Glamour is the “exciting and often illusory and romantic attractiveness” but an alternate definition is the small city on the French Rivera that becomes a satellite of Hollywood annually for two weeks in May.           

By legend and experiences of many who flock here, the Festival de Cannes is the most elegant film festival in the world. The tradition of lavish everything- film stars, cars, food, shops, nightlife and hotels, brings individuals from all walks of life here annually to revel in it all, or just to watch.           

The city itself is the star of the festival. Celebrities are just a big of fans of the Cannes as the city is of them. During the festival there is always and ambiance of parties. Film stars must make the difficult decision of choosing where to party, the rooftop bar of a hotel, a nightclub on a beach, or on a yacht. So few days for so many choices! The hotels in Cannes are among the most glamorous in the world. At Hotel Carlton and Hotel Martinez, both on the Croisette overlooking the beach and the Mediterranean Sea, police place barricades at the entrances where behind ordinary festival goers “ooh” and “ah” at luxurious cars and the people who get in and out of them.Cannes would not be Cannes without the haute couture shops and restaurants that line the Croisette. Chanel, Gucci, YSL, Dior and Hermes among others are open extended hours to accommodate those who may need something marvelous to walk the red carpet that evening. There is no shortage of food and drink during the festival. Crowds walk the street indulging in ice cream cones, while sophisticated types watch all of the action behind their oversized sunglasses while enjoying an espresso at a sidewalk café. And of course, Champagne is also in abundance, after all it is France and the festival is such a grand reason for celebration!

Perhaps the signature tradition of the Festival de Cannes is around 7 p.m. when festival goers line the sidewalks (and pour into the streets) to watch world famous walk the red carpet and then descend the steps of the Palais. This ritual is captured by hundreds of paparazzi for the entire world to see a piece of the fabulousness of Cannes. Seeing photos of Cannes at festival is worth a thousand words, but experiencing the festival and all that it entails is worth a million.