Food festivals in Dijon worth planning a trip around, by month.
Food festivals in Dijon worth planning a trip around, by month.
Dijon's 96th gastronomic fair, one of the oldest in France: about 450 exhibitors over 24,000 square metres, with a dedicated gastronomy hall of producers, wine bars and restaurants open late.
Focus: Burgundy and French regional gastronomy
Tip: Entry is about 7 euros, cheaper online before opening; the gastronomy hall stays open until 11:30pm on nocturne nights.
Dijon's 80-year-old international folk festival: dance and music troupes from several continents on stages in the Jardin Darcy and Place François Rude, a parade down rue de la Liberté, and wine and food stands.
Focus: Burgundy wine and folk-festival food
Tip: Shows are free and run Wednesday to Sunday; the international parade down rue de la Liberté is the best single moment, check the programme for its day.
Fourteen summer Sundays when the Eiffel-era Halles become a 400-seat brunch room: a different Dijon chef cooks each week, with producers, live music and a 29 euro menu from 10:30am to 2:30pm.
Focus: Chef brunch under the covered market
Tip: Book online through the tourist office; seats sell out for the best-known chefs, and children 5 to 12 pay 14 euros.
Dijon's stop on the regional Fantastic Picnic day: buy a ticket, then build your own picnic course by course from local producers set up on the parvis of the Cité de la Gastronomie, 10:30am to 3:30pm.
Focus: Bourgogne-Franche-Comté producers picnic
Tip: Tickets are sold in advance on the Cité's HelloAsso page; it runs 10:30am to 3:30pm, and you assemble the meal yourself from the stands.
About 65 independent growers from Côte-d'Or, Saône-et-Loire, Yonne and Jura pour several hundred wines at the Parc des Expositions and sell at domaine prices, with Comté, foie gras and chocolate stands alongside.
Focus: Burgundy and Jura wines
Tip: Go Friday afternoon for unhurried tastings; growers sell by the bottle, so bring a bag or arrange shipping at the stand.
Dijon's Christmas season: a chalet market from Place Darcy down rue de la Liberté, gourmet chalets and a rink on Place de la République, and a nightly sound-and-light show on the Palais des Ducs.
Focus: Mulled wine, gaufres, churros, Burgundy Christmas treats
Tip: The market opens weekdays from 10am and Mondays from 2pm; Friday and Saturday nocturnes run to 21h at Darcy and 22h at République.
Burgundy’s iconic vineyards on a 5-hour wine tasting tour. Travel along the Grands Crus Wine Road through the Côte de Nuits & Côte de Beaune. 2-hour of free time in Be...
Discover the Côte de Nuits on a half-day tour from Dijon. Travel along the Route des Grands Crus, visit a local domaine, and taste 4 to 5 wines.
Experience a Côte de Nuits wine tour from Dijon. Visit carefully selected wineries, taste exceptional Pinot Noirs, and enjoy a small group experience.