For this weekend of August 1st and 2nd, Haute-Savoie offers a rich program of festivities, sporting events, and cultural activities. Here is a small selection of events and activities not to be missed:
All weekend
The Blue Grass Festival – La Roche sur Foron
Bluegrass in La Roche celebrates its 20th edition from July 29 to August 2, 2026 in La Roche-sur-Foron, Haute-Savoie. Considered the largest bluegrass festival in Europe, this event attracts artists and enthusiasts from around the world every year.
- Dates: from July 29 to August 2, 2026
- Location: La Roche sur Foron
- 2026 Line-up: Shelby Means Band, The Sentimental Gentlemen, Kristy Cox Band, Sweet Sally, Veranda, Country Gongbang, Monogram, Gadan, Hayde Bluegrass Orchestra, New Aliquot & David Benda, Paul & The Alley Cats, No Man’s Land, Piotr Bulas & Garage Folks, Noah Hassler-Forest, Tim O’Connor Trio, Grace Honeywell & Jeri Foreman, Catch The Goat, Blue Lass, William Jack, That’s All Folk, Yonder Boys, Yellofox…
- Useful info: The festival also offers off concerts in the town center, workshops for adults and children, a market, a luthiers exhibition, as well as local catering with a festival-specific currency, the €uroche.
- Website: https://www.larochebluegrass.org/
Megève Blues Festival – Megève
Three evenings of exceptional concerts at the foot of Mont Blanc this weekend. From Friday, July 31 to Sunday, August 2, 2026, Megève will once again vibrate to the rhythm of the blues with the return of the Megève Blues Festival. In its 11th edition, the event establishes itself as one of the essential musical rendezvous of the summer in Haute-Savoie, bringing together several major figures of the international blues scene in a unique alpine setting.
For three evenings, the audience will be able to discover artists from around the world, ranging from traditional blues, southern rock, Americana, to contemporary sounds.
Practical information:
- Dates: from Friday, July 31 to Sunday, August 2, 2026
- Location: Grande Scène, Pré Saint-Amour, Megève
- PRICES: online ticketing
- Line-up:
- Friday, July 31
- 7:30 pm: Troy Redfern
- 8:45 pm: Matt Pascale & The Stomps
- 10 pm: Lovesick
- Saturday, August 1
- 8 pm: Ally Venable
- 9:30 pm: Kenny Wayne Shepherd
- Sunday, August 2
- 7:30 pm: Bette Smith
- 8:45 pm: Nikki Hill
- 10 pm: Coco Montoya
- Friday, July 31
Over the years, the Megève Blues Festival has become a major event of the summer season at the resort. Its friendly atmosphere, quality line-up, and the exceptional setting offered by the village of Megève charm both blues enthusiasts and newcomers seeking a musical evening in the mountains.
Village Festival – La Clusaz
On Saturday, August 1 and Sunday, August 2, 2026, La Clusaz invites families to one of its most convivial summer events: the Village Festival. Throughout the weekend, the upper village transforms into a huge playground where children are honored, with activities, shows, music, Savoyard meals, and dance parties.
Two days of activities for the whole family
Throughout the weekend, visitors will enjoy numerous traditional game stands set up on site:
- Ball spike
- Lottery
- Surprise envelopes
- Fishing game
- Rifle shooting
- Bowling
- And many other activities
Children can play for hours while adults enjoy the festive atmosphere and catering areas.
On the program:
- Saturday, August 1:
- 6 pm: opening of game stands
- 7:30 pm: meal and snack
- 8 pm: show by the folk group Lou Socali, who will introduce Savoyard traditions through music and costumes.
- 9 pm: big dance party open to all.
- Sunday, August 2:
- 10:30 am: mass at the school (or at the church in case of rain)
- 11:30 am: opening of some stands
- 12 pm: barbecue and grills
- 2 pm: opening of all stands
- 3 pm to 6:30 pm: numerous children’s activities
- 6:45 pm: concert of the La Clusaz wind orchestra L’Écho des Aravis
- 7:30 pm: Savoyard meal followed by another dance party.
Practical information:
- Event: Village Festival 2026
- Dates: Saturday, August 1 and Sunday, August 2, 2026
- Location: Upper village – La Clusaz (Haute-Savoie)
- Price: free access
With its many free activities and authentic atmosphere, the Village Festival promises to be one of the unmissable family gatherings of this first weekend of August in La Clusaz.
Paragliding flight over Lake Annecy
Enjoy the gentle and pleasant air masses to drift in this postcard-worthy setting. Lake Annecy is one of the most beautiful spots to introduce yourself to the joys of paragliding.
Flight process:
- It is near Annecy in Doussard in Haute-Savoie that you discover the unprecedented sensation of flying! You will be welcomed by a state-certified instructor for an unforgettable aerial ride.
