For gastronomes journeying to Normandy in November, there’s a smörgåsbord of food and drink festivals to savour, especially for seafood aficionados. The region’s famed scallops take centre stage with a series of coastal festivals that blend music, family-friendly entertainment, culinary demonstrations and tastings.
Le Goût du Large in Port-en-Bessin-Huppain (November 9-10) celebrates scallops with live music, old sailing ships, and special scallop menus at local restaurants.
Le Tréport Herring Festival (November 9-10) features grilled, marinated, and salted herrings served with fries and a side of music, alongside a bustling craft market.
Herring and Scallop Festival in Dieppe (November 16) is France’s largest herring festival, drawing over 100,000 visitors to enjoy grilled herring and skewered scallops from smoking grills set up by restaurants and bars.
Courseulles-sur-Mer Scallop Festival (November 23-24) offers fresh scallops and other seafood directly from fishing boats, with markets, cooking demos, knot-tying sessions, and live music enhancing the festive atmosphere.
Grandcamp-Maisy Scallop Festival (November 30 – December 1) sees this small village transformed into a hub of scallop tastings, demonstrations, market stalls, and entertainment.
Lieurey Herring Festival (November 11) delights with herring grilled on open fires, market goodies, cookery demonstrations, and live music and parades.
Saint-Valery-en-Caux (November 17) invites visitors to purchase scallops and other fresh seafood from the boats, with markets, demos, and family entertainment.
Fécamp Herring Festival (November 23-24) features market stalls for fresh herrings and scallops, direct sales from fishermen, live music, and a visit to a traditional boucane for herring smoking.
Looking ahead to December, Coquilles et Saveurs in Trouville-sur-Mer (December 4-5) on the Côte Fleurie features a popular fish market, concerts, exhibitions, peeling competitions, guided tours and a special opening of the Ouistreham lighthouse.
Need something to wash it all down? The Cider Festival in Le Sap (November 9-10) centres around the Apple to Calvados Ecomuseum, which celebrates traditional cider-making methods. Expect dancing, market stalls, a cider bar, demonstrations of the old cider press with horse and cart, and plenty of entertainment for children. Don’t miss out on the mulled cider. Santé!
More on Normandy
Normandy is a delightful destination for food and drink lovers, celebrated for its rich culinary traditions and local produce. The region is renowned for its cheeses, such as Camembert, and its refreshing ciders made from abundant apple orchards. Visitors can enjoy local dishes like mussels cooked in cider and the famous Tarte Tatin.
