They combine the Provence that Mistral dreamed of and the Camargue that the Marquis de Baroncelli imagined.
The first traditional Arlesian festival of the year takes place on May 1, the “Fête des Gardians”. This is the day when a new Captain of the Gardian Guild is elected, and every three years also sees the election of a new Queen of Arles.
The gardians, well-known in the Camargue, show off their daring in the race known as the "Course de Satin", which opens the Arles festival season.
On the evening of June 23, the St. John's fire arrives from the Canigou, and the folk dances that accompany the first day of summer also symbolize the union of Languedoc and Provence.
More than 1000 participants take part in the "Pegoulado", a long evening parade by lamp light in traditional costumes on the Boulevard des Lices, on the last Friday in June.
The Costume Festival on the first Sunday in July is a hommage to Arlesian women. Women of all ages and of all walks of life wearing their loveliest costumes participate in this event.
For the Rice Festival in September, there is a parade of decorated floats preceding the last bullfight of the year, the Rice Feria.