France is a pretty fantastic place. Amazing food, beautiful country with amazing culture and architecture to boot – but so far away… At least we here on the Sunshine Coast have our own little slice of Parisian goodness with the yearly Cote Du Soleil French Festival hosted by the King’s Beach Amphitheater in Caloundra.

The aim of the Cote Du Soleil is to enrich the event calendar of the Sunshine Coast by hosting a two-day event filled with beautiful food, fun and entertainment with a Frenchy twist – showcasing some of the fabulous culture, cuisine, and lifestyles adopted by the French communities around the world. Over the two days experience an incredible blend of entertainment, education and dining experiences, including cooking master classes and opportunities to shop till you drop.

Starting from Saturday the 28^thof July, from 10am, until 4pm Sunday enjoy a full list of events, starting with a all day wine tasting and sampling at the wine pavilion offering a selection of premium French wines available in Australia. Over at the main stage local music students will be performing their repertoire of French classics until 10:45 when the official festival welcoming to country will be held. At 11 take part in a selection of masterclasses, including “Brushstrokes and Bubbles” – a french inspired painting class complete with a glass or two of sparkling wine over two hours.

Or if art isn’t your thing, and you’re more interested in the sparkling side of things, join Ken Gargett, editing of ‘Fine Wine and Champagne‘ as he takes you on a journey through the world’s greatest sparkling wine offerings.

Throughout the two days a number of great musical experiences will be on offer, including the French Jazz stylings presented by the Girl Friday Band, the Can-Can performed by Marissa Burgess and her troupe, and a Burlesque Routine to really heat things up later in the afternoons.

For those more culinary inclined, there are a number of cooking classes on offer, as well as tastings and cheese samplings throughout the incredible event. For all classes you must pre-book and pay for your place in each class via the event’s website.

For more information on the event and its classes, as well as to book your place visit the Festival’s official website and I’ll see you at the Wine Pavilion.