Some dates

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

As the Valais is a Roman Catholic canton, public holidays largely correspond to RC religious feasts and holy days.

• January 1 : New Year’s Day
• March 19 : St Joseph’s Day
• end May (date varies) : Ascension Day
• mid-June (date varies) : Corpus Christi
• August 1 : Swiss National Day
• August 15 : Assumption of Our Lady
• November 1 : All Saints Day
• December 8 : Immaculate Conception of Our Lady
• December 25 : Christmas Day

PUBLIC EVENTS

• Thursday mornings : market at the Place Centrale.
• February-March (dates vary) : Carnival (feast of the end of winter), 1 week, procession Saturday and Sunday, various entertainments, held in Martigny-Bourg.
• Wallis week of fight against racism, 14^th to 21^st of March
• 5 Continents Festival (end June) , Place Centrale.
• Foire du Valais (Valaisan Fair) held in CERM for 10 days, all trades represented.
• Knie Circus : Wednesday and Thursday mid-October, every year.
• Octodurus Corrida (=running race) : town center, November.
• Foire du Lard (literally « Bacon Fair ») : first Monday in December, in the Martigny - Bourg old street, big market.
• Christmas Market : end December, Place Centrale.

In an even year, during the first week in August, a folkloric festival known as the FIFO is held in the CERM, and groups perform on the Place Centrale and on the Place du Bourg.