Saint-Simon Fair of Molliens-Dreuil

Saint-Simon, traditional fair of the Picard plateau

The Molliens-Dreuil Saint-Simon Fair is one of those great autumn gatherings that once punctuated the Picard rural calendar. Celebrated on October 28 in the liturgical calendar, Saint-Simon marked the end of the great field work and gave rise to large communal fairs selling cattle, farm products and manufactured goods. While cattle have disappeared, the fair has survived as a large event combining an all-purpose fair, a flea market and fairground exhibitors.

A week after the October réderie

A notable feature: the Saint-Simon Fair is held in Molliens-Dreuil just a week after the town's autumn réderie, offering bargain hunters two consecutive major events. This intense rhythm testifies to the vitality of local associations. The two events each retain their own identity: the réderie mainly hosts private sellers, while the Saint-Simon Fair focuses on merchant and fairground exhibitors.

The fair's offer

The Saint-Simon Fair mixes genres in the purest Picard tradition. Stalls offer food products (cheeses, honey, charcuterie, confectionery), new clothing at fair prices, tools, leather goods, decorative items, knitwear, but also, on the flea market side, the usual bric-à-brac. Fairground rides and a candy floss stand complete this old-fashioned fair atmosphere.

Molliens-Dreuil, a village of the Vimeu and plateau

Molliens-Dreuil, born in 1972 from the merger of Molliens-Vidame and Dreuil-lès-Molliens, is a rural town on the Picard plateau overlooking the Selle valley, in a landscape of large crops. The town retains a traditional building style of red bricks and flint typical of Somme rural architecture.

A highlight of local life

Beyond its commercial aspect, the Saint-Simon Fair is above all a highlight of village life, where residents gather and local associations hold their stands. This social fabric is what makes Somme fairs unique and justifies the trip from Amiens, Abbeville or further away.