Last updated: 16/07/2025
After a break in 2024 due to the Paris Olympic Games and many questions about its future, the Fête du Lac d’Annecy will be back in 2025! An announcement that will delight lovers of this emblematic event.
But this edition will not be quite like the previous ones: changes and new features are on the agenda. Discover what awaits you for this major unmissable event in our department!
Contents:
- History of the Fête du Lac d’Annecy
- The Fête du Lac d’Annecy 2025
- Accommodation for the Fête du Lac 2025
History of the Fête du Lac d’Annecy
Every first Saturday of August, Annecy lights up with a thousand lights during its famous Fête du Lac. This magical show attracts more than 200,000 spectators each year, coming to admire one of Europe’s largest fireworks displays on the shores of the Lake Annecy.
A tradition born in 1860
The history of this event goes back to 1860, on the occasion of the visit of Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie. On this occasion, a Venetian festival was organized, marked by a fireworks display launched on the lake late in the evening.
However, it was necessary to wait until August 10, 1924 to see the Fête du Lac take off. That year, the Annecy Tourist Office proposed a show combining illuminations, fireworks, and a parade of boats. The success was immediate, and from the following year, the event became an unmissable annual appointment.
An event of European renown
Since then, the Fête du Lac has constantly reinvented itself to offer an ever more magnificent show. Today, it is established as one of the flagship events of Annecy and one of the most impressive pyrotechnic shows in Europe.
A cancellation in 2024, but a guaranteed return
In 2024, the traditional Fête du Lac d’Annecy did not take place due to the Paris Olympic Games. This cancellation, coupled with the new event policy of the city hall, caused many questions, with some residents fearing the permanent disappearance of this emblematic event.
An event beloved by the people of Annecy
Proof of its importance in the hearts of the residents: in 2023, 90% of the spectators were locals. More than a mere show, the Fête du Lac is a genuine symbol of Annecy’s identity.
A preserved tradition
In response to concerns, the City of Annecy wanted to reassure the public: the Fête du Lac remains an essential part of the local heritage and its future is absolutely not in question. So, see you in 2025 for a long-awaited return!
Program of the Fête du Lac d’Annecy 2025: a renewed and more responsible edition
Good news! The Fête du Lac d’Annecy will make its grand return this year on Saturday, August 2, 2025. This upcoming edition promises some novelties, directly inspired by the inhabitants’ expectations…
A citizen consultation at the heart of the changes
Last spring, a citizen consultation gathered 3,319 participants to collect the inhabitants’ expectations about the Fête du Lac. The verdict is clear: the people of Annecy cherish their emblematic festival on the lakeshore but want an event with more festivities, and more respectful of the environment and residents. These expectations will be taken into account to shape this new edition! You can consult the full results of this citizen consultation here: The results
Towards a more eco-responsible Fête du Lac
One of the major issues raised during the consultation concerns the environmental impact of the event. Several changes are planned:
✅ A shorter show, limited to 70 minutes, but still spectacular.
✅ Increased use of light drones, while keeping the water and light effects that make the magic of the show.
✅ Better waste management and easier access to public transport to reduce the ecological footprint of the festival.
New animations around the show
Long focused on the Pâquier, the Fête du Lac expands in 2025 thanks to several sites offering moments to share. It opens, circulates, adapts, to return to a Fête closer to the residents. All proposed animations are free and open to all.
Poetic space in the Jardins de l’Europe and on the Marquisats beach
Whale project, podcast in the water
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Free listening in the water of podcasts around the theme of water and legends of Lake Annecy and Lake Geneva. Bring your swimsuit!
Harp concert
From 3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
A young harpist from Annecy will play on the quay aboard the Espérance III.
Urban space on the Place des Cordeliers
Collaborative mural
From 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
With Kasur Graff, an artist from Annecy who collaborates with La Mante Religieuz and who has already sprayed during the Fête de la Musique.
Tethys, urban dance
From 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. and from 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
A show imagined by the Annecy company Soul Magnet paying tribute to water.
Genesis, hip-hop dance
From 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Floor Fighterz, a young local hip-hop collective, creates for the occasion of the Fête du Lac a unique show. To discover: show, individual performances, public workshops
Family space at Bernard Bosson Square
Giant goose game
From 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
All afternoon, with the AREMACS association for a fun ecological activity.
Show
From 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
All afternoon, various activities (show, clown, juggling, stories…) proposed by the Activ’Isère company.
