The first event in the French bullfighting season, the Easter Feria takes place in Arles in early spring each year, generally in April, and draws over 500,000 visitors.
For four days, the whole city is busy with bull shows and lively night-time events. For aficionados, several corridas take place in the city's arenas, as well as a type of bull running event called a course camarguaise. Every day the streets of Arles are filled with equestrian shows, musical entertainment, bandidos and abrivados, episodes during which the bulls are led from the pastures to the arenas (and back) under the supervision of the guardians in costume on horseback.
At night, the spectators and merry-makers meet in the city's bodegas to drink sangria and dance at banda concerts in a festive, sociable atmosphere.
