April: the garden season
International Garden Festival of Chaumont (mid-April opening, until November). Cheverny tulips (variable two weeks by climate, follow announcements). Tours-sur-Loire Festival (current music, mid-April). Orléans flower market (3rd weekend). Son et lumière seasons open at most châteaux.
May-June: son et lumière and tercentenaries
Son et lumière start at Blois, Chambord, Amboise. Festival d'Anjou (theatre in châteaux, June). Jeanne d'Arc in Orléans (early May, parades and reenactments). Music Day at Chambord (21 June). The Hortillonnages of Amboise (June). May and June are the most densely animated months.
July-August: high season
Festicolor in Meung-sur-Loire (eclectic musical festival, mid-July). Nuits Insolites at Chambord (staged night visits, July-August). Forest Festival at Chambord (concerts in the forest, July). Tours d'Été (street theatre in Tours, July-August). "Aux Sons des Châteaux" son et lumière in Amboise. Weekly evening markets in Meung, Beaugency, Châteauneuf.
September: heritage and harvest
European Heritage Days (3rd weekend): most châteaux free entry but massive attendance. Excentrique Festival in Tours (world music). Touraine and Anjou harvests. Polar Festival in Cognac (1 week, end September). Orléans wine fair (3rd weekend). Excellent moment for winemaker tastings too.
October: apples, game and lights
Apple and cider fairs in Loir-et-Cher (3 weekends). Game Month in starred restaurants. Street Arts Festival in Aubigny-sur-Nère. Gastronomy Show in Tours (last weekend). Halloween activities in several châteaux end of month (Meung, Cheverny). Beautiful season for autumn Loire colours.
November-December: Christmas markets and illuminations
Blois Christmas market (château square, 3 weekends). Orléans Christmas market (city centre, first December weekend to 24th). Chambord fairy illuminations (early December to 6 January). New Year's Eve evenings at several château-hotels (early booking). Illuminated writer's houses (Saché-Balzac, Vouvray-Voltaire).
How to book and plan
Son et lumière and château events book online — Loire Sounds Lights, official château sites. Music festivals have own ticketing (Festicolor, Tours-sur-Loire). For Cheverny Halloween and Chambord Christmas market: 2 months ahead. For Nuits Insolites: 1 month. Lodging during festivals: book 3 months ahead — La Maison du Château is in high demand on festival dates.