Dieppe is a year-round town but the atmosphere changes dramatically with the seasons. Summer (July–August) brings French holidaymakers to the beach, the cafes are full, and the Dieppe International Kite Festival — held every other year in September — draws enormous crowds and transforms the pebble beach into one of the more colourful sights in Normandy. The festival is one of the largest kite festivals in the world and worth planning around if you can.
Spring and autumn are quieter and often more rewarding for those interested in the food, the museum, and the town itself. The Saturday market runs year-round and is busiest in summer but never small. Winter is cold and damp, and the Channel winds make the seafront bracing, but the town is perfectly agreeable and the restaurants stay open. Ferry traffic from England keeps the harbour busy even in the off-season.