From Provence to the Pacific — Blooming Together
Olalla x Valensole
Valensole: A Lavender Icon of Provence
Perched on a sun-kissed plateau in the heart of Provence, Valensole is one of the most iconic lavender destinations in France. With sweeping fields of violet blooms, charming village streets, and deep-rooted traditions, Valensole offers a picture-perfect celebration of nature, scent, and Provençal heritage.
A Growing Cultural Friendship
This year, Olalla and Valensole begin a meaningful new journey together — a blossoming sister festival connection rooted in a shared love for lavender, art, and community spirit.
Looking ahead, we envision this relationship growing through:
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Joint displays and artisan highlights,
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Creative exchanges and mutual promotion,
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Messages from one community to the other,
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Inspiring presentations shaped by travel and tradition.
2025 marks the first step in what promises to be a joyful and enriching friendship.
How We Are Celebrating This Year
This summer, we’re delighted to highlight our new friendship with Valensole, home of La Fête de la Lavande — a stunning celebration in the heart of Provence’s iconic lavender fields.
At the Olalla Lavender Festival, we’re honoring this connection with a dedicated display, Provence-inspired details, and a spirit of shared celebration between our two communities.
Be sure to visit the Welcome & Sister Festival Booth at the Olalla Grange to explore photos, learn more, and send a postcard to our friends in Valensole!
From Provence to the Pacific Northwest
Though separated by continents, the Olalla Lavender Festival and La Fête de la Lavande in Valensole are bound by a shared spirit — a profound respect for lavender, its natural beauty, and its cultural significance. Both festivals celebrate this cherished plant as more than a bloom: it is a symbol of harmony, heritage, and healing. Through community gathering, artistic expression, and environmental awareness, we honor lavender as a bridge between people and place. Follow the journey: #olallaxvalensole
“We are delighted to be connected to the vibrant festival in Valensole, where endless lavender fields and Provençal tradition come alive — and to share in the same spirit of beauty, community, and celebration across the seasons.”
Huguette Marsicano,
Olalla Lavender Festival Organizer
Discover More About Valensole
Learn more about this beautiful village, its iconic lavender festival, and how this cross-cultural connection brings our small Olalla community a little closer to Provence.
Fête de la Lavande in Valensole
A key center of lavender production in Haute-Provence, Valensole hosts one of the largest and most beautiful lavender festivals each year to celebrate the beginning of the harvest.
Every year, on the third Sunday of July, the producers and residents of Valensole invite you to join in festivities that honor lavender.
A wide range of activities are offered throughout the day. You can admire the lavender fields in full bloom before the harvest, chat with local growers, learn about the distillation process using a 19th-century copper still, stroll through the producers’ market, enjoy traditional music and folk performances, and take part in many family-friendly events.
Did You Know?
Valensole enjoys 300 days of sunshine a year With 300 days of sunshine a year, Valensole is true to its name: it comes from the Latin Vallis and Solis and means valley of the sun.
The Plateau of Valensole is famous for its lavender and truffles Covering approximately 800km2, this plateau is the biggest area in France devoted to growing lavender and the blue, violet and purple-coloured fields stretch as far as the eye can see. The blooming period from mid-June to mid-July is an explosion of colours and the inebriating scent fills the exceptionally pure air of the region. During that period, the Tourist Office of Valensole organises guided tours on the theme of lavender. And throughout the year, the distilleries welcome you to visit their lavender farms and discover the steps in the distilling of lavender, from the gathering of the flowers to the stills to the packaging. Some, such as the Ferme du Riou, still today use the most traditional of techniques. Each year on the 3rd Sunday of July, the town of Valensole organises its Lavender Festival.
Valensole is listed as a Cultural Route by The Council of Europe Launched by the Council of Europe in 1987, the Cultural Routes demonstrate, by means of a journey through space and time, how the heritage of the different countries and cultures of Europe contributes to a shared and living cultural heritage.
Valensole is a landmark for tourism in Provence. Valensole is one of Provence’s most iconic tourist destinations, especially during lavender season. Nestled on a vast plateau blanketed in purple blooms each summer, the village draws visitors from around the world eager to experience its breathtaking landscapes, charming streets, and authentic Provençal atmosphere. With its deep-rooted lavender tradition and panoramic beauty, Valensole perfectly embodies the spirit of southern France. Learn more
Thank You Festival Friends !
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