41st Car Boot Sale of Witry-lès-Reims

41st Car Boot Sale of Witry-lès-Reims — 400 Exhibitors on May 8th

The 41st Car Boot Sale of Witry-lès-Reims is an institution in the Marne department. Organized every May 8th — a public holiday commemorating Victory in Europe Day — in the village of Witry-lès-Reims (51420), it brings together 400 exhibitors for one of the largest flea market events in the Reims urban area. Forty-one consecutive editions: this is remarkable longevity that testifies to the quality of the organization and the loyalty of the public.

With 400 exhibitors, Witry-lès-Reims ranks among the most important car boot sales in the Marne. The village's capacity to host such an event — streets, squares, parking lots, green spaces — is utilized to offer each exhibitor a proper spot and each visitor a pleasant stroll. The diversity of stalls matches the number: clothing, toys, books and magazines, vinyl records, dishes, kitchenware, tools and equipment, light furniture, collectible items (militaria, postcards, figurines), vintage electronics, bicycles, and car parts.

The choice of May 8th is symbolic and strategic: this public holiday, which commemorates the capitulation of Nazi Germany and the end of World War II in Europe, is a day off that encourages exhibitor participation and visitor attendance. In a region like Champagne, deeply marked by the two world wars, May 8th is a date steeped in history. The Witry-lès-Reims car boot sale, by animating this day, creates a striking contrast: the memory of tragic events coexists with the lightness and conviviality of a popular festival.

Witry-lès-Reims, a Champagne village east of Reims

Witry-lès-Reims (51420) is a commune east of Reims, in the Montagne de Reims sector. Primarily a residential and agricultural village, it is part of the Grand Reims urban community. Its annual May 8th car boot sale is by far the most important and popular event in the commune, attracting a considerable crowd from all over the Marne and neighboring departments.