Houlgate Plein Vent

Every year, the sky of Houlgate dresses up with strange flying objects. Welcome to the Houlgate Plein Vent festival, an international gathering of kites, which has become a must in France.

Celebrate the wind in Houlgate

For almost 25 years, kite flying and sliding sports enthusiasts have been celebrating their passion on the beautiful beach of Houlgate, during the Houlgate Plein Vent festival. For a weekend, young and old get together to see the sky over Houlgate fill with unidentified objects and enjoy the joys of water sports. No wonder the festival has taken up residence on the beach of Houlgate : fully exposed to the wind, it is also lined with superb Belle Époque villas. 

During the last edition, the theme of dragons was honored with the world's largest gathering of giant dragon kites: about fifteen were gathered, the largest measuring nearly 60 m! 

Demonstrations of pros during the kite festival

Le Houlgate Plein Vent Festival is a great opportunity to observe professional pilots, often titled at the international level. Acrobatic figures follow one another on a musical background, for guaranteed moments rich in emotions! 

Various initiation workshops

Initiation workshops are offered as well as construction workshops for those who are a little scared of flying kites. Sliding sports enthusiasts can try their hand at catamaran sailing, sea kayaking and paragliding. Other different nautical activities taking advantage of the wind and the tides are to be tested.

The friendly kitefoil and windfoil competition is another highlight. Particularly appreciated by festival-goers, they admire the mastery of the pilots! 

Whether you are a novice or a fan of kites, the Houlgate Plein Vent Festival is a real moment of conviviality. So if you are in the area, you know what to do!

To get in the mood, Houlgate beach is also adorned with characters. Animated creations come to life thanks to the breath of the Norman wind.