Caen Ouistreham 2025 Programme
2025 marks the Millennium, 1000 years of history, culture, and events that have shaped the city of William the Conqueror. For this occasion, the organizing committee has prepared a vibrant program with unforgettable events.
Now is the time to plan your next stay in Normandy; to help you, here are the key dates of this exceptional program, and you can visit the Millennium website for all the details and online ticketing.
2025 program in Caen la Mer and Ouistreham
May-September: Ouistreham City Events Program
As every year, the town of Ouistreham organizes several events during the summer and this year the program in Ouistreham is packed, check out the full program !
To expand your visits, Caen la Mer has also compiled its complete agenda ; do not hesitate to consult it to prepare your stay.
March 20-23: Millennium Inauguration at Caen Castle
After two years of renovations, Caen Castle will reopen its doors for the occasion. Caen will begin its celebration of 1,000 years of history on March 20, 2025. The castle, an iconic landmark chosen for its historical significance, will evoke both collective memory and the hopes for the future of the people of Caen. Caen Castle, one of the largest medieval fortresses in Europe, will be the stage for this event. Numerous activities are planned throughout the weekend, and once night falls, participants will stroll through the castle illuminated by flames.
March 20-23: Tous en Scène Festival in Ouistreham
This is a project led by the city of Ouistreham and the Caen la Mer community, supported by numerous partners including the Casino Barrière.
Scheduled programming for 2025:
- Piano and vocal concert by Natacha St-Pier, "My Love Story Is You," on March 20th at 8:30 pm at the casino
- Jeanfi Jeanssens “fallen from the sky” on March 21st at 8:30 pm in the G.Legoupil hall
- "A Great Cry of Love" on March 22nd at 8:30 pm in the G.Legoupil Hall
- "Queen Elton" by the Jarry Brothers on March 23rd at 5pm in the G.Legoupil hall
March 21-28: History Days
Extending the Millennium celebrations, the History Days offer a major public event highlighting key moments in the history of Caen and its surrounding area, from the Middle Ages to the present day.
Held in three of the city's historic sites—the Castle, the Abbaye aux Dames, and the University—the week's program combines scholarly rigor with interactive and engaging activities through a variety of events.
May 2 to 4: Vikwing Ouistreham
The Vikwing event returns for its 4th edition, taking place over three days this year. The idea is to bring together amateur and professional wingfoil racers in a friendly atmosphere for a weekend. The
event features an official "Pro-am" wingfoil competition at the Interleague level (category 4), demonstrations, booths, networking opportunities, and a fun atmosphere.
May 8: 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War
Following last year's 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings and the Battle of Normandy, this year we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II . The Swing D-Day Festival will launch its program to mark this occasion; further information will follow.
May 9: Millennium Operatic Parade
Over a 5km route from the Prairie de Caen to the Bassin de Saint-Pierre, the Cannes-based company Le Ballon Vert orchestrates this spectacular parade for more than 4 hours.
May 16-18 and May 23-25: Les Agités Festival
Members of the Association Les Agités, aged from 5 to 70, offer excerpts from plays and some short plays for children during their festival.
May 17-18: Automotive and Ecomobility Show
For its 5th edition, the show will take place outdoors in Place Alfred Thomas. Numerous car brands will be present, as well as eco-friendly modes of transport.
May 23-25: Jump'Em
The Jump'Em association has been organizing its show jumping competition on the beach of Ouistreham Riva Bella since 2018. This competition in a unique setting is intended for both amateurs and professionals, this show jumping is recognized by the French Equestrian Federation.
May 25: Start of the Normandy Channel Race
For its 16th edition, the skippers aboard their Class 40s will embark on a spectacular 1,000-mile race. Departing from Caen, they will sail along the Orne Canal to reach the turbulent waters of the English Channel, heading towards England and Ireland. In the days leading up to the race, the port of Caen welcomes the sailboats, offering an opportunity to meet the sailors, followed by the procession along the Orne Canal for the start of the race.
May 31: Caen Millennium Concert
Come celebrate Caen's Millennium at the concert with "MomentuM" and "The Rabeats" on Ouistreham beach at 9pm. Free open-air concert open to all.
June 4: Ceremony of the 177 Trees
In 2024, 177 tamarisk trees were planted along the Ouistreham Riva Bella beach, also known as "Sword Beach," in homage to the 177 men of the Kieffer Commando. Each tree was named, in the presence of schoolchildren from Ouistreham, after the 177 Commandos who landed on June 6, 1944. This ceremony launched the D-Day commemorations in Ouistreham.
June 6: D-Day Commemoration
As every year, we commemorate the D-Day landings and the Battle of Normandy on our Normandy beaches. Ceremonies will take place at the usual locations; details will be announced soon.
June 7: 1001 Voices for Peace, The Millennium Concert at the Zenith in Caen
The choirs and symphony orchestra of students from the Caen Conservatory will perform in concert at the Zénith in Caen as part of the millennium celebrations.
