The festival originated in 1994 as the Fête de la Crevette (Shrimp Festival). For nearly three decades, the event honored the petite grise, the small gray shrimp that was once a defining product of the local fishery. However, declining shrimp populations, changes in fishing practices, and requests from local fishermen prompted the city to change the event’s name in 2024. The new name, the Scallop and Fishing Festival (Fête de la Coquille et de la Pêche), better reflects today’s catches and broadens the festival’s focus to the fishing industry as a whole, rather than a single species.
The festival celebrates and pays tribute to the men and women of the local fishing industry. Professional fishermen play a central role, selling freshly landed seafood directly to visitors and demonstrating their work. The event also emphasizes the importance of preserving maritime traditions and promotes awareness of the challenges facing modern fisheries. Recent editions have expanded their educational component by including discussions on biodiversity, marine resources, sustainable fishing, and environmental conservation.
The Honfleur Scallop and Fishing Festival is typically held during the first or second weekend of October. This open-air event takes place on the quays surrounding the Vieux Bassin. Visitors can browse seafood stalls offering fresh fish, scallops, shellfish, shrimp, oysters, mussels, and other regional specialties. Cooking demonstrations and tasting opportunities schowcase Norman seafood cuisine, and artisans display maritime crafts and local products. Concerts, traditional sea shanty performances, painting exhibitions, and family activities contribute to the festive atmosphere. The harbor hosts gatherings of historic sailing vessels, which reinforce Honfleur’s strong maritime identity.
The festival is regarded as one of Honfleur’s principal annual events alongside the town’s maritime celebrations in spring. It attracts thousands of visitors each year, serving as both a tourist attraction and an opportunity for the local fishing community to present their profession directly to the public. While the event has evolved in response to environmental and economic changes affecting local fisheries, it continues to honor its original mission of celebrating Honfleur’s identity as a historic fishing port.
