French town breaks world record for largest costumed Smurf convention

A small coastal town in western France has broken the world record – for the largest ever gathering of people in Smurf costumes. 

Landerneau, on the western tip of Brittany, hosted more than 3,076 Smurf fanatics in full regalia at the weekend event. It follows two failed previous attempts to wrest the existing record away from the German town of Lauchringen, before finally succeeding. 

The get-together saw the streets turn into a sea of bright blue faces, white hats and clogs in homage to the Belgian comic characters that sprung to worldwide fame in the eponymous 1980s TV cartoon series. 

Simone Pronost, 82 years old and dressed as Smurfette, explained "I did it because I have a friend who kind of pushed me, and then, well, I said to myself: why not?"

Albane De la Riviere, 20 years old, said "It's amazing that it's a small town in Brittany holding this record. So we hope it's worth coming all the way from Rennes. Go Landerneau!"

Who are the Smurfs?

Originally named the "Schtroumpfs" in French, the Smurfs were created by Belgian cartoonist Peyo in 1958 as an offshoot from his existing swords-and-sorcery comic strip, Johan et Pirlouit. 

In it, the hero Johan meets a commune of small, human-like creatures living peacefully in the forest in mushroom shaped houses, while escaping the attentions of their arch enemy, the Wizard Gargamel and his cat, Azrael.

The popularity of the Smurfs looks set to get another boost later this summer with the release of the first full length feature film in eight years to feature the characters, with pop star Rihanna providing the voice of Smurfette and the soundtrack tune.