EventsWhat brings the Bessin and Calvados to life, a few minutes from the campsite
6 June commemorations, medieval festivities in Bayeux, pre-war machines on the sand, summer festivals and Halloween at the campsite: the Normandy season is livelier than you might think.
From the D-Day commemorations to the big summer festivals, the Bessin and Calvados live to the rhythm of their events all season long. This page brings together those that return every year, month by month, with their distance from Port-en-Bessin. The seven main ones have their own, more detailed page: the D-Day Festival in early June, the Bayeux Medieval Festival and the Beauregard Festival in July, the Caen Rétro Festival in late August, the Normandy Beach Race in September, the Équidays in October and Halloween at the campsite during the autumn half-term holidays.
The events around the campsite
Click on a name to locate it: the D-Day commemorations and Bayeux are a few minutes away, the big festivals in Caen and on the coast three quarters of an hour. The markers show the town or site of the event; the exact venue is announced each year by the organisers.
The events of the season
The events that return every year in the Bessin and Calvados, in season order, with their distance from the campsite. Exact dates are published by the organisers during the year: the periods shown here are those observed from one edition to the next.
| Event | When | Distance | What you will see |
|---|---|---|---|
| The D-Day Festival Normandy | Early June | 0 to 40 km | Ten days of commemorations along the whole coast: period vehicle parades, 1940s dances, parachute drops and concerts, from Omaha Beach to Bayeux. |
| The Bayeux Medieval Festival | Early July | 10 km | Three days of the Middle Ages in the streets of Bayeux: a medieval market, encampments, shows and processions at the foot of the cathedral. |
| The Normandy Beach Race | September 2027 | 45 km | Every two years, pre-war motorbikes and cars racing on the sand at Ouistreham, in a vintage atmosphere: one of the most photogenic events in Calvados. |
| The Équidays | Mid-October | 10 to 40 km | Five days devoted to horses all over Calvados: open farms, shows, rides and demonstrations, often free. |
| The Rétro Festival in Caen | Late August | 40 km | Vintage cars, aircraft and classic motorbikes at the Caen racecourse, with concerts and retro dances. |
| The Beauregard Festival | Early July | 45 km | Five days of contemporary music in the grounds of the Château de Beauregard, in Hérouville-Saint-Clair: one of Normandy's big festivals. |
| Halloween at the campsite | Late October | On site | Pumpkins, a sweet hunt, a costume party and a spooky story evening: the campsite dresses up for the autumn half-term holidays. |
Seven events to experience
The D-Day Festival
Early June · 0 to 40 km. Period vehicle parades, 1940s dances and ceremonies all along the coast, from Omaha Beach to Bayeux.
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The Bayeux Medieval Festival
Early July · 10 km. A medieval market, encampments and processions at the foot of the cathedral, ten minutes from the campsite.
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The Normandy Beach Race
September 2027 · 45 km. Every two years, pre-war motorbikes and cars racing on the sand, in a vintage atmosphere.
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The Équidays
Mid-October · 10 to 40 km. Five days devoted to horses all over Calvados, often free.
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The Rétro Festival in Caen
Late August · 40 km. Vintage cars, aircraft and classic motorbikes at the Caen racecourse.
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The Beauregard Festival
Early July · 45 km. Five days of contemporary music in the château grounds, in Hérouville-Saint-Clair.
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Halloween at the campsite
Late October · on site. Pumpkins, a sweet hunt and a costume party during the autumn half-term holidays.
DiscoverIllustrative photos: Pascal Radigue, Marie de Gouville, Gzen92, Gérald Garitan, Daniel Villafruela, Thomas Bresson, Laurent Nembrini / Ville de Bar-le-Duc, Marzio Candusso, Lothar Spurzem, Guywelch2000, Ellywa, Carly Lesser & Art Drauglis, Marc Roussel, Jonathan Hutchins, Nezdek / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY / CC BY-SA); Congrès mondial acadien, Government of New Brunswick (public domain).
At the campsite too, the party goes on
Evenings, shows and children’s clubs
The entertainment team brings the village to life from April to the autumn holidays: fitness and aquafun, tournaments, Club Kids and Club Juniors for 5-12 year-olds, mini-disco, and in the evening music quizzes, concerts, magic, karaoke and dance nights. Nothing costs extra.
The bar and restaurant keep the evenings going, and the harbour is just below: many families end up choosing to stay in the village in the evening, even when a festival is on nearby.
Event weekends book up early
A festival or a race on the coast fills accommodation in the area several months in advance: that's true in early June around the 6 June commemorations, in July and August, in September in Normandy Beach Race years (next edition in 2027), and during the autumn half-term holidays.
The campsite is open from 3 April to 1 November in 2026, and from 2 April to 7 November in 2027.
The events, in practice
What are the main events near Camping Portland?+
Are there events within walking distance of the campsite?+
Do you need to book well in advance for a festival weekend?+
Does the campsite run its own entertainment?+
Your base camp in Normandy
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