Foire Expo de Toucy

The Foire Expo de Toucy: Half a Century of Living Economy in Puisaye

Since 1977, the Foire Expo de Toucy has been a driving force in the economic and social life of Puisaye in the Yonne region. Organized by the association Toucy Animations, it brings together commercial exhibitors, craft artisans, sustainable housing professionals, and the general public every second weekend of October for a diverse event spread over four days and several emblematic locations in the town center.

Nestled on the edge of the Puisaye forest, 20 minutes from Auxerre and two hours from Paris, Toucy is a charming small town of nearly 2,600 inhabitants, famous as the birthplace of lexicographer Pierre Larousse and for its Saturday weekly market, voted the Most Beautiful Market in Burgundy. In October, the Expo Fair amplifies this commercial reach by attracting visitors and curious individuals from across the Yonne department and neighboring regions.

Three Complementary Spaces for a Complete Fair

The Grand Tent at Place des Frères Genet

The historic heart of the fair beats under the large tent erected at Place des Frères Genet, right in the center of Toucy. About fifty exhibitors present their products and services in a wide variety of sectors: home equipment, garden, DIY, vehicles, leisure, fashion, gastronomy, and regional products. This is where families and bargain hunters meet every year, in a warm atmosphere where you can encounter neighbors and artisans from all over the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region.

Catering is available on-site for lunch and dinner, allowing visitors to extend their visit in a friendly atmosphere, enjoying local and regional specialties. This gastronomic dimension fully contributes to the popular success of the event.

The Craftsmanship Fair at the Halle aux Grains

On Rue Paul Defrance, the Halle aux Grains — a rehabilitated former market hall — hosts the Craftsmanship Fair, a true showcase of artisanal know-how. About twenty professional artisans offer demonstration workshops and original creations: ceramics, jewelry, woodworking, textiles, leather goods, glassware, sculpture, and many other disciplines. Visitors can watch artisans at work, interact directly with the creators, and leave with unique handmade pieces.

This fair is fully in line with the artisanal tradition of Puisaye, a territory labeled Cities and Crafts, whose clays have supplied potters' workshops since the Middle Ages. It offers local and regional artisans a valuable exhibition platform, serving as both a commercial showcase and a space for knowledge transfer.

The Eco-Habitat Village at the Café Fournier Room

The Café Fournier room, the third hub of the fair, hosts the Eco-Habitat Village: a space dedicated to sustainable construction, ecological renovation, and environmentally friendly housing solutions. Building professionals, eco-construction artisans, energy advisors, and bio-sourced material specialists have stands and host conferences. This space responds to a strong demand from rural and peri-urban populations, who are increasingly attentive to the challenges of energy transition in the housing sector.

A Fair Rooted in the Life of the Territory

The Foire Expo de Toucy is much more than a simple commercial event: it is a unifying moment for the entire community of Puisaye-Forterre. Elected officials, merchants, farmers, artisans, and residents gather here every autumn in a spirit of meeting and exchange that perpetuates a centuries-old tradition of regional market fairs. The popular success of the event — which attracts thousands of visitors over the four days — testifies to the deep attachment of the inhabitants to this gathering, which has been a fixture in their calendar for nearly fifty years.

In 2025, the 49th edition was held from October 9th to 12th. In 2026, the 50th edition will be an exceptional anniversary, promising an enriched program to celebrate this half-century of economic and cultural vitality in the heart of the Yonne.

Toucy, the Town of Pierre Larousse in the Heart of Puisaye

Visiting the Expo Fair also means discovering Toucy, a town of character whose heritage is worth seeing. The 13th-century Saint-Pierre Church, with its Bishop's and Saint-Michel towers built from ferruginous sandstone, proudly overlooks the town. The municipal library and the streets of the old town recall that this town is the birthplace of Pierre Larousse (1817-1875), author of the famous Grand Dictionnaire universel du XIXe siècle and founder of the publishing house that would give birth to the Petit Larousse. The Saturday weekly market, voted the most beautiful market in Burgundy and labeled Flavors and Know-how of Burgundy, completes this picture of a commercial and welcoming town.