All along the Alabaster Coast, herrings are the order of the day in the month of November! Visit one of Normandy’s herring festivals this year and you’ll find plenty to make your mouth water, not to mention music and entertainment for all ages.
The King of fish!
Herring is traditionally known as the poisson roi (king of fish) in Normandy and, up until the 1970s, was a major contributor to the local economy and population. It was also often said ‘Eat up your herring and you will have beautiful children!”. Herring comes in many guises; grilled, salted, marinated, best served with a zest of lemon and a glass of white wine, and has been a staple food for centuries. Get stuck in!
Festivals throughout November
Herring festival season in Normandy starts in the seaside town of Le Tréport before moving west along the Alabaster Coast to Dieppe, Saint-Valery-en-Caux and Fécamp. Enjoy stall upon stall of market sellers grilling fresh herrings and scallops, dubber the ‘king of fish’ in these parts, fishermen selling their wares on the quaysides, and live music as you eat. In Dieppe, the number one scallop port in France, you can also enjoy this specialty alongside herring at the city’s annual festival, which attracts over 100,000 people every year. whereas in Fécamp, Les Pêcheries Museum is well worth a visit to find out more about this fishing port’s rich maritime heritage.
Meanwhile, inland…
Lieurey in the Eure département also celebrates herring, welcoming around 10,000 people every November. This tradition dates back to the 15th century when merchants delivering herrings to soldiers stopped in the village during a snowstorm and decided to sell the fish to the villagers so it wouldn’t go to waste. There is also an annual challenge to see who can eat the most herrings. Don’t all rush at once!*
*Please eat herring responsibly
The Fécamp Herring Festival
In Fécamp, the programme includes meal-concerts, a grilling village, fresh fish sales by local fishermen, and even the election of the Herring Queen. While you’re there, take the opportunity to visit the Les Pêcheries Museum.
- Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November 2026
The Dieppe Herring and Scallop Fair
Dieppe hosts the oldest and most popular herring festival of them all. Now in its 56th edition, the event celebrates a fish that was once the driving force of the local economy. Until the 1970s, herring, known locally as the “king of fish”, played a central role in the city’s prosperity. “Eat herring and you’ll have beautiful children!” cry the colourful market barkers. Grilled, marinated, served with lemon or a glass of white wine, herring is enjoyed in countless ways. Scallops are also featured, as Dieppe is France’s leading scallop fishing port.
- Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November 2026
More Events in Seine-Maritime
- Le Tréport Herring Fair (La Harengade): Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November 2026
- Saint-Valery-en-Caux Herring Fair: Dates to be confirmed
Meanwhile, in the Eure Department…
Moving inland, the town of Lieurey also celebrates herring in its own unique way. During the Hundred Years’ War, a shipment of herring became stranded there by heavy snowfall. To avoid wasting the cargo, a large sale was organised. The tradition lives on today, and visitors can even take part in a biggest herring eater competition.
- Lieurey Herring Fair: Wednesday 11 November 2026