Find your best time to come !
Avant d’organiser votre escapade dans le vignoble de Champagne, vous vous demandez probablement quand est le meilleur moment pour partir ? La vigne est active toute l’année, vous permettant d’observer chaque mois un stade distinct de son cycle phénologique.
Plein d’activités et d’événements vous attendent tout au long de l’année pour vous faire vivre le et La Champagne autrement !
Peak Season
The peak season in the Champagne Region is typically between April/May to September/October. However most Champagne Houses are open from late March to late October, and some are even open almost all year round. Check their websites directly for exact dates.
- Top Tip 1
Bear in mind that it is a tradition in this region and many parts of France for many businesses, including in the hospitality sector, to close for annual leave for part of January and August. Check with your favourite restaurants if they will be open during your visit to avoid disappointment.
- Top Tip 2
Be sure to make your restaurant bookings and Champagne House and cellar tours well in advance as they get booked out very quickly during peak season!
Off-Peak Season
The off-peak season is between the end of October to the end of March, however the fabulous Habits de Lumière (Dressed in lights) Festival takes place every year in mid-December and attracts around 50,000 tourists from all around the globe!
Not so great time to visit – January and February are quiet months in the region with many businesses closing in January for annual leave. The temperature is also pretty chilly and not so conducive to outdoor activities and sport.
#1 Special Times to Visit
Summer Music Festival – Fête de la Musique!
Every year towards the end of June villages, towns, and cities all over France transform their town centres to be a haven for pedestrians to meander through a myriad of music acts and styles and enjoy food and refreshments of all types of cuisine from temporary stalls along the way.
Epernay blocks off the heart of the town to traffic and welcomes locals and tourists alike to enjoy this festival at the height of the summer.
This year the music festival will take place on 21st June 2024 and is free for all!
Summer Picnic Party – Soirée Blanche
The unmissable Soirée Blanche Summer Party takes place on 14th July every year to celebrate France’s national holiday and is truly a top highlight of the summer season.
As the title suggests, white is the theme colour and everyone who attends this free, fun event is encouraged to wear white.
The venue is the world-renowned avenue de Champagne which is laid out with trestle tables and benches where you can bring and enjoy your own picnic or avail of tasty bites and drinks from the various food and beverage outlets. The famous Champagne houses which line the avenue (Moët & Chandon, Perrier-Jouët, André Bergère, Collard Picard, Esterlin, Boizel, de Venoge, de Castellane, Élodie D, Michel Gonet, Mercier, Comtesse Lafond and Leclerc Briant) open their doors to invite you to enjoy some of their best Vintage and most popular Champagnes!
A variety to music acts will provide entertainment for all the family and of course no festival would be complete without the ultimate finale to any evening with spectacular fireworks!
https://www.epernay-tourisme.com/en/take-advantage/agenda/white-evening-july-14/
#2 Special Times to Visit
Harvest time !
This is a magical time to visit the Champagne region with a palpable air of excitement and anticipation as over 100,000 people prepare to harvest the grapes by hand (machines are not allowed!). Due to climate change this takes place a bit earlier than it used to, usually around the end of August/early September.
Magical Mid December – The Habits de Lumière (Dressed in lights) Festival
The festival takes place on the avenue de Champagne in Epernay is jam packed with vibrant music and entertainment, fireworks, gourmet competitions with young chefs and demonstrations from Michelin starred chefs, vintage car parades, Champagne House and Cellar tours and tastings and of course a magnificent, themed lighting display on the gorgeous architectural facades of famous Champagne Houses along the avenue.
This year the festival takes place on 13th, 14th, and 15th December 2024.
More Affordable Time to Visit
As with many tourist destinations in Europe early Spring and Early Autumn are usually the quietest and more affordable times to visit the Champagne region, and there’s a good chance of some pleasant temperatures during these periods too – not too hot and not too cold!
Click here for a full list of events to find out ‘What’s On’ in Epernay?