Strolling
From 1:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Strolling in different parts of the city center with La Ripaille à Sons, a street band from Annecy. Route to be announced soon.
Exhibition at Bonlieu
From July 28 to August 3, discover chronologically, in texts and images, the history of the Fête du Lac.
“An Annecy passion, the Fête du Lac” – an exhibition available in French and English at the Bonlieu Exhibition Forum.
Projections on buildings
From July 11 to August 10, a projection on the city buildings of the last 20 posters of the Fête du Lac allows you to (re)immerse yourself in the worlds of past editions. A chance to learn more about the different editions of the event through a QR code to scan on the posters.
Posters can be found in the following places:
- Albert Lebrun Bridge
- Lake Street
- Town Hall Esplanade
- Saint Maurice Street
- Semnoz Quay
- Île Quay (both sides)
- Old Prisons Quay
- Île Passage
- Morens Bridge
- Île Street
- Castle Museum
- Clock Tower
- Republic Street
- Cathedral Quay
- Bishop’s Garden
- Grenette Street
- Notre-Dame Street (at two different corners)
- Martyrs’ Square
The posters will be projected from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. on weekdays, and all night on Saturdays and Sundays.
Ticketing: open since spring 2025
The ticket office opening was carried out in two stages: physical opening only at Fnac Annecy at first, one month before the general and national ticket office opening in order to favor ticket purchase for residents of Annecy.
The ticket office thus opened on May 13, 2025 physically, only at Fnac Courier Annecy, then on June 12, 2025 in the sales points of the France Billet network, online and physical
Physical points of sale:
Carrefour; Fnac; Géant Casino; Auchan; France Billet networks; Ticket Master.
Online ticketing:
Tickets are available on the France Billet online ticket office.
As every year, several options will be available:
- Numbered seated seats
- Grandstands
- Spaces on the lawns of the Pâquier, the Impérial, and the Marquisats
Program of the Fête du Lac 2025: a poetic and enchanting show
For this year 2025, the Fête du Lac returns with the artistic project of the French company Arteventia (fireworks designer behind the July 14 fireworks in Annecy) “Ode to the Moon.” Divided into 6 acts, it is a powerful and colorful 70-minute show that the audience will discover, mixing pyrotechnics, water jets, lights, lasers, luminéoles, and batucadas.
A varied musical repertoire (30 tracks) and a narration by Benoît Allemane will accompany the demonstration for a total immersion, rich in emotions. Led by chief pyrotechnician Édouard Grégoire, this show, intended to be intergenerational, will highlight the elements of nature and human relationships.
Although the Fête du Lac has become one of the largest pyrotechnic shows in Europe, it remains above all a festival deeply rooted in the local imagination, a joyful and popular festival, a meeting between generations, a landmark in the year, a collective heartbeat.
It is in its original spirit that the Fête du Lac returns this year, a festive and friendly time that each person is invited to live and explore, on the lakeshore and in the neighborhoods, between fireworks and local events.
Where to stay for the Fête du Lac 2025?
Finding accommodation during the Fête du Lac d’Annecy is very difficult, and it is essential to book well in advance. We advise you, if possible, to find accommodation in the heart of Annecy to avoid having to use a vehicle to get around.
Indeed, even though traffic in the city is already complicated normally, driving during the Fête du Lac is almost impossible and promises long hours of traffic jams for the unwary. You can find many accommodations in Annecy on our partner Booking’s site.
Transportation and Parking
The transportation offer is strengthened this year with the goal of transporting 20,000 people by increasing trips and adapting schedules set up by SNCF voyageurs TER, APMFS, the Lemanis company (with the Léman Express), Sibra (with a special free Fête du Lac line and a Rives du lac line), the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region (for intercity lines of regional coaches).
Coming by bus or coach
Sibra – Special Fête du Lac and Rythmo lines
The urban network is paid until 10 p.m.
Returns after the show are free, from 11 p.m.:
- Special Fête du Lac line with park and ride (P+R) at Lycée Baudelaire, departure from the train station exchange hub,
- Special Fête du Lac line with park and ride (P+R) at Campus/Université de Savoie, departure from the train station exchange hub,
- Rythmo 1 line (towards Meythet/Poisy), departure from Place François-de-Menthon,
- Rythmo 2 line (towards Cap Périaz), departure from the train station exchange hub,
- Rythmo 2 line (towards Pringy), departure from Place François-de-Menthon,
- Rythmo 3 line (towards Cran-Gevrier/Chavanod), departure from the train station exchange hub.
