All year round Monaco houses grand events:

In spring

Opera, the Rose Ball, Monte Carlo Spring Art Festival, Tennis Master Series, Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix.

In summer

Saint John's Feast, Monte-Carlo Television Festival, Monte-Carlo International Fireworks Festival, International Stars at Le Sporting Club, Monte-Carlo Red Cross Gala Ball.

In fall

Monaco Yacht Show, Monaco Classic Week, International Marathon in Monaco, Monegasque National Holiday.

In winter

International Antique, Jewelry, and Art Show, Monaco Dance Forum, Christmas and New Year's Festivities, International Circus Festival.

Monaco Holidays

The Monegasque National Day

Time ago, Saint Devote's day was observed as the National Holiday. At present, the national day is Saint Rainier's day, November 19th. It is celebrated through a thanksgiving mass. Then the conferring of honors and decorations. A gala evening at the Opera House and a grand firework display end the day.

Saint Devote's Day

Every year, on 27 January the Principality celebrates Saint Devote's Day. Saint Devote is the patron saint of the Grimaldi family and of the Principality. The St. Devote's Chapel was built in the 11th century when the earliest reference to her cult was signaled. The Chapel was restored at the end of the 19th century.

The Holy Week Processions

This celebration dates since the thirteenth century but it has acquired its full significance only when Prince Honore II founded in 1639 the Venerable Brotherhood of the Black Penitents of Mercy.

Saint Roman's Day

After St. Devote, St. Roman is the most venerated saint in Monaco. Monacans have been celebrating the Roman martyr legionary saint every 9th of August since the 16th century.

Saint John's Day

The celebration begins on the eve of Saint John's day, the 23rd June in Monaco-Ville and continues the next day by a procession that reaches the Church of Saint Charles in the parish of Monte Carlo. After the religious service, the national anthem is played and the great ball of Saint John commences in the open air until late at night.

The Carnival

The Carnival dates probably as early as the XVth century and was an occasion for people to enjoy themselves before the austere period of Lent. Back then, people disguised themselves in old clothes, formed processions and threw up into the air a dummy figure stuffed with straws. The day closed with fights with rotten eggs, chickpeas, oranges, lemons and in the end there was dancing at street corners or in the fields.

Nowadays, there is the comic procession “Sciaratu” organized by the Roca-Club in the summer with disguises, dummy heads. Even now there is fighting, only it is with confetti. At the end of the day there is still dancing in the open air in the streets.