- Presentation of the activity, takeoff techniques, and safety instructions before flying over the Lake Annecy.
- Comfortably installed in your harness, you gain altitude. You feel as light as a feather and enjoy the magnificent panorama at altitude.
- Rocked by the mountain winds, you have the impression that time has stopped! You are smiling, what luck to be able to admire such beautiful landscapes!
- You learn how the aircraft operates and can even hold the lines to steer a little, upon request.
- Your tandem paragliding flight comes to an end, it’s time to land. You will be surprised by the smoothness of the landing! A vehicle takes you back to the starting point.
2 options available:
- 10 to 15-minute paragliding flight for an introductory experience
- 15 to 25-minute paragliding flight: to start exploring the surroundings of Annecy by flight
Friday, July 31
Rock’n Poche Festival 2026 – Habère-Poche
The Rock’n Poche Festival returns to Habère-Poche on Friday, July 31 and Saturday, August 1, 2026 for its 34th edition. Renowned for its friendly atmosphere, eclectic lineup, and unique setting at the foot of the Vallée Verte pastures, this event has become one of the most anticipated contemporary music festivals of the summer in Haute-Savoie.
Practical info:
- Event: Rock’n Poche Festival 2026
- Dates: Friday, July 31 and Saturday, August 1, 2026
- Location: Site de la Frastaz, Habère-Poche (Haute-Savoie)
- Opening hours: doors open from 6 pm
- Concerts: 16 concerts on 2 stages
- Camping: free for festival-goers
- Reservation:
Learn more: Rock’n Poche Festival 2026
Saturday, August 1
The Annecy Lake Festival 2026
The Annecy Lake Festival returns on Saturday, August 1, 2026 with a new show entitled “The Soul of the World”. Every summer, nearly 200,000 spectators gather in the Albigny Bay to witness one of the largest pyrotechnic shows in Europe.
The 2026 edition promises to push the limits of creativity even further. The show, lasting 70 minutes, will be orchestrated by Europe’s best pyrotechnicians and offer an immersive experience in six acts, alternating fireworks, synchronized water jets, lasers, and light projections. The carefully selected soundtrack will accompany each scene, plunging the audience into a dreamlike universe where nature, water, and light harmoniously interact.
- Date: Saturday, August 1, 2026
- Location: Parc de l’Impérial and Albigny Bay, Annecy.
- Show duration: 70 minutes
- Doors open: From 7:00 pm (on-site musical activities).
- Show start: Around 9:45 pm (at nightfall) for a duration of 1h10.
- 2026 Theme: The Soul of the World
Find all information about the Annecy Lake Festival 2026
Rock’n Poche Festival 2026 – Habère-Poche
The Rock’n Poche Festival returns to Habère-Poche on Friday, July 31 and Saturday, August 1, 2026 for its 34th edition. Renowned for its friendly atmosphere, eclectic lineup, and unique setting at the foot of the Vallée Verte pastures, this event has become one of the most anticipated contemporary music festivals of the summer in Haute-Savoie.
Practical info:
- Event: Rock’n Poche Festival 2026
- Dates: Friday, July 31 and Saturday, August 1, 2026
- Location: Site de la Frastaz, Habère-Poche (Haute-Savoie)
- Opening hours: doors open from 6 pm
- Concerts: 16 concerts on 2 stages
- Camping: free for festival-goers
- Reservation:
Learn more: Rock’n Poche Festival 2026
Flea markets, second-hand sales, clothes swaps & fairs in Haute-Savoie
The season of flea markets, fairs, and other second-hand sales is in full swing in Haute-Savoie this August. Here are those for Saturday, August 1:
- Combloux: antique and collectible market. Cry parking lot, Combloux. 8am – 5pm
- La Roche-sur-Foron: Record Fair of the Bluegrass Festival. La Grenette, La Roche-sur-Foron. 10am – 6pm
- Publier: The flea market is one of the highlights of the Fête des quais. For two days, July 31 and August 1, the residents of Publier, Chablais residents, and tourists gather at the marina for convivial moments with concerts, activities for the whole family, a funfair, and fireworks on Friday evening. Free access.
A read: Flea markets, fairs, second-hand sales & clothes swaps in Haute-Savoie in August 2026
Sunday, August 2
Alpage Festival – Le Grand Bornand
On Sunday, August 2, 2026, Le Grand-Bornand Chinaillon will live to the rhythm of one of the oldest traditional festivals in Haute-Savoie. A true tribute to the pastoral world, the Alpage Festival will bring together residents, vacationers, and tradition lovers around a program full of activities, demonstrations, and folk shows. An unmissable summer event in the Aravis mountain range.
