Community events in the South of France — our story

What we do together

• Barbecues and picnics. Big gatherings out in nature: a grill, plov, kids, a guitar. On the May holidays and in summer, turnout has reached well over a hundred people.
• Weekend trips. Multi-day getaways to campsites and glamping bases: cabins, a shared table, cooking on a grill or plancha, a pool, swimming. In the evening — music, guitar, karaoke. We go in groups of several dozen people, with volunteers and shared coordination.
• Hikes. Mountains and coast — the Cévennes, Pic Saint-Loup near Montpellier, the calanques near Marseille, the Estérel massif on the Côte d’Azur. Routes for every level.
• Beach days. Easy runs and a warm-up, yoga on the sand, swimming, beach volleyball, cards, music and picnics on family-friendly beaches.
• Sea, yacht, catamaran. In summer we chip in and head out to sea from the beaches of Occitanie and the Côte d’Azur.
• Outdoor yoga. Free group sessions in parks and on city squares, morning and evening. For those who can’t make it in person, there are online sessions.
• Running and cycling club. Group runs along the coast and cycling routes over long weekends.
• Bar, karaoke and social nights. Relaxed bilingual meetups in bars and cafés — to get to know people and practise your French without the pressure.
• Activities. Quad biking, horse riding and anything else that’s more fun in a group.
• Seasonal fun. In winter — ice skating and group outings; year-round — shared dinners and picnics.
• Cultural celebrations. Concerts and festivals with exhibitions, workshops, fairs, dancing and food.
• For kids and learning. A children’s theatre studio and Russian-language classes on weekdays and weekends.

Never miss an announcement

Every event announcement is now also published in the Vibe South of France announcements channel on Telegram — a quiet feed with just the meetup posts, so nothing gets buried in the flow of a busy chat. Subscribe to the channel if you want to be sure you hear about the next barbecue, hike or trip in time.

How it works

It all starts in the chat: someone makes a suggestion, a group forms, and people agree on the date, place and details. There’s no obligation: come to whatever you like. Newcomers are especially welcome — it’s the best way to find your people in a single evening.

A simple spirit of mutual help runs through everything: if you’re running late or forgot something, people will help; if you see someone who could use a hand (a lift, help unloading, a tip), offer yours.

How weekend trips work

So newcomers know what to expect: the community books a base with cabins in advance, assigns volunteers, coordinates the arrival and departure schedule and the shared food. The basic courtesies are simple — arrive on time, leave the place clean for the owners, and if you’re running late, message the organisers ahead of time. At larger bases it’s handy to agree on a meeting point right away, so you’re not hunting for your group across the whole site.

Barbecuing out in nature in France is only allowed in permitted spots and with an eye on the fire ban during the dry season (arrêté préfectoral). For the specific legal spots for a grill near your city, ask in the chat and check the city guides.