What’s on and where in France in October 2012 – here is the definitive guide to help you plan to get the most from your visit or your area.
We don’t want to give you any bad information so we only put the dates if we’re absolutely certain of them but we do give you a website wherever we can where you can check the dates and all other details.
If you run an event or know of an event you think we should include please do let us know via our contact form.
National Event – many of the supermarkets in France host wine fairs during the month October
National Event in Paris – Nuit Blanche one night in October when all the museums, public buildings, monuments, swimming pools, cinemas, parks and historic sites are open to the public all night – revellers are given breakfast if they last the whole night! http://www.paris.fr/
Auvergne
Clermont-Ferrand – Chestnut Festival (Fieira de la Castanha) – every year tons of nuts and thousands of litres of cider are consumed at the tastings and exhibitions plus a chance to join in the harvest. http://www.foirechataignemourjou.fr/
Champagne-Ardennes
Reims – Every autumn on a Saturday evening at 6.15 the Cathedral opens its doors, lights up and plays organ music. http://www.escapade-champenoise.fr
Normandy
Bayeux – Bayeux Pork Gourmet Festival – farmers and chefs present local and regional gastronomic fare and there’s plenty of entertainment. www.Bayeux-tourism.com
Nord Pas-de-Calas
Lille – Lille 3000 is International cultural event with a different theme each year as artists from all over the world are invited to participate and transform it into an amazing and crazy place!
Mountreuil-sur-Mer – Festival des Soupes et Pains – Soup and bread festival, last Sunday of every October – an authentic and fun festival with lots of entertainment.
Paris
Paris-Deauville Rally – get together and rally for pre-1940s vintage cars plus coupés and cabriolets designed before 1960. Many of the cars participate in a race with their precious vehicles from the Place Vendôme in Paris to Deauville in Normandy. You can view the amazing vehicles the day before the race at Place Vendôme, which becomes for the day, an outdoor car museum and possible the most expensive square in the world. http://www.clubdelauto.org/
Picardy
Grand Rederie Amiens – the second largest flea market in northern France after Lille’s Grand Braderie held first Sunday every October.
Provence-Alpes Cote d’Azur
Marseille – International Fair held at the Parc Chanot with around 40 countries taking part and hundreds of thousands of visitors to this exhibition of global food, gadgets, art, craft, culture and heritage – a family event. http://www.foiredemarseille.com