Program:
- 9:30 am: start of the foot race,
- adult: 3 km / +15 years: 3 km / U14: 3 km / U10: 1.5 km,
- Registration for the foot race on https://inscription-alpage.chrono-ski-aravis.fr
- Children’s race (-18 years): €5 / Adult race: €8,
- 10:30 am: mass,
- 12 pm: picnic lunch animated by the Grand-Bornand Wind Orchestra,
- From 1:30 pm:
- folk group “Lou Brafaudi”,
- wood chopping contest, with the presence of the best woodchoppers in the region,
- 3:30 pm: grand parade of floats on the theme “Our cult films of the last 60 years”,
- 6 pm: final of the wood chopping contest,
- 6:30 pm: reblochon cheese-making demonstration,
- 7 pm: aperitif / Dinner animated by the band “Captiv”,
- From 10 pm: fireworks, illumination of the surrounding peaks with LED torches, followed by a free dance party with a DJ.
- Throughout the day:
- demonstration of old crafts by the elders,
- introduction to climbing,
- grass skiing,
- numerous activities for young and old.
Practical info:
- Event: Alpage Festival
- Date: Sunday, August 2, 2026
- Location: Le Chinaillon – Le Grand-Bornand
- Price: free entry
- Activities: all day
- Free shuttles: line A reinforced all day and extended in the evening between Le Grand-Bornand Village and Le Chinaillon.
Learn more: Grand Bornand Alpage Festival
Guides Festival – Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval
Mountain guides will be honored on Sunday, August 2, 2026 during the Guides Festival, organized between Samoëns and Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval.
The morning will begin at Samoëns with a mass at 10 am, the blessing of the ice axes (10:45 am), and the official medal ceremony for the new guides.
In the afternoon, head to the Gorges des Tines for free activities related to mountain sports: guided walks through the ancient gorges, climbing initiation, rappelling, and zip lines above the gorges.
A wonderful day to discover the guiding profession and share the passion for mountains, free access from 10 am.
Nifflon Pilgrimage – Bellevaux
As every year, the pilgrimage will take place in the Nifflon pastures this first Sunday of August. Mass at 11 am outdoors at the Notre-Dame des Neiges chapel in upper Nifflon (1800 m altitude, about 2 hours walk).
Aperitif offered by the Festivities Committee at the end of the mass.
Backup at Bellevaux church in case of bad weather.
Location: Upper Nifflon, Bellevaux
Saint Laurent, village festival – Châtel
The village celebrates its patron saint with a day marked by friendliness.
On the program: mass at St Laurent church at 10 am, followed by a procession through the village, blessing of the public, and aperitif offered by the municipality.
Then in the evening:
- 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm: live music, aperitif on the church square, with the Ski Club bar and light catering.
- 9 pm – 1 am: free concert with the band Switch Cult on the church square with the bar run by the Ski Club
Sunday, August 2, 2026, from 10 am to 1 pm and from 6:30 pm to 1 am. Free access.
Flea markets, second-hand sales, clothes swaps & fairs in Haute-Savoie
The season of flea markets, fairs, and other second-hand sales is in full swing in Haute-Savoie this August. Here are those for Sunday, August 2:
- Bogève: Vogue flea market. Village square – Church road, Bogève. 8 am – 6:30 pm
- Chamonix-Mont-Blanc: Joël’s second-hand sales. Edmond Desailloud square. From 7 am to 5 pm. No reservation, No vehicle at stands, Access with car: €20, Access with car + trailer or van: €30.
- Clarafond-Arcine: Threshing festival and flea market. Bange hamlet, Clarafond-Arcine. 8 am – 6 pm
- La Roche-sur-Foron: Record Fair of the Bluegrass Festival. La Grenette, La Roche-sur-Foron. 10 am – 6 pm
- Margencel: Giant flea market from 8 am to 6 pm.
- Neuvecelle: Neuvecelle flea market. 904, Avenue du Léman, Neuvecelle. From 8 am to 4 pm
- Saint-Laurent: Village festivals from Saturday to Sunday. Sunday all-day flea market with lunch under a marquee and various activities. Saint-Laurent Town Hall, Rue de l’Ancienne Poste, Sonnex, Saint-Laurent. From 8 am to 6 pm
A read: Flea markets, fairs, second-hand sales & clothes swaps in Haute-Savoie in August 2026
Haute-Savoie Markets
Many markets take place throughout the week and weekend in the department, find the list here: The markets of Haute-Savoie
And always, to visit all year round:
- The 10 must-see places to visit in Haute Savoie
- TOP 10 of the most beautiful hikes in Haute-Savoie
- 7-day road trip to visit Haute-Savoie
- Lake Annecy
- What to visit in Annecy
- The most beautiful viewpoints over Lake Annecy
- Lake Geneva
- Top 15 unusual and must-see places to visit around Lake Geneva
- Second-hand sales, fairs, and flea markets in Haute-Savoie
