What's on in Lille, France through the year

Peak crowds — Dunkirk Carnival, Christmas holidays in France

• Festival

  Dunkirk Carnival

  5 Jan – 15 Apr · usuallyCrowded

  An hour from Lille, Dunkirk's carnival season peaks on the weekends around Mardi Gras, when costumed bands march behind drum majors and the mayor throws smoked herring from the town hall balcony. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Dunkirk Carnival, Winter (February) holidays in France

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Dunkirk Carnival (5 Jan – 15 Apr (usually))

Peak crowds — Dunkirk Carnival, Series Mania

• Festival

  Series Mania

  12–31 Mar · usuallyFilm festivalCrowdedBook early

  Europe's television festival takes over the Nouveau Siecle and the city cinemas for ten days, half industry market and half free public screenings. Hotels near the stations are the first to go. Source ↗

Still on: Dunkirk Carnival (5 Jan – 15 Apr (usually))

Peak crowds — Dunkirk Carnival, Paris-Roubaix finish

• Festival

  Paris-Roubaix finish

  5–20 Apr · usuallySporting eventCrowded

  The cobbled cycling classic ends on a Sunday in April at the velodrome in Roubaix, on the Lille metro. Fans line the last cobbled sectors outside the city, and hotels fill with cycling tourists. Source ↗

Still on: Dunkirk Carnival (5 Jan – 15 Apr (usually))

Busy — Spring holidays in France, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in May.

Busy — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

• Festival

  Lille Piano(s) Festival

  12–14 JunMusic festivalBook early

  The Orchestre National de Lille runs a weekend of around forty short concerts in about ten venues, from classical recitals to jazz and electronic sets, with some free events at the station and archives. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Bastille Day (14 juillet), Summer holidays in France

• Holiday

  Bastille Day (14 juillet)

  13–14 JulNational holidayCrowdedClosures

  14 July is the national holiday: towns hold fireworks on the evening of the 13th or 14th, often with a firemen's ball, a parade or a concert, and banks, offices and many shops close for the day. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Braderie de Lille, Summer holidays in France

• Festival

  Braderie de Lille

  28 Aug – 8 Sep · usuallyMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  Europe's largest flea market runs through one weekend at the start of September, the whole centre closed to cars and the restaurants piling mussel shells on the pavement outside. Book a room months out or come by train. Source ↗

Busy — Braderie de Lille, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  The lull before the market

  15 Sep – 15 NovOff-season shutdown

  Between the Braderie and the Christmas market the city is students, rain and cheap rooms. It is the best stretch for the Palais des Beaux-Arts and the Piscine at Roubaix without a queue.

Still on: Braderie de Lille (28 Aug – 8 Sep (usually))

Busy — All Saints (autumn) holidays in France, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: The lull before the market (15 Sep – 15 Nov)

Peak crowds — Christmas market and big wheel, All Saints (autumn) holidays in France

• Festival

  Christmas market and big wheel

  20 Nov – 30 DecChristmas & New YearCrowded

  Chalets on Place Rihour and the wheel on the Grand'Place, with day-trippers arriving from Belgium and on the London train through December. Weekday evenings are far easier than Saturdays. Source ↗

Still on: The lull before the market (15 Sep – 15 Nov)

Peak crowds — Christmas market and big wheel, Christmas holidays in France

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Christmas market and big wheel (20 Nov – 30 Dec)