I love Christmas markets.
Drinking mulled wine, eating gingerbread and cute cookies dusted with cinnamon and icing sugar, the smell of chestnuts roasting, the fairy lights and all the festive add-ons that make me realise a Northern Hemisphere Christmas isn’t so bad.
Cannes Xmas market (image: cannes.com)
French Christmas markets don’t have the stellar reputation of the German, Czech or Austrian markets but they still pack a punch with entertainment, useful (and tacky) festive shopping and decorations to fuel your Yuletide celebrations.
Here is my list of the Christmas Markets for the French Riviera in 2014:
(this alphabetical list is not exhaustive, more dates will be announced closer to December!)
Antibes
13 Dec: Opening of Xmas entertainment with a concert at 5.30pm at Place de Gaulle from students at the Conservatoire de Musique d’Antibes. 20Dec: Lantern parade departing from Place de Gaulle at 5pm, followed by a light show on the remparts at 6pm retracing 2000 years of the history of Antibes. 13Dec-04Jan: Xmas markets at Place de Gaulle and Place Nationale including fairground rides, Père Noels mailbox, kids workshops, an appearance from Père Noel on 22Dec. 01Jan: New Years Day swim at Salis beach
Auron
26Dec-03Jan: Xmas markets
If you fancy a white Christmas, head to Auron (image: winter.auron.com)
Beaulieu sur Mer
22-23Dec: Theatre and musical comedy shows. 26Dec-01Jan: Ice skating rink
Beausoleil
28Nov: Light parade 28Nov-24Dec: Xmas market, pony rides
Bendéjun
07Dec: Xmas market
Biot
01Dec: Music and illumination of lights for Advent calendar of shutters on rue Saint Sébastien. 20Dec-03Jan Xmas market, pony rides, kids workshops, Père Noel arrives by horse and cart on the 23rd Dec
Breil-sur-Roya
13Dec: Xmas market
Cabris
14Dec: Xmas market and visit by Père Noel
Cagnes sur Mer
13-21Dec: Xmas market, mini iceskating show on 13Dec, kids craft workshops in an igloo at place de Gaulle. 20-21Dec: Marché aux santons.
(image: cagnes.maville)
Cannes
28Nov-04Jan: Xmas markets, ice skating rink from 06Dec. 31Dec: New Years fireworks
Cannes La Bocca
17-26Dec: Xmas market, wishing tree, photos with Père Noel
Cap d’Ail
20Dec: Horse & cart parade, street decorations, tastings of socca & mulled wine
Carros
20-23Dec: Xmas markets, marionette show
Castellar
14Dec: Xmas market
Coaraze
07Dec: Xmas market, magic show, bouncy castle
Colomars
20Dec: Xmas market
Contes
13Dec: Xmas market
Gattières
20-21Dec: Xmas market
Golfe Juan / Vallauris
20Dec: Xmas parade from Vallauris to Golfe Juan. Kids workshops on 20-21Dec
Grasse
06Dec-04Jan : Xmas market
Xmas decorations in Grasse (image: Google)
Juan les Pins
21 Dec: Père Noel arrives by waterski at 10.30am, followed by a trip on the petit train to Antibes at 11.30am. 01Jan – Viennese concert at the Palais des Congrès 11am-4pm and fireworks at 6.30pm in the bay of Juan les Pins.
La Bollène-Vésubie
14Dec: Xmas market, visit from Père Noel
La Colle sur Loup
14Dec : Xmas market (other Xmas animatinos until 24Dec)
La Gaude
12-14Dec: Xmas markets, post a letter to Père Noel, Xmas shows, kids construction site
La Roquette-sur-Var
13Dec: Xmas market, Xmas songs, roasted chestnuts
La