval city at the foot of Saint-Étienne Cathedral. Costumed craftspeople, knights, musicians, a dragon, fire shows and family activities take over the historic centre for a full weekend. Merchants from across France set up period stalls, while combat demonstrations and processions punctuate the day. The Gothic cathedral, one of the most remarkable in Lorraine, serves as a grand backdrop to this carefully staged re-enactment. An ideal family outing to combine history, spectacle and strolling in one of the finest medieval towns of Meurthe-et-Moselle.
Sézanne Medieval Festival (51): troubadours and béhourd at the Mail des Cordeliers
On June 20 and 21, the Sézanne Medieval Festival invites young and old to travel back in time at the heart of the Mail des Cordeliers. Troubadours, jesters, craftspeople and knights recreate the atmosphere of the Middle Ages with a medieval market, displays of béhourd, those spectacular combats in armour, and activities for the whole family. Period food stalls and beverages complete the immersion on this shaded promenade in southern Champagne. The proximity of historic Sézanne, a town of character in the southern Marne, adds to the charm of the setting. A free and convivial journey through time, perfect for a family Sunday away from the crowds, in a town often overshadowed by Reims and Épernay.
Saint-Mihiel Baroque Festival (55): the early repertoire in the abbey church
On June 20 and 21, the Saint-Mihiel Baroque Festival takes over the historic buildings of the Meuse town, including the Saint-Michel abbey church and the chapter house. Run by the town since 2015, it brings together international artists who specialise in baroque and early music, in acoustics suited to this demanding repertoire. On Place Jean Bérain, the festival offers a rare heritage setting for concerts of high calibre, far from the big halls. It's a proposition for seasoned music lovers and for the curious eager to discover baroque in its natural home, the religious building. Combine it with a visit to Saint-Mihiel, rich in sculpture inherited from Ligier Richier. A refined interlude in a very eclectic weekend.
Marville Opens Its Wine Cellars (55): tastings in the Renaissance town
On June 20 and 21, Marville Opens Its Wine Cellars in the setting of its Renaissance town, in the north of the Meuse. Around twenty winegrowers from across France move into the town's centuries-old cellars for tastings spanning Alsace, Beaujolais, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Côtes du Rhône, Jura, Loire and Meuse. The idea is as simple as it is appealing: descend from cellar to cellar, glass in hand, meeting the producers, in a village listed for its exceptional Renaissance architecture. It's a wine-tourism gem for anyone keen to pair wine discovery with heritage, in a relaxed and unpretentious atmosphere. Bring a sober driver and room to take home a few favourite bottles.
Inglorious Festival near Verdun (55): inclusive, solidarity-driven music
On June 19 and 20, at Parc Niel in Thierville-sur-Meuse near Verdun, the Inglorious Festival stands for a powerful idea: access to culture for all. Run by the Meuse branch of ADAPEI since 2015, it mixes musical genres and audiences, with local, national and international artists, some of them living with disabilities. This committed festival combines artistic ambition with an inclusive approach, in a warm and purposeful atmosphere. It's a gem worth supporting, both for its lineup and for its vision of society. A stone's throw from the battlefields of Verdun, the event offers a counterpoint resolutely turned toward the future and togetherness. An outing with real meaning, on Friday evening or Saturday.
Live in Cor in Cornimont (88): the alphorn echoes through the Moselotte valley
On June 19 and 20, nestled in the hollow of the Moselotte valley, Live in Cor sends the spellbinding sounds of the alphorn echoing through the green amphitheatre of Cornimont. Run by the Cors et Accords association since 2015, this one-of-a-kind festival blends mountain folk music and songs of the heights in a leafy setting by the river. The name plays on the word "encore" and on the star instrument, that majestic horn whose deep breath carries far across the valleys. It's an intimate, change-of-scene gem, to savour for the originality of its idea and the beauty of the site. Ideal for anyone after a musical experience off the beaten track, as close as can be to Vosges nature.
BPM, Mulhouse Photography Biennial (68): contemporary images across the city
This weekend, the Mulhouse Photography Biennial continues its trail of exhibitions across the city. Founded in 2013 under the artistic direction of Anne Immelé, the BPM has become in a few editions a major fixture of contemporary photography in France. Every two years, exhibitions take over the Fine Arts Museum, La Filature, the Grand'Rue Library and other Mulhouse venues, setting emerging artists in dialogue with established names. Entry is free at most spaces. It's a chance to wander Mulhouse differently, from one exhibition venue to the next, following the thread of a sharp programme. Recommended for contemporary art lovers and for curious strollers keen on a fresh take on the image.
Les Vieux Métiers d'Azannes (55): a 19th-century Lorraine village brought back to life
Twenty minutes from Verdun, Les Vieux Métiers d'Azannes revives a village of the past all summer across seventeen hectares of plain and forest. Around 400 volunteers from the GEVO association breathe life into more than 80 traditional trades: blacksmith, clog-maker, lacemaker, baker, oil-presser, tile-maker, washerwoman. Founded in 1985, it remains one of the most complete events of its kind in the Grand Est, with farm animals, horse teams and demonstrations in period costume. Sunday June 21 is an ideal day to see the whole site. A wholehearted recommendation for families: it's immersive, alive, and the learning comes through the gesture rather than through explanatory panels.
To explore other regions this weekend, head to our full weekend agenda. Happy solstice in the Grand Est.
