Celebrate Ascension Thursday in Northern France with a true community running festival at Oxyg'Hem on Thursday, May 14, 2026. Marking its 28th edition, this beloved local institution in the town of Hem transforms the streets into a vibrant sporting and family celebration, offering an inclusive range of distances from a competitive 10km and a festive 5km to a 1.5km fun run and dedicated children's 800m race. Adding a unique twist, the event also features a 5km Nordic Walking event, inviting non-runners to join the party with their own poles, all starting from the bustling Parvis du site Diligent. True to its name and spirit, Oxyg'Hem is famed for its joyful atmosphere, highlighted by a popular costume contest and a giant, music-led "Caterpillar" parade that brings hundreds of colorfully dressed participants together before the main races. With local bands on the course, post-race massages, a grand raffle, and free t-shirts for participants, the organization by the city ensures a seamless and entertaining day for all ages. Deeply rooted in local solidarity, the event proudly supports a different charitable cause each year, donating one euro from every entry to make a tangible difference in the community. It's much more than a race; it's a joyful, inclusive, and spirited day out that perfectly captures the warmth and festive energy of a French fête communale dedicated to sport and togetherness.
Races Offered
1.5 km
May 14, 2026
straighten
Distance —
1.5K
terrain
Type ——
timer
09:00
5 km
May 14, 2026
straighten
Distance —
5K
terrain
Type ——
timer
09:30
800 m
May 14, 2026
straighten
Distance —
800 m
terrain
Type ——
timer
10:00
10 km
May 14, 2026
straighten
Distance —
10K
terrain
Type ——
timer
10:30
Weather Overview
These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for May in Hauts-de-France.
Temp (°C)
Feels Like (°C)
thermostat9.0° / 18.0°
wb_sunny6.1° / 15.2°
Wind (km/h)
Humidity (%)
air13.7 /
water_drop77.0%
Temp (°C)
Feels Like (°C)
Wind (km/h)
Humidity (%)
thermostat9.0° / 18.0°
wb_sunny6.1° / 15.2°
air13.7 km/h
water_drop77.0%
About Hauts-de-France
Learn more about the host city, Hauts-de-France.
Hauts-de-France is the northernmost region of France, located to the north of the French capital Paris and situated on the English Channel at the point closest to England. The region also fronts much of the French border with Belgium. The area is sadly known for its central part in the trench warfare of the First World War (1914-1918), perhaps most notoriously the Battle of the Somme, which lasted four and a half months during which more than one million men and women lost their lives. Unsurprisingly, Hauts-de-France hosts a large number of battlefields, war cemeteries and memorials. Less well-known, but still worth your time are the region's many belfries and Gothic churches, and the remnants of France's industrial heartland. Hauts-de-France was created in 2016 by merging Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy.
