On your bikes - Sunday 2 June

It's the fête du vélo this weekend so everyone get on your bikes and celebrate.

On Sunday there's a bike parade that starts at the Vieux Port at 10am with musical accompaniment provided by the big band Swing Swing Souabe. There are rallying points all over the city and if you arrive by train at the Gare Saint Charles you'll be offered breakfast at 8:30am at the Square Narvik. There is entertainment all along the route. This is your chance to cycle along the Corniche without having to dodge the motobikes and cars. 

Details are on the Fête du vélo website

Street art and music at the Friche 25 April to 9 June

Don't be fooled by the title "This is [not] music", there is in fact music involved in this 47 day extravaganza of art, urban sports (including extreme sport demonstrations), concerts and films focusing on street culture. You can catch up with the Undertones (27 April) or Pete Docherty (3 May) at the Cabaret Aléatoire, watch skateboarding exhibitions and competitions, films and live performances, all at the Friche de la Belle de Mai.

The Undertones 27 April Cabaret Aléatoire

You'll find details of the programme and ticket prices (in French) on the This is [not] music website.

World Petanque Championship Marseille 4-7 October

Find out everything you need to know about Pétanque and watch the world's best players in competition. It's at the Palais des Sports, Parc Chanot and it's very important. It is the world championship with 48 nations taking part. Among the participants there are Scots, English, Irish, American and New Zealanders.

Image courtesy of FIPJP website

It's better to book ahead as many of the best seats have sold out. You can do so by visiting the website. Prices are from 6.50€ to 27.50€ per day or 60.50€ for a weekend pass.

International Tennis 20 - 26 February

It's the Open 13 tennis tournament at the Palais de Sports in the Parc Chanot, Marseille (Metro 2 Prado). Tickets cost between 12 and 50€ depending on when you go, where you sit and who you see. Details are here.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (from Open13 site)

Marseille Cassis Classic 30 October

The Marseille/Cassis is a run with a difference, 10 kilometres up the Col de Gineste (327 metres climb) and 10 kilometres down to Cassis. It's too late to apply to participate but you can come and support the Marseille City of Culture team. It starts at 9:30 at the vélodrome in Marseille.

Marseille/Cassis 20k