12 Photos & Videos of the Annecy Fireworks Show That Will Make You Want to Visit

What's it like to see the Annecy fireworks show in August. Is Fête du Lac and the largest fireworks display in Europe worth visiting?

Annecy's annual summer fireworks are the centerpiece of Fête du Lac which takes place on the first Saturday of August each year. Annecy is located in Southeastern France not far from the border with Switzerland. Nestled on a spectacular alpine lake, Annecy is the perfect place to host a summer pyrotechnic show.

I celebrated a milestone birthday this year and we decided that it would be a good idea to herald the start of a new decade with a bang.

Did you know that this Lake Annecy Festival started in 1860 in honor of Napoleon III? The Annecy fireworks show has since grown into the largest in Europe. 

Thousands of people gather along Lake Annecy to watch a spectacular 90 minute show each year. 

I have to say, the fireworks were an impressive site to behold! 

Read on for more about what it's like to visit Annecy for the annual fireworks display and to see pictures and videos that I took that I think will make you want to visit.

Video of the Annecy Fireworks Finale

The theme of the Annecy fireworks show this year was musical comedies which I enjoyed since I like Broadway musicals and musical performances in general. 

The score accompanying the fireworks was pulled from both French, English, and American musicals throughout the decades. The finale featured music from La La Land. 

Photos of the Annecy Fireworks

Now let me show you some of the photos that I took during the Annecy fireworks show. 

If you arrive early you can watch the sunset over Lake Annecy.

The fireworks show was an amazing spectacle! I couldn't believe the array of styles and colors on display and timed perfectly with the music.

In addition to the standard varieties, the Annecy fireworks show also included impressive drone displays. 

Hundreds of coordinated drones made images in the sky in time to the music. Some of my favorites included scenes from Grease and Dirty Dancing. 

How Much Are Tickets to the Annecy Fireworks Show?

How much are tickets to the Annecy fireworks show? We paid 37 euros per ticket for seats in the bleachers. 

It was nice to have a clear view of Annecy Lake and no heads in the way because of the strong rake of the stands. However, the seats here were not the most comfortable. We were packed in on all sides and there was no back support (other than the legs of the person behind you 😅).

If I were to do it again I would aim for seats on the grass. The plastic chairs have back support and looked a little bit more comfortable. 

Tickets to the annual Annecy fireworks range in price from 3.50 EUR for a children's ticket in the cheapest section up to 50 euros a ticket for the most expensive seats at the time of writing. 

Some people opt to watch the fireworks outside of the ticketed area for free. You can download the music to accompany the show to your phone. 

We were wondering if we'd be able to hear the music from our seats. Given that we were front and center, the music was nice and loud and we could hear everything directly from the speakers without needing to use our phones.

Where to Stay in Annecy for the Fireworks

If you plan to visit Annecy for the fireworks, be sure to book your accommodation early since Fête du Lac is very popular and hotels sell out quickly and can be quite expensive. 

We stayed at Rivage Hotel & Spa Annecy for 3 nights at a cost of 395 euros a night for a deluxe room with a view of the Lake Annecy. 

The Rivage Hotel has parking on site and you can walk along the lake to Annecy Old Town in about 30 minutes. Being able to walk is crucial since Annecy can get very crowded, especially on the day of the fireworks show. 

Since it was my birthday, my husband arranged for flowers, chocolate, and champagne to be delivered to our room at the Rivage.

Getting to Annecy

There are a couple ways to get yourself to Annecy. We flew into Lyon, spent a couple of days in Beaune in Burgundy and then drove onward to Annecy. Without this detour, Lyon to Annecy is less than a 2 hour drive and about 2 hours by train. 

Geneva Airport in Switzerland is even closer to Annecy. It takes about 45 minutes to drive from Geneva to Annecy or an hour by bus. If you fly into Geneva, you could also consider adding on a weekend to explore from Geneva to Lausanne and Montreux.

Is It Worth Visiting Annecy in August for Fête du Lac?

We normally don't like to travel in Europe in the summer because it is hot, crowded, and expensive. That said, I'm really glad we decided to make the journey to Annecy to see the fireworks and celebrate my birthday in August. 

Annecy was crowded with visitors for the festival, but it didn't feel claustrophobic, perhaps because our hotel was located a bit further from the town center. 

The weather was a bit rainy but not too hot due to the alpine influences. Based on my personal experience, I think the Annecy fireworks show is one for the bucket list! 

I definitely recommend a trip to Annecy for the fireworks if you are celebrating a special occasion like we were.

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