More than 300 participants will perform the work of Welsh composer Karl Jenkins, The Armed Man – Mass for Peace, written in 1999 in homage to the victims of the war in Kosovo. It is a powerful score, dedicated to peace, evoking the journey of warring peoples towards reconciliation.
June 15: Freedom Marathon
Created in 1988, the Freedom Marathon pays tribute to the events of D-Day through routes that pass through iconic D-Day landing sites, such as Juno and Sword beaches, Pegasus Bridge, and the Ouistreham Casino. With over 30,000 participants each year, it is one of the largest running events in France, combining sport, history, peace, and freedom, while showcasing Normandy.
June 21: Music Festival
Concert in Ouistreham for the Fête de la Musique as every year, program to be announced.
June 21-22: Le Grand N'importe quoi Festival
Following the success of the first edition on September 14-15, 2024, which attracted approximately 8,000 people, the second edition will take place. This festival lives up to its name, offering activities such as a giant cotton swab battle, football with giant balls, coat hanger throwing, a giant duck fight, as well as a designated relaxation area and many other lighthearted activities for fun and lighthearted fun. It's truly a riotous experience!
June 27-29: Millennium Maritime Weekend
This weekend, Caen will host 48 sailing ships, including the majestic "Belem," representing the 48 municipalities of the Caen la Mer urban community. The ships will be moored in the port and along the Quai de Normandie, offering visitors nautical activities, monumental artworks, a tour of the peninsula, and a grand parade at sea. A must-see event for nautical enthusiasts.
June 27-29: 3 days of Ouistreham pétanque
As every year, 4 different pétanque competitions are organised over these 3 days: Ouistreham City Challenge “Veterans +60 years”, “hyper u” grand prix, “l’accostage” grand prix and women’s competition.
July 3-6: Beauregard Festival in Hérouville-Saint-Clair
It's a major musical event that takes place every summer. It brings together artists from a variety of genres, ranging from rock to electronic music, in a festive and friendly atmosphere, attracting thousands of festival-goers. This year's festival will notably host the Black Eyed Peas, Jean-Louis Aubert, Clara Luciani, Hoshi, and many others; the full program is available on their website .
July 9: Stage 6 of the Tour de France in Caen
This year, the Tour de France will stop in a few cities in Normandy, including Caen for a prologue.
September 19-21: Aquanauts Caen Millennium Event Show
The port of Caen and the Saint-Pierre basin will be transformed into an open-air stage to host Aquanauts, a show never before seen in France. Circus artists and synchronized swimmers will join forces to present an aquatic spectacle featuring fire, water, and air.
October 18-19: Scallop and Seafood Festival
The scallop festival takes place every year in the port of Ouistreham. Numerous activities centered around the scallop are offered (culinary demonstrations, scallop skewer tastings, etc.).
From December 12th: Christmas Market and Entertainment
The town of Ouistreham offers various activities during the month of December: ice rink, Christmas face painting, illumination, Santa Claus parade, market, etc.
Looking back to 2025: the Millennium of Caen
The year 2025 in Caen and Normandy was marked by the celebrations of Caen's Millennium , a major event that enlivened the city, Ouistreham, and the entire region throughout the year. Festivals, exhibitions, shows, and cultural events punctuated local life and attracted numerous visitors to the Côte de Nacre (Mother-of-Pearl Coast). The Opera Parade was a highlight in early May, followed by the maritime weekend and its parade of historic rigging and boats for a grand procession along the Orne River. In July, the Banquet of 1,000 Covers was, as always, a success, and then the highly anticipated Aquanauts in September, a fabulous show in the port of Caen.
The highlight of these celebrations was the final show of the Caen Millennium in December, a breathtaking blending artistic creations, light displays, and emotion in front of the City Hall and the Abbaye aux Hommes, offering a spectacular presentation of Caen's history and identity. This finale left a lasting impression on both residents and visitors staying in Ouistreham Riva-Bella .
In 2026 , this momentum continues with a new program of events in Caen, Ouistreham and on the Côte de Nacre , to be discovered during your stay at Villa Andry , by the sea.
All this excitement around the Millennium already makes us happy for the Millennium of William of Normandy (also known as William the Conqueror) which will animate Caen, Ouistreham, Normandy and certainly well beyond in 2027.
Enjoy all these outing ideas during your next stay in Normandy
Just 20 minutes from Caen by car, our charming hotel is ideally located in Ouistreham to offer you easy access to all these activities. At the end of the day, you will be free to sip a cold drink on the terrace of our establishment or in front of the panoramic view from the bar . For even more relaxation, choose our Superior Sea View Room with its windows which give a splendid view of the Rive Bella beach.
Our team obviously remains at your disposal to find what to do in Caen during your summer in Normandy. Ask us and we will respond to your needs!
