Papillons de Nuit festival

The popular musical extravaganza that is Normandy’s Papillons de Nuit festival has been running for 20 years and is a yearly pilgrimage for music lovers from France and beyond, with big name line-ups sure to suit every taste and generation.

An eclectic line-up

Taking place over three days, Papillons de Nuit (‘moths’ in French) attracts big-name headliners (this year will see Rag’n’Bone Man, Royal Blood and Angèle perform) and features 40 sets across two stages. It’s fair to say that after two decades in the game, this festival knows how to please a crowd!

Family-friendly

In 2019, Papillons de Nuit welcomed 2,500 children, who all got to sing along to their favourite artists. There’s plenty on offer for kids and parents: a dedicated family area with large wooden games, Japanese theatre, readings, and rock music performed by kids from music schools in the surrounding area. If the family is looking for a quiet place to chill, they can head for the siesta zone, the candy bar or the fruit squash bar. Take a ride on the Ferris wheel that towers over the bustling festival grounds, for a panoramic view of the Normandy countryside. 

A large festival in a little place

Saint-Laurent-de-Cuves, a tiny village of 480 inhabitants, has hosted Papillons de Nuit for the past 20 years, and has gone from welcoming 10,000 festival-goers in its first year to 75,000 in 2019. That’s almost one million music lovers! This huge event runs every year thanks to 1,400 hardworking volunteers, who help provide a safe and enjoyable experience for all.   

Fab for foodies

Papillons de Nuit places great emphasis on regional and seasonal produce, with local producers like the Ferme de la Belle-Etoile (which specialises in meat and Normandy desserts) and Grandin & Fils (which specialises in seafood) dishing up delicacies you can then wash down with a beer, cocktail, wine or even cider!*

*Please drink responsibly