Find all the info on the Sibra website.
Sibra – Return line to the lake shores
Tickets sold exclusively at the Annecy Tourist Office located at Bonlieu and on its website, subject to availability, until Saturday, August 2 at 7 p.m.
No tickets will be sold on the bus, reservation is mandatory.
Tickets are non-refundable, even in case of cancellation of the Fête du Lac show.
Ticket inspection will be done when boarding the bus. For tickets purchased online, it is necessary to print them or download them on a mobile phone.
Flat rate: €10 per person (free for children under 3) for a return trip from 11:15 p.m. Free for children under 3 (remember to reserve a ticket).
Returns after the show are scheduled from 11:15 p.m.:
- West bank – line 15:
Departures from the Sibra bus stop “Piscine Marquisats”, rue des Marquisats (opposite the Police Station). The villages of Sevrier, Saint-Jorioz, and Duingt are served. - East bank – line 20:
Departures along Albigny beach, avenue du Petit Port. The villages of Veyrier-du-Lac, Menthon-Saint-Bernard, and Talloires-Montmin Angon are served.
Reserve a ticket on the Tourist Office website.
Regional Coaches – Line Y51 to Albertville
This service will depart from Annecy – avenue de Trésum stop, at 11:45 p.m.
Paid, reservation required.
Reserve a ticket on the Transdev website.
Regional Coaches – Lines Y62/63 to Thônes, La Clusaz, Le Grand-Bornand
This service will depart from Annecy – avenue du Petit Port stop, at 11:45 p.m.
Paid, reservation required.
Reserve a ticket on the Transdev-Altibus website.
Regional Coaches – Special line Y22 to Valserhône
This special service will depart from the usual Annecy – bus station stop, at 11:45 p.m.
All planned stops on line Y22 will be served.
This paid service will only be accessible by prior reservation via the “Allo La Région Vous Transporte” booking center, by phone at 04 80 00 70 00 (reachable Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.).
More information on the Transdev website.
Coming by bike
The City is setting up 3 free and supervised bike parking areas from 6 p.m. to midnight. They are located near Sainte-Bernadette Church, Marquisats, and Place François-de-Menthon.
Don’t have a bike?
Vélonécy offers electric bikes on a self-service basis.
More information on Vélonécy’s website.
Coming by train
By TER
From Annecy station, adapted schedules and additional trains with SNCF.
- Returns towards Chambéry: 11:55 p.m., 12:10 a.m., 12:25 a.m.
TER ticket at -40% and free for children under 12.
Reserve a ticket on the TER SNCF website.
With APMFS
The Association for the Preservation of Savoyard Railway Material offers trains departing from Lyon, Aix-les-Bains, and Chambéry.
Reserve a ticket on the APMFS website.
By Léman Express
Adapted schedules and additional trains are offered with Léman Express:
- Going, departing from Annemasse: 4:37 p.m., 5:19 p.m., 6:37 p.m.
- Returning, departing from Annecy: 11:34 p.m., 11:54 p.m., 12:24 a.m.
More info on the Léman Express website.
Coming by car
Park and ride lots
Park and ride lots will be set up to park vehicles on the outskirts of the city. Park your vehicle in the park and ride lots and take a line of the Sibra network to reach the city center: Cap Périaz area, Lycée Baudelaire parking, Campus/Université de Savoie, Rabelais/Salle Le Météore.
Warning! The Sibra network circulation plan is modified and some lines will experience major disruptions.
Restrictions on downtown parking
Traffic restrictions implemented on August 2 will affect the opening of certain downtown parkings.
Bonlieu Parking
Entrances and exits only via rue Sommeiller between 5 p.m. and midnight.
Hôtel-de-Ville Parking and Tournette Parking
These 2 parkings are located in the area affected by the traffic control system implemented on the evening of the Fête du Lac.
No entrance possible at Hôtel-de-Ville parking after 10 a.m. and at Tournette parking after 5 p.m.
No exit possible before the complete evacuation of the public at the end of the event (around midnight).
Traffic plan after the event
Recommendations:
- Do not follow GPS routes before leaving the municipality.
- Follow temporary signage and police support to use this traffic plan effectively.
- Prefer parking outside the city center to leave the municipality under better conditions.
- Parking as close as possible to the lake in Annecy implies long waiting times to leave the city; the evacuation of the public (more than 46,000 people) from the Fête du Lac site requires maintaining certain roads closed to motor vehicle traffic.
