On your marks - Capital of Culture opening weekend 12/13 January

It's time to plan where you want to be for the grand opening of the Capital of Culture year. There are major events in Marseille, Aix and Arles and smaller ones in Aubagne and Gardanne. The Grande Clameur (the Big Noise) is at 7pm on Saturday in Marseille. There will be people performing music, dance and generally making a noise all over the city.  There's a Google Map of all the events.

Try a concert of bicycle bells by the bandstand at the top of the Canebière, organised by Vélos en Ville (No. 22 on map), or a concert in sign language on the Vieux Port, organised by the Collectif Langues des Signes et Culture Sourde Marseille Provence 2013 (No. 26 on map) .

The Clameur lasts five minutes. After that there are events until the early hours, in the streets and at various venues. Get out there and celebrate.

On Your Bikes in Marseille 1-3 June

Make way for this year's cycling festival (Fête de vélo).

Fête du Vélo Parade Castellane

• 1 June: Alleycat, an urban cycle race involving collecting and delivering certain items to different part of the city. It is open to all cyclists and there are prizes. It will set off from behind the cathedral Major (rue Marchetti) at 5pm.
• 2 June: at 2pm: Bike Polo, where avenue Corderie/Corse crosses rue d'Endoume
• 3 June: at 10 am the Grand Bike Parade starts from the Park of the 26th Century; between 12 and 6pm there will be food, music, activities and cycle rides along the Corniche; at 3pm a bike ride will depart from the Corniche to try out part of the new GR2013 (the walking/cycling route created for Marseille Provence's Capital of Culure year).

For more details of all of this visit the Fête du Vélo website.