Semaine du Goût: five French food and drink festivals to try in October

With the arrival of autumn comes a variety of food festivals and events as France - renowned for its gastronomy and strong culinary traditions - enters harvest season. 

October in particular is a time of abundance, as various fruits, vegetables and crops ripen. 

To celebrate the country’s cultural connections to cuisine, national ‘taste’ week - known in French as the Semaine du Goût - is organised each year. 

This culinary event - the largest of its kind - is backed by the agriculture ministry (Ministère de l'Agriculture, de l'Agro-alimentaire et de la Souveraineté alimentaire) and runs from October 12-18 this year.

Children and adults alike can enjoy a series of foodie events, attending cooking classes, tastings and culinary conferences across the country. 

An interactive map is available to find activities near your area of France. Try selecting Seulement les activités ouvertes au grand-public to filter out private events. You may need to reserve a place. 

This event is preceded by the national ‘science festival’ (Fête de la science) from October 2-12. This year’s theme is Saveurs savantes, with the public being invited to explore the links between science, food, taste and sensory perceptions.

Find conferences, workshops and activities via this programme page. 

If you are hungry for more culinary offerings, here are five food and drink festivals happening this month: 

Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre (Paris, October 7-11)

Did you know that Paris's Montmartre district is home to a vineyard? To mark the harvest of these Parisian grapes, this popular vendanges festival sees parades, tastings, concerts and a big street party organised throughout the neighbourhood. 

The festival has been running for more than 90 years and most of the official programme is free of charge.

Fête du Ventre (Rouen, October 10-11)

This free food festival is held in Rouen, a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. It brings Normandy’s culinary heritage to life and welcomed around 137,000 visitors in 2025. 

This year’s event will bring together over 150 exhibitors, including producers, farmers, artisans and restaurateurs.

Le National du fromage au lait cru (Joué-lès-Tours, October 10-12)

This culinary event focusing on raw-milk cheese returns to the Indre-et-Loire department. Visitors can enjoy farmers’ markets, tasting and pairing workshops, and round-table discussions. 

The French raw-milk cheese championship will also take place - although this is only for judges, professionals and guests.

Fêtes de la Châtaigne et du Terroir (Collobrières, October 11, 18 and 25)

The village of Collobrières (Var) hosts an annual festival to mark the year’s chestnut harvest. It is held over three Sundays in October.

Craftspeople, producers, artists and local food enthusiasts gather to demonstrate their skills, exceptional produce and traditions. Free guided visits are also offered throughout the month.

La Fête du Piment d’Espelette (Pays Basque, October 24-25)

The village of Espelette holds an annual Piment festival in honour of its world-famous peppers. The event marks the end of the harvest and includes street food vendors, dances, Basque music and traditional games, as well as parades in traditional costume.

Visitors will see strings of peppers drying in the sun outside the houses, nearly all of which have deep-red shutters to match their iconic produce.