Annual eventsNorthern France Amiens - The annual Réderie de Printemps is in April, followed by the Réderie d'Automne in October (over 2,500 stallholders). Calais - An annual flea market takes place on the first weekend in August (Sunday and Monday). Lille. First weekend of September, every year, La Grande Braderie de Lille. From Saturday 2.00 pm to Sunday 11.00 pm. 33 hours to sell and buy anything and everything at the biggest flea market in Europe. 100 km of stands, 10,000 vendors and about 2 million visitors. This is when the town becomes a huge flea market. For those who love to root around second-hand shops and fans of junk in general, this has to be heaven. In a tradition dating back to medieval times, the citizens of Lille set up shop on the street and flog their unwanted possessions - imagine a car-boot sale of epic proportions! Anyone can set up a stall. One of the interestign events is the yearly contest between restaurants to see which one can build the highest pile of empty mussel shells (mussels and chips is a traditional dish locally) . www.mairie-lille.fr Local newspaper reports and information (French). www.lavoixdunord.fr/Braderie-de-Lille Lille Christmas Market starts at the end of November every year and continues till after Xmas. www.noel-a-lille.com Lille 3000 is a festival of cultural events focussing on a particular region, held bi-annually. Mid March to Mid July. www.lille3000.com Roubaix Roubaix Braderie de l'Art. First weekend of December. Everything sold here has to be made from recycled materials. Rest of France Bordeaux January (annual). National Antiques Market. Bordeaux-Lac Exhibition Centre. March (annual). Bric-a-Brac Market. Parc des Expositions. The lively Foire à la Brocante (bric-a-brac market) takes place in Bordeaux's vast Parc des Expositions every spring. September (annual). Bordeaux's Grand Déballage de Brocante takes place on the Place Saint-Michel, near to the quayside and Saint-Michel Church. Bourg en Bresse (La Farfoille de Leymont) - Annual Vide Grenier with 1700 stalls. Held on the last Sunday every August. Carpentras - There is a big Vide Grenier here in September. Dijon Flea Market. Early October (annual). Parc des Expositions. Salon des Antiquaires - May (annual). Parc des Expositions. Dijon's largest antiques fair has been running annually for over 30 years at the Parc des Expositions. La Rochelle - Antiques Fair. November (annual). The Parc des Expos in La Rochelle hosts this annual Antiques Fair (Salon des Antiquaires), at which more than 100 dealers from all over the country are joined by over 100 brocanteurs. Lyon - October (annual). Red Carpet Antiques Festival. Rue Auguste Compte. On the first Thursday of every October, a huge (2500 square-metre) red carpet is flung down on the rue Auguste Compte in the heart of Lyon's antiques quarter. Isle sur la Sorgue (Provence) - Twice yearly Foire Internationale Brocante et Antiques (April and August). www.foireantiquites-islesurlasorgue.fr Toulouse - November (annual). Toulouse Antiques Fair. Parc des Expositions. One of the top antiques fairs in France returns. Every November, 300 of the best dealers in the country descend upon the lovely southern city of Toulouse and its Parc des Expositions. December - Xmas Shopping, and Xmas markets. | 
- French fairs in the United Kingdom (mostly South East). 
- Easycash, ZC Auchan, ZA Parc la Française. 62231 Coquelles. Tel: 0033 321 85 32 76. 
- Emmaus, a charity which collects items from people who are moving or emptying their homes, and resells them. 
- La Trocante is a chain of shops where you can buy and sell second hand goods. The Calais shop is now closed. The nearest depot is in Saint Omer. La Trocant, 11 avenue du Maréchal Joffre. 62500 Saint Martin au Laert. Tel; 0033 321 88 52 64. 
- Troc is another large French chain with 180 shops in France. Items can be bought on line or at their warehouses. Calais Shop - Troc, Zac Curie, Rue Gutenberg. Tel: 0033 321 17 08 38.