Fête des Allumoirs
The tradition of lanterns in the North
2026
About Les Allumoirs
The Fête des Allumoirs is a cherished tradition in the textile towns of Northern France, celebrated each autumn in Mons-en-Barœul. Dating back over 150 years, it originally marked the time of year when weavers had to begin working by lamplight. Today, local children craft their own lanterns at school before parading through the streets at nightfall, led by a brass band starting from the Fort de Mons. The evening concludes with a spectacular fire show and fireworks display at the Écoparc du Barœul.
Our team has not been able to confirm with an official source that this 2026 edition is taking place. The dates and program shown below may be outdated. We strongly recommend that you contact the organizer directly to verify before any travel or registration.
Les Allumoirs — edition 2026
Every autumn, the Fête des Allumoirs brings the children of Mons-en-Barœul together for a celebration featuring handmade paper lanterns. The festivities include lantern distribution at the Fort de Mons, a brass band parade leading to the Écoparc du Barœul, and a grand finale with fire performances and fireworks. The date for the 2026 edition has not yet been announced; neither the Maison de quartier Caramel, which organizes the event, nor the City of Mons-en-Barœul have confirmed any plans for this year. The date of October 16th remains unverified by any official source.
2026 Edition
As of mid-August 2026, the upcoming edition has still not been announced. The schedule for the Maison de quartier Caramel, the event's organizer, does not extend beyond September 6, 2026. The City of Mons-en-Barœul’s calendar is updated through January 2027 with 55 scheduled events, none of which include the Fête des Allumoirs. Furthermore, the municipal website, which typically hosts a dedicated page for the event each year, has not created one for 2026.
In the previous two years, the announcement was made two to three weeks before the event: September 30 for the October 18, 2024 edition, and October 6 for the October 17, 2025 edition.
Previous editions
- 2025: Friday, October 17, from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
- 2024: Friday, October 18, starting at 6:30 PM
- 2023: October 20, departing from Fort de Mons
- 2022: Friday, October 21, departing from in front of the town hall at 6:30 PM
- 2021: Friday, November 5, at the Écoparc du Barœul from 6:15 PM
- 2019: Friday, October 18, departing from the town hall at 7:00 PM
The date varies from year to year and follows no set calendar rule: it has taken place on four different Fridays in October and once on a Friday in November. There was no edition in 2020.
Programme Les Allumoirs 2026
The program for the 2026 edition has not been published, nor has the date.
Recent editions have typically lasted two and a half hours, featuring the distribution of lanterns at the Fort de Mons, a brass band parade through the streets, and finally, illuminations, fire shows, and fireworks at the Écoparc du Barœul. The schedule for the 2025 edition can be found in the practical information section.
Prices Les Allumoirs 2026
Practical information — Les Allumoirs
Getting there
The event kicks off at the Fort de Mons on rue de Normandie, with the parade winding its way to the Écoparc du Barœul.
By metro: Take line 2 to the Fort de Mons station. Line 2 runs through Mons-en-Barœul from east to west, serving three stations: Mons Sarts, Mairie de Mons, and Fort de Mons.
By bus: Use lines L6, 13, C9, or C03.
By car: From Paris via the A1, from Dunkirk via the A25, or from Brussels, Liège, Luxembourg, or Aachen via the E27, take the Lille southern ring road towards Gand-Tourcoing, then follow the N356 expressway and take exits 5 or 6. From the A22 heading towards Paris, use exits 10 or 11.
2025 Event Schedule
The program for the 2026 edition has not yet been released. Below is the schedule from Friday, October 17th, 2025, running from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM:
- 6:30 PM — Lantern distribution at the Fort de Mons
- 7:00 PM — Parade featuring the Brigade des Tubes
- 8:00 PM — Illuminations at the Écoparc du Barœul with the Compagnie Cercle de Feu
- 8:15 PM — Fireworks display at the Écoparc du Barœul
Admission
Free.
Contact
Maison de quartier Caramel, 41 rue Vincent de Paul, 59370 Mons-en-Barœul · 03 20 04 12 67 · [email protected]
A centuries-old Northern tradition
The Fête des Allumoirs is one of the oldest and most emblematic traditions of Northern France. Celebrated for over 150 years in the region's textile towns, this autumn festival marks the beginning of the season when weavers and textile workers had to light their lamps to work, as the days shortened with the approach of winter.
The lantern procession
At the heart of the festival is the lantern procession, a magical parade where children and families walk through the streets of Mons-en-Barœul carrying handmade lanterns. Traditionally, these lanterns were made from terracotta pots or hollowed out from turnips or pumpkins, filled with embers sprinkled with incense grains. Participants swing them like thuribles to keep the flame alive and perfume their passage.
The Allumoirs song
Throughout the procession, participants sing the traditional song: "Viv' les allumoirs, ma mère, viv' les allumoirs. On les allume quand il fait noir, viv' les allumoirs !" (Long live the allumoirs, my mother, long live the allumoirs. We light them when it's dark, long live the allumoirs!). This popular song, passed down through generations, accompanies the procession led by a folk music group.
Lantern distribution
The evening begins with the free distribution of lanterns at the Fort de Mons, allowing every child to participate in the luminous procession. This moment of sharing symbolizes the transmission of this tradition to new generations and creates a magical atmosphere from the start of the festival.
Fire shows and illuminations
After the parade, the festival continues at the Écoparc du Barœul with a program of pyrotechnic shows and illuminations. Fire artists offer spectacular performances, creating a link between the tradition of the allumoirs' flames and contemporary performing arts.
Fireworks
The highlight of the evening, fireworks, concludes the Fête des Allumoirs in a dazzling finale. Launched from the Écoparc, they light up the sky of Mons-en-Barœul and bring the entire community together in a moment of shared wonder.
La Brigade des Tubes
La Brigade des Tubes, a festive and participatory musical group, animates the procession and accompanies participants throughout. Their infectious energy contributes to the warm and friendly atmosphere that characterizes this popular festival.
A living heritage
The Fête des Allumoirs testifies to the richness of the intangible heritage of Northern France. By perpetuating this tradition, the town of Mons-en-Barœul keeps alive a precious link with the region's textile history and passes on a unique cultural legacy to younger generations.
Where does it take place — Les Allumoirs
Les Allumoirs in brief
History of Les Allumoirs
Edition 2025 Oct 2025Other festivals near Mons-en-Barœul
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