The best parties Picardy

In 2015, this great event celebrated its 55 ^th edition! Always linked to La Fontaine Fables, seven poles of activity ring in the city. Bands wave the pavement and Street Arts impress the growing audience. A handicraft and gourmet market can take a few strengths. Concerts, fireworks and outdoor disco, prolong the pleasure late in the night. Great congratulations to the 75 volunteers who make this event a great success every year!

Mange Lille! brings together chefs, producers and artisans with a common goal: to promote gastronomy by showcasing Lille's culinary talents through a variety of events. From cooking competitions to tastings, themed evenings and other activities, the collective promotes the region's rich but little-known terroir. This unique local project gives as many people as possible the opportunity to discover new, accessible and up-to-the-minute addresses, brilliantly run by a host of inspired young chefs.

The Arras Christmas market, which takes place in the prestigious setting of the Grand-Place, has become, over the years, one of the most important markets north of Paris and the largest in the region! With more than a hundred exhibitors, it is the equivalent of a new pedestrian district entirely dedicated to the preparation of Christmas Eve that rolls out its red carpet to visitors. The Christmas market is centered on tradition and the quality of the products sold: designer jewelry, accessories, handicrafts, ethnic gifts, gastronomic specialties... Children and adults can go on the skating rink, take a ride on the carousel, try out the Ferris wheel or take part in one of the many activities organized for the occasion... Not to be missed to fully enter this magical period of Advent!

Would you like to spend a weekend in the Middle Ages? The town of Laon invites you to take a delightful trip back in time to the heart of the medieval city. The setting of the upper town is obviously ideal for this journey back in time. The numerous free events are sure to keep the public on their toes. Children love to try their hand at archery, watch the knights or play traditional Picardy games. The street shows and medieval market are a big hit with everyone. A recommended family outing.

Winter sports in Lille take place at the Gare Saint-Sauveur. Games and activities await you. You'll have a great time with family and friends. The famous 700^m2 skating rink is the main attraction (the only paying activity), but you'll love the other attractions too: toboggan runs, a ski and snowboard simulator... and other activities for all ages. Many shows and events are free of charge. During the day and at night, you won't be able to get away from this atmosphere worthy of a real ski resort.

A real popular festival at Cayeux-sur-Mer in the bay of the Somme. Adorned with a multitude of gladioli (nearly 9,000!) and multicoloured dahlias, the town becomes an even more lively place for a day. On the programme: parade of floats decorated with flowers by the associations, competition for the most beautiful float, musical entertainment in the afternoon at the city's kiosk and open-air disco in the evening on Boulevard du Général Sizaire, with a splendid fireworks display as a final bouquet. Every year, the public is present in large numbers in the streets of the city.

Organised in honour of the sea and sailors, the Fête de la Mer at Le Crotoy is an event not to be missed. Magnificent in traditional costumes, the sailors parade with the musicians of the local harmony and the giants of Berck, Flip and Zabeth. Follow them, hoping that there are enough free places on the boats to participate in the blessing of the sea. The Marseillaise resounds during the stopover near the monument dedicated to the sailors who disappeared in the changing waters of the English Channel. A market of regional products and various festivities also take place during this weekend, such as jousting in the hunting basin and outings at sea.

Organized by the Association Béthune Carnaval founded in 1988, on the occasion of the 600th anniversary of the belfry, this event respects the purest carnival tradition and offers many celebrations in the presence of Gambrinus, the famous Béthunois beer giant! Other giants, made by the inhabitants, will dominate the procession of the Béthunois (25 groups are represented). Two new products in 2019: the chocolate throwing and the arrival of the procession on the Grand' place.

An ideal family outing to unwind! There's plenty to do on this festive day! Parents can take advantage of a large flea market, community stands, an exhibition on the First World War, a colorful flower bike contest and a popular ball in the evening. And there's plenty for children to do too! A fun fair, sports demonstrations, inflatables, face-painting stands and a drawing competition are sure to keep them entertained. At lunchtime, you can all enjoy a country-style buffet. Great fun!

Behind this festival is an association (Culture B) and an ambition: to restore beer to its former glory and make it a product of excellence, while highlighting the regional brewing tradition. Since its launch in spring 2017, the festival has grown considerably, bringing together 10,000 participants and 105 breweries by 2021! On the program: tastings, meetings, exhibitions, meals, themed tours of the metropolis and its breweries, and a final bouquet where brewers come together to offer the best of their production.