Northern France:What's on in May

ANGELA BIRD'S
Northern France
What to do and see within 90 minutes of Calais

WHAT'S ON IN NORTHERN FRANCE

May 2010

(entries in red indicate new additions)

	PLEASE NOTE This website is really just a supplement to Angela Bird's guidebook, Northern France: What to do and see within 90 minutes of Calais (left), which gives full details in its 176 pages of hundreds of interesting and off-beat tourist sites throughout the region. What you see on the website consists of either extra topics not covered in the book (Calendar, Restaurants, Travel routes, Internet links etc), or updated information (new tourist attractions open - or old ones closed) since the book appeared. For the complete picture, order Northern France through bookshops in the UK and Ireland, or from Amazon ; it is also on sale in good bookshops throughout Northern France.	The listings on this site are supplied in good faith, gathered by the author from various sources. However it is always wise to check details with organisers or tourist offices before making a special journey. 59=Nord 62=Pas de Calais 80=Somme

Until late June	Le Jardin des Boves The annual three-month summer period when the tunnels beneath the tourist office of Arras take on a new air, being filled with growing plants and strange music. Visitors expecting the usual history-filled tour may be disappointed... Guided visit 4.70€, children 2.70€.	Office de Tourisme, Hôtel de Ville, Place des Héros, Arras 62
1 May	FETE DU TRAVAIL (public holiday)
1 May	Grande Brocante Large junk fair. Admission free.	Arnèke, near Cassel 59
1 May	Brocante 150 stalls.	Verchocq, nr Fauquembergues 62
1 May	Rederie de Maricourt Village car-boot sale.	Maricourt, nr Albert 80
1 May	MAPID (Marché aux Puces International de Dunkerque) Huge flea market, with more than 1,000 exhibitors. 6am-6pm. Admission free.	Dunkerque, 59
1 May	Brocante au Lac d’Ardres Brocante fair near the lakes on the outskirts of the town. 8am-8pm.	Ardres, near Calais, 62
1 May	Brocante de Crochte Brocante fair with 500 exhibitors. 8am-6pm.	Crochte, nr Dunkerque, 59
early May	Les 4 Jours de Dunkerque Major cycle race along the roads of Northern France. Check the daily itinerary on the website if you are thinking of touring, or you might get delayed while the race passes ! On Sat 9 May there is a major hill-climb stage among the Monts de Flandres, or Flanders hills.	Start & finish : Dunkerque 59
8 May	ARMISTICE World War II : public holiday
early May	Fête Bavaroise Bavarian-style beer festival held in a marquee just outside Bergues’ Porte de Cassel. Sat 7.30pm-3am, Beerfest with bands ; admission 5€ including one drink. Sun noon-5pm, Bavarian meal, with music and entertainment ; 25€, children 10€ (advance booking only). 5-10pm, Bavarian evening ; 5€, including 1 drink.	Bergues, 59
13 May 2010	ASCENSION DAY (public holiday)
15 May 2010	La Nuit des Musées Special late-evening openings and events in museums throughout France. Click on website to find out what is happening in your chosen area.	Throughout France
Mid May	Grande cavalcade Carnival procession, with Jehan, the Estaires giant, and his « guests » - other giants invited for the occasion. At the end of the musical parade comes Aliboron III, the town’s donkey. Starts 2.30pm.	Place Louis Blanquart, Estaires 59
Mid May	Mei-feest Traditional farming is evoked with shows of horses and cattle in the streets of this Flemish village. Also a brocante fair and a flower market.	Steenwoorde, nr Cassel 59
24 May 2010	LUNDI DE PENTECOTE Whit Monday : public holiday

29 May 2010	Commemorations of Dunkirk Evacuation Respect is paid to the heroism and achievements of those who fought their way to the sea, and to those who brought them back to England.	Dunkerque
29, 30 May 2010	Journées Doullennaises des Jardins d’Agrément Delightful garden show, with stands laid out inside the town’s ancient citadel. Bigger every year, it attracts exhibitors from France and England alike. Special focus this year on « fossil plants », that have been around for millions of years. Daily 9.30am-7pm. 6 euros, under-15s free.	Doullens, nr Amiens, 80

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La Nuit des Musées Special late-evening openings and events in museums throughout France. Click on website to find out what is happening in your chosen area.

Grande cavalcade Carnival procession, with Jehan, the Estaires giant, and his « guests » - other giants invited for the occasion. At the end of the musical parade comes Aliboron III, the town’s donkey. Starts 2.30pm.

Mei-feest Traditional farming is evoked with shows of horses and cattle in the streets of this Flemish village. Also a brocante fair and a flower market.