Festivals in Lille

Lille is a small town in the north of France and it carefully preserves the French culture with a Nordic touch. Lille Festivals are different from those held in other parts of France.

Bastille Day

Bastille Day is celebrated on July 14 in France commemorating the fall of Bastille during the French Revolution. All over Lille people celebrate this day by lighting lots of firecrackers. After the celebration with firecrackers is over, people attend well-orchestrated ball parties in different restaurants and clubs and indulge themselves in merrymaking.

Transphotographiques Festival

Every year in the months of May and June Transphotographiques Festivals is held in Maison de la Photographie. This is a festival which showcases an exhibition of photographs by different artists including both veteran and amateur ones. An interesting theme remains as the base of this festival. In 2010, the theme of the festival is ‘Second Nature.’ Anyone can send their photographs for the selection process and once selected, the photographers can participate in the exhibition. The best budding photographer competition held during this festival encourages new photographers to take part in the competition.

Nuit des Musées

Every year in Lille and in all of France on the day of Nuit des Musees the museums are opened to all public. The parts of the museum which are not accesible to general public on normal days can be visited on this day. Before the festival, museums announce what special things they are going to showcase during this festival. The museums remain open to all after dusk until 1 a.m.  Even some museums auction and sell antique items like paintings or craftwork.

Braderie Festival

Braderie Festival is held in the beginning of September. Lille has the largest flea market in all of Europe. During this period it attracts more than 3 million visitors and shoppers. This festival lasts for the whole weekend. During the festival, the streets in Lille turn into dancing and singing stages as people gather all along the street to dance, eat and celebrate. At this time you can purchase great old books and antiques that are sold at a very reasonable prices. You must also not forget to taste the famous ‘Moules-frites’ dish which is a specialty of this festival.

Lille Festival

Lille Festival, held every year from mid October to late November, is a theme-based festival. Daily events including theatrical presentations, opera, classical concerts and dance performances, jazz performances and film screenings are special attractions of this festival. Also plenty of academic activities like debates, presentations and lectures are organized during this occasion.