Northern France: What's on in September

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

WHAT'S ON IN NORTHERN FRANCE

September 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

Early Sept	Antiques fair Three-day annual antiques fair.	Cassel.59
Until late Sept	« Amiens, la cathédrale en couleurs » The summer illuminated show, at nightfall, bringing to life the wonderfully-carved medieval sculptures on the West Front of the cathedral. Not to be missed! Daily: June 10.45pm; July 10.30pm; Aug 10pm; Sept 9.45pm. Free; no booking required.	Cathedral, Amiens, 80 (tel: 03 22 71 60 50)
3, 4, 10,11, 17, 18 Sept 2010	Histoires et Rêves d’Artois Magnificent son-et-lumière show, with hundreds of local participants re-enacting parts of their turbulent history. Early booking essential. Dress warmly, and arrive early to ensure easy parking. Near Arras golf club. 9pm. 15 euros, children under 13, 5 euros; family (2+3) 40 euros	Anzin-St-Aubin, nr Arras 62 (tel: 03 21 51 29 61).
Mid Sept	Fête du Miel Honey festival at Bouin’s little honey museum and shop.	Bouin Plumoison, near Hesdin 62
12 Sept 2010	Marathon du Pays du Coquelicot / “Poppy Country”, or Somme Marathon Courses for marathon, half-marathon, 10km and 5km laid out around the battlefields of the Somme. Fun to join in or to watch – but less good if you are thinking of visiting Thiepval, Beaumont-Hamel, Lochnagar crater and the Ulster Towe on that day, of course.	Albert and area, 80 (tel: 03 22 75 16 42)
Mid Sept	Salon de l’Antiquité 26th annual antiques fair, held in the town’s Salle des Sports. Fri 4-10pm; Sat, Sun 10am-7pm. 5€, under12s free.	Cassel 59
mid Sept	Fête au bord de l’eau Annual event that turns the clock back to medieval times in the picturesque, waterside St-Leu district of the city. Lots of entertainment on offer, from Boulevard du Cange to Boulevard Baraban, with local foods, living history and old crafts.	St-Leu district, Amiens, 80 (tel: 03 22 44 22 79).
late Sept	Brocante Open-air antiques fair in the main square and side streets, with more than 200 stands. 6am-6pm. Admission free.	Herzeele, near Wormhout 59
18, 19 Sept 2010	Journées du Patrimoine Nationwide Heritage Weekend, on which some unusual places are open to the public.	Throughout France
late Sept	La Fête à Raoul A jolly weekend of parades and music around one of the local „giants“.	Audinghen, near Boulogne, 62
19, 20 Sept	Fête de la Beurière The 15th annual event around the former fishing area of La Beuriere, in the centre of Boulogne (near Nausicaa). See such crafts as rope-making and net-mending, as well as the highly-skilled ladies who iron the fantastical traditional “sunburst“ bonnets of Boulogne.	Rue du Machicoulis, Boulogne 62

late Sept	Fête des Moissons Old-time harvest day, with demonstrations of farming techniques, plus brocante, junk, car-boot sale and crafts fair, with up to 600 stalls. 9am-7pm. Admission free.	Laventie, ner Estaires , 62
late Sept	Braderie Brocante Open-air junk and car-boot fair, with 60 stands. 7am-7pm. Admission free.	Samer, near Boulogne 62
late Sept	Brocante et Ducasse A junk fair for funfair week in the village centre, with 100 exhibitors. 7am-7pm. Admission free.	Serques, near St Omer 62
25, 26 Sept	La Nuit du Miroir aux alouettes, Anno 1585 Annual promenade performances around the old streets and ramparts of Bergues, with costumed characters in wait... Booking opened in October 2008, so chances of a last-minute ticket are low, but who knows...	Tourist office, Bergues 59 (tel: 03.28.68.71.06)
late Sept	Brocante et Ducasse A junk fair for funfair week in the attractive village centre, with 100 exhibitors. 1--7pm. Admission free.	Eecke, near Hazebrouck 59
late Sept	International Beer Festival Traditional fair held in the hop-growing area around the Monts de Flanders.	Sainte-Marie Cappel, near Cassel, 59
late Sept	Fête du Cheval Parade of horses in the morning, carriage rides in the afternoon.	Lillers, near Béthune, 62
late Sept	Marché à la brocante Open-air antiques fair throughout the centre of this little town. 350 exhibitors. 7am-6pm. Admission free.	Wormhout 59
late Sept	Procession à Naviaux A procession of the curiously dressed „Charitables“, an association in Bethune and surrounding area whose members wear black bicorne hats and accompanies funeral processions. From Béthune to Naviaux.	Béthune to Naviaux 62

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