Meunier tu fêtes! in Bécancour: the Christmas market at the Moulin Michel de Gentilly
On December weekends, the Moulin Michel de Gentilly, a stone flour mill built in 1774, hosts a European-style outdoor Christmas market. In 2026, according to the Association des marchés publics du Québec, it runs from December 5 to 27, on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Page updated on October 15, 2026 · Has something changed? Let us know
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In the Gentilly sector of Bécancour, the Moulin Michel is a stone flour mill built in 1774 and classified as a historic monument in 1985. Since 2020, it has hosted “Meunier tu fêtes!” in December, an outdoor Christmas market inspired by European markets, with shows, music and family activities. The mill’s website also calls it the Marché de Noël Desjardins.
Why go? For the atmosphere, first of all: a giant Christmas tree, bonfires, a festive bar and decorations on the mill’s terrace, an illuminated trail to walk at dusk, and stalls run by artisans and producers. It works just as well for an afternoon with the family as for an evening with friends.
Artisans, producers and treats at the foot of the mill
The 2026 list of exhibitors had not yet been published by mid-October. In 2025, the published list included 21 artisans and producers spread over three weekends, including Le Marché apicole (honey), Vieux balsamique, Herboristerie Croque-Herbe, Ferme S&C, Amango cacao, Oh mon biscuit! and illustrator Audrey Charron. Some came for a single weekend, others came back several times.
As for food, the 2025 edition offered, depending on the weekend, sweet and savoury buckwheat galettes or Swiss raclette with sides, as well as fresh bread and pastries from Boulangerie Robin. If you want to keep the festive mood going at home, our traditional Quebec holiday recipes will give you ideas for your réveillon.
Holiday season 2026: weekends from December 5 to 27
According to the Association des marchés publics du Québec (AMPQ) listing, the 2026 edition will run from December 5 to 27, on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. As of mid-October, the event page on the Moulin Michel website still showed the 2025 edition: keep an eye on it for the detailed program.
In 2025, Santa dropped by on Saturday afternoons, and the program included a free card screen-printing workshop, a traditional music evening, holiday storytelling, an electro night with mulled wine on the terrace and a public letter writer to help you write your Christmas cards. A few activities required registration or a ticket. A temporary exhibition of some twenty nativity scenes by Quebec artists, including Claude Lafortune, from the collection of the Musée des cultures du monde, rounded out the visit.
Good to know: a mill from 1774 and an illuminated trail
The first flour mill of the seigneury of Gentilly, built of wood, dates back to 1739. The current stone mill was built in 1774 at the request of seigneur Chaussegros de Léry. Alfred Michel bought it in 1937 and ended its commercial operation in 1972. In 1985, after a citizen campaign, the City of Bécancour acquired it and the Quebec ministère des Affaires culturelles classified it as a historic monument. Restored, it has been open to the public since 1989 and celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2024.
The one-kilometre illuminated trail, set up by Gentilly 3 with a team of volunteers, can be visited on market days from sunset. In 2025, dogs were welcome, and the mill suggested bringing a sled rather than a stroller. In summer, the site also hosts a farmers’ market on a few Sundays each season.
Practical info
- Address: Moulin Michel, 675, boulevard Bécancour, Bécancour (Québec) G9H 3S9 (Gentilly sector)
- Region: Centre-du-Québec
- Type: Christmas market
- Season and hours: December weekends, outdoors: Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (AMPQ listing, 2026). Illuminated trail open on market days from sunset.
- Holiday season 2026: December 5 to 27, 2026, on Saturdays and Sundays, according to the AMPQ (as of mid-October, the Moulin Michel website still showed the 2025 edition).
- Phone: 819 298-2882
- Website: moulinmichel.com
Market dates and hours change from year to year, and the weather can force a cancellation. Check the official website before you go. Information verified on October 15, 2026.
Sources
- Marché de Noël Desjardins (Meunier tu fêtes!), Moulin Michel de Gentilly, accessed October 2026 (in French).
- Notre histoire, Moulin Michel de Gentilly, accessed October 2026 (our history; in French).
- Marché fermier, Moulin Michel de Gentilly, accessed October 2026 (farmers’ market; in French).
- Meunier tu fêtes! Marché de Noël au Moulin Michel (Bécancour), Association des marchés publics du Québec, accessed October 2026 (in French).
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