Storytellers in the Countryside
A traveling storytelling festival across the villages of Nord and Pas-de-Calais
2026
About Storytellers in the Countryside
Conteurs en Campagne brings professional storytellers to villages throughout the Nord and Pas-de-Calais regions every year from September to November. The festival is organized by the Fédération des Foyers Ruraux du Nord et du Pas-de-Calais, based in Lillers, in partnership with local rural community centers, municipalities, and associations that each host an evening performance, a storytelling aperitif, or a late-night gathering. 2025 marked the festival's 33rd edition.
The program features evening shows in village halls, libraries, or farms, alongside shorter, free or donation-based "storytelling aperitifs" held in the late morning. The festival also offers paid workshops for anyone interested in learning the art of storytelling.
Storytellers in the Countryside — edition 2026
The 2026 edition runs from September 18th to November 8th across some thirty towns in the Nord and Pas-de-Calais regions. Seven storytellers—Saulo Giri, Swan Blachère, Fred Pougeard, Marie Hélène Candaës, Adrien Lociuro, Tony Havart, and Thomas Dupont—will be hosting a series of storytelling aperitifs, evening shows, and late-night gatherings. Two launch events kick off the festival on September 18th in Ambricourt and Steenwerck, while three storytelling workshops will be held in Noordpeene, Longuenesse, and Lillers to round out the tour.
Programme Storytellers in the Countryside 2026
Friday, September 18th
- 7:00 PM — "Conte" à rebours: two launch evenings, first night · Ambricourt, Le Germoir
- 8:00 PM — "Conte" à rebours: two launch evenings, second night · Steenwerck, Musée de la vie rurale
Saturday, September 26th
- 7:30 PM — Storytelling aperitif with Thomas Dupont · Herzeele, school canteen
- 8:00 PM — Fred Pougeard, "Cher Jean" · Neuville-Saint-Vaast, Espace Ernest Petit
Sunday, September 27th
- 11:00 AM — Storytelling aperitif with Tony Havart · Lestrem, Ferme des loisirs
Monday, September 28th
- 6:30 PM — Marie Hélène Candaës, "Femme f'âme flamme" · Estaires, Salle Ficheux
Tuesday, September 29th
- 8:00 PM — Marie Hélène Candaës, "Femme f'âme flamme" · Labeuvrière, village hall
Friday, October 2nd
- 6:30 PM — Swan Blachère, "Le vent se lève !" · Sainte-Marie-Cappel, Salle Marcel-Spanneut
- 8:00 PM — Marie Hélène Candaës, "Femme f'âme flamme" · Étaples, Maréïs educational room
Saturday, October 3rd
- 10:30 AM — Swan Blachère, "D'ici, d'ailleurs" · Saint-Martin-lez-Tatinghem, media library
Sunday, October 4th
- 10:00 AM — Swan Blachère, "Le vent se lève !" · La Couture, table tennis hall
- 11:00 AM — Storytelling aperitif with Thomas Dupont · Fleurbaix, parish hall
- 11:30 AM — Storytelling aperitif with Adrien Lociuro · Agnez-lès-Duisans, Salle du Chamet
- 12:15 PM — Storytelling aperitif with Tony Havart · Beugin, village hall
Wednesday, October 7th
- 5:00 PM — Saulo Giri, "L'arbre à histoires" · La Couture, table tennis hall
Friday, October 9th
- 7:00 PM — Saulo Giri, "L'arbre à histoires" · Hoymille, IET
Saturday, October 10th
- 8:00 PM — Saulo Giri, "La valise des mémoires" · Zudausques, village hall
Sunday, October 11th
- 11:00 AM — Storytelling aperitif with Adrien Lociuro · Violaines, library
- 11:30 AM — Storytelling aperitif with Tony Havart · Merville, Espace culturel Robert-Hossein
- 4:30 PM — Saulo Giri, "L'arbre à histoires" · Steenwerck (La Croix-du-Bac), Salle du temps libre
Saturday, October 17th and Sunday, October 18th
- 10:00 AM-5:00 PM — Workshop: "Intimate and sensory approach to storytelling" with Michel Galaret, 100 € · Noordpeene, media library
Sunday, October 18th
- 10:00 AM — Storytelling aperitif with Adrien Lociuro · Sailly-sur-la-Lys, Salle Daenens
Thursday, October 22nd and Friday, October 23rd
- 10:00 AM-5:00 PM — Workshop: "Reading aloud" with Juliette Baron, 100 € · Longuenesse, media library
Sunday, October 25th
- 11:00 AM — Storytelling aperitif with Tony Havart · Bry, association hall
- 11:00 AM — Storytelling aperitif with Adrien Lociuro · Ecques, rural community center
- 11:30 AM — Storytelling aperitif with Thomas Dupont · Étaples, Maréïs educational room
Tuesday, October 27th
- 6:00 PM — Marie Hélène Candaës, "Des racines et des ailes" · Vacquerie-le-Boucq, village hall
Friday, November 6th
- 6:30 PM — Storytelling aperitif with Thomas Dupont · La Gorgue, media library
Saturday, November 7th and Sunday, November 8th
- 10:00 AM-5:00 PM — Workshop: "Storytelling from the living" with Claire Vincent-Perrier, 100 € · Lillers, Federation headquarters
Sunday, November 8th
- 11:00 AM — Storytelling aperitif with Tony Havart · Frémicourt, village hall
Prices Storytellers in the Countryside 2026
Practical information — Storytellers in the Countryside
Each event has its own venue and booking process: the town, the specific hall, and the contact phone number or email address are listed on the individual event page of the official website. Some evenings are free, while others operate on a "pay-what-you-wish" basis. The three introductory storytelling workshops (in Noordpeene, Longuenesse, and Lillers) cost €100 and can be booked through the Federation by calling 03 21 54 58 58 or emailing [email protected].
A tour from village to village
The concept remains the same each year: each storyteller travels with one or two shows, performing in rural community centers, libraries, educational farms, and municipal halls across the Nord and Pas-de-Calais regions, with each location hosting a specific date.
Two formats are featured: the evening show, consisting of a full performance lasting about an hour, and the storytelling aperitif, a shorter event held in the late morning. The introductory workshops, led by professional storytellers, are designed for those who want to learn how to tell stories rather than just listen to them.
Where does it take place — Storytellers in the Countryside
Storytellers in the Countryside in brief
Other festivals near Lillers
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