©Stephane Ribeiro Da Ascencao Festivals and concerts on the Opal Coast
Starting in April, the party spirit is in full swing on the Opal Coast. From the Blues Festival at the Calais marina to the lively squares of Marck, via the beach and the legendary Dragon de Calais, the 2025 season promises to be punctuated by open-air festivals, 100% free and packed with excitement! Here's a rundown of the events not to be missed!
Fireworks not to be missed
French National Day, the July 14, is a highlight to experience anywhere in France! A colorful tradition to experience differently on the coast to feast your eyes! The fireworks displays also take place during the summer season, a particularity of the coast to savor the sweetness of the seaside.
Unmissable: Calais will make you dance!
The Calais fireworks will be launched from Calais LA Plage as usual. A distribution of light-up bracelets will take place at 22:00 p.m. at Fort Risban. The first rocket will be launched around 23:00 p.m. for a lively pyrotechnic display. to the sound of Daft Punk.
The evening will begin earlier, in the center of Calais, with a Made In France show that will have you dancing to the greatest French hits from across the decades, with a DJ on the decks bringing a "modern touch."
Location : Place d'Armes, Calais
Time : From 21:00 p.m.
DJ : Brice François, a name on the rise in France and starting to gain international recognition. Among the 33 dates of his summer tour, it's a great opportunity to see him set up his decks in Calais on July 14th!
For residents, a shuttle service (consult the map here) is set up by the City of Calais in order to attend the show!
Where to park for July 14th?
©Stephane Ribeiro Da Ascencao Sunday, July 13
Coquelles: Variety evening at 20:30 p.m., with the group “On s'avais dit rendez-vous…” for a Tribute concert. Fireworks at 23 p.m., Crespel field.
Mark: Firefighters' Ball from 19 p.m. to 1 a.m., Wonderland-themed magical fireworks display at 23 p.m., Agneray Stadium.
Bonningues-lès-Calais: Fireworks at 23 p.m., stadium.
Monday July 14
Calais: day of entertainment in the city center, concerts, open salsa, and a big fireworks display at 23 p.m. on the seafront, to the sounds of Daft Punk.
Saturday, July 26
Coulogne: Ball organized by the OBUT association. At 19 p.m., in the Futurum space. Fireworks at 23 p.m., at the Sery stadium.
Saturday, September 6
To conclude the season, join us on September 6 at Sangatte-Blériot, where the Tom Souville base will host a large fireworks display by the lake, from 19 p.m. to 22 p.m.
©Stephane Ribeiro Da Ascencao Concerts and highlights!
Summer 2025 is in full swing at Calais XXL! It's buzzing with concerts, festive evenings, and free entertainment. Dance, move, sing, raise your arms... Here are the dates to remember for the coming weeks!
Saturday, July 19
Mister Cover, the Return!
They've already set Calais ablaze, Mister Cover's Belgian neighbors are back for a grand evening of covers of international standards! With Mister Cover, there's something for all tastes and all ages. A grand pop journey from the 50s to the present day is on the program, with a fiery atmosphere!
Place d'Armes, Calais — From 21:00 p.m.
Saturday August 2
Rock at Minck
This is Calais's historic music event. Facing England, Calais couldn't escape the rock wave for long. In the early 1960s, the Calais public could rock out to "Rock across the Channel" with the arrival of world stars such as Gene Vincent and Les Shadows, but also the local rock group, "Les Bourgeois de Calais". Since 2006, this rock tradition has returned to Courgain Maritime. This year, Rock au Minck will have a Rockabilly tinge, with double basses and quiff hairstyles!
Qcolumn ui, Calais — From 19:00 p.m.
Groups : The Vagabonds, The Rumbling cats, Capitols
Summer Mechanics, the Dragon Company's summer program
From July 5th to August 31st, it is the Dragon Company which sets the pace on the beach at Calais! The launch is unmissable Saturday, July 5th with a Silent Party orchestrated by the Calaiswood association and six DJs, 3 of whom will mix simultaneously! The Dragon that emits waves to call the Travel Monitor will heat things up helmets available free of charge on site! Then, the fiery program extends throughout the season by the sea with:
- Fridays and Saturdays from 18:30 p.m., live concerts and DJ sets bring the restaurant-bar L'Antre du Dragon to life. Artists with varied styles – house, disco, blues, afro-tech, rap, electro – follow one another, mixing regional discoveries and established artists.
- Every Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m., Dragon Barbecues offer a friendly moment facing the sea.
Children's activities are also planned every Wednesday, including the days “Apprentice Dragon Healers” or creative workshops around the mythical figure of the Dragon!
The entire program in the shadow of the Dragon!
©Nohcab 
©Carine Anot We continue the season
The Travel Monitor: The Odyssey
From November 7 to 9, 2025, Calais will become the scene of an exceptional event: The Varan from Voyage: The Odyssey. Ce free outdoor show, orchestrated by the company La Machine, will combine urban art, street theater and spectacular mechanics. The Dragon of Calais, installed since 2019, will welcome a new articulated creature: the Varan de Voyage, agile and expressive. Together, they will form a unique duo, soon confronting the mysterious Guardian of Darkness, a chimerical creature emerging from another world. This immersive story will come to life as it wanders through the streets of the city center and the emblematic places of Calais, inviting the public to follow this visual and narrative epic on the scale of the city. The show promises a unique sensory experience, at the crossroads of poetry and imagination.
Follow the arrival of the Calais Monitor Lizard
©Carine Anot 
©Angelique Lyleire It's over and we'll see you again next year!
The unmissable Beautiful Swamp Blues Festival
Every spring, Calais XXL becomes the meeting point for blues enthusiasts from all over France and beyond! With its big evenings at La Halle de Calais, the Place d'Armes becomes the vibrant heart of the festival, where the captivating rhythms of the blues resonate until late at night. Whether you are a fan of Chicago Blues, fiery soul or vintage rock'n'roll, the festival has breathtaking performances in store for you. But the Beautiful Swamp Blues Festival is also an immersive experience that goes beyond the official stages: with an OFF that takes over the bars of the city center and Calais Plage, transforming the city into a true temple of the blues. Expect a vibrant atmosphere, where Wild harmonicas, haunting guitars and gravelly vocals awaken the city's musical soul.
Take advantage of the Festivals to explore Calais
The Opal Coast festivals, This is the perfect opportunity to (re)discover Calais XXL! Between two concerts, let yourself be surprised by the Belfry, listed by UNESCO, and enjoy a breathtaking view of the city. Stroll along the Seafront, breathe in the salty air and admire the majestic sculpture of the Bourgeois by Rodin. Want a cultural immersion? Beaux-arts museum opens its doors to you with its inspiring exhibitions. And for a nature getaway, head to the Calais Dragon : climb aboard this fascinating creature and let yourself be carried along the coastline.
Where to park for free?
To enjoy the festival with complete peace of mind, several free car parks are available:
West Basin Parking – A stone’s throw from La Halle, free in the evening.
Minck parking lot – Close to downtown, ideal for quick access to concerts.
Between heritage, culture and the great outdoors, Calais vibrates to the rhythm of the blues and much more!
Getting around & parking in Calais XXL
©Fred Collier 
©Nohcab