Scallop Festival 2024 in Ouistreham

The scallop in the spotlight

Two days to discover the star product of Calvados: the famous Normandy scallop! It will be in the spotlight on October 19 and 20 at the port of Ouistreham Riva-Bella, 20 minutes from the Best Western Plus Le Moderne hotel, located in the city center of Caen.

An emblematic product of Calvados

An event rich in traditions, the scallop festival attracts thousands of visitors every year.
And celebrates the opening of the fishing season for this maritime treasure in several cities in Calvados.
With its 120 kilometers of coastline and its 7 ports, it is the leading French region for scallop fishing: no less than 5,000 tons are caught there!

Two days of celebration

Do you want to discover the scallop in all its forms?
Don't miss the scallop market and its local fishermen who sell their best catches, fresh, in shell, in nuts or already prepared.

Opt for the two Normandy red labels - Normandy scallops red label and scallops red label - to fully enjoy these flavors and ensure their freshness: the scallops are sold at the latest the day after fishing.

The scallop festival also includes many activities that allow you to discover maritime culture: sea shanty concerts, nautical knot workshops, fishing demonstrations, etc.

The fishermen's parade

Other highlights: the return of the trawlers and the unloading of the scallops, not forgetting the fishermen's parade.
A parade of boats along the quays that pays tribute to the hard work of the sailors, and often followed by a blessing of the boats.
An ancestral custom that ensures protection and prosperity for the fishermen for the next season.
Do you want to have a breathtaking view of the port and the horizon? Climb the 171 spiral steps of the Ouistreham lighthouse, "guardian of the Orne estuary" 38 meters high.

To fully enjoy these two days of iodized celebration, you can book one of the 42 rooms of the Best Western Plus Le Moderne hotel.