What’s on in Les Deux Alpes summer 2019

Building on the success of the last two years, the Outdoor Festival is back to kick off the season. Covering the main summer activities in the resort, the festival has something for every lover of outdoor sports. There are events in skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, trail running and skateboarding, with a full programme of competitions in each.

The three-day mountain bike event is back for the 20th year, giving competitors the chance to ride 2500 vertical metres down the snow-covered pistes of the glacier. This year the theme is ‘Clash of the Titans’. After a training day on Friday, Saturday’s qualification determines the start order for the Sunday final. The final itself begins with a Le Mans style mass start at 3400m. The course descends on snow, rock and then dirt trails to the resort, where a brief urban section leads to the steep, twisty track to Venosc.

Marking the storming of the Bastille in 1789, the 14th is the biggest holiday on the French calendar. In Les Deux Alpes, the festivities are organised by the local fire service. There will be a boule tournament, a parade of fire engines and varied activities in the afternoon. In the evening there will be a barbecue, crepes and bar. Then, as night falls, there will be fireworks at Lac de la Buissonnière followed by the Firefighters’ ball.

Another event returning for the third time, the vintage motor show will see the square filled with classic cars, vans, trucks and bikes. Last year the vehicles ranged from pre-war classics to American muscle cars and hot-rods. After parking in the square for a few hours allowing the public to admire them, cars takes to the road for a tour of the town. Afterwards, you can expect live music and food at one of the bars in town.

The annual hay festival celebrates the farming heritage of the local villages. There will be a traditional parade, games, hay-cutting demonstrations, open-air church service, a market selling traditional produce, vide-grenier (car boot sale), and folk music and dancing.

Les Deux Alpes’ summer family week is scheduled for early August. Expect a week of family friendly activities in the main square, by the lake and around the resort. Last year featured art and crafts, obstacle courses on the lake, demonstrations by the fire brigade, falconry, kite flying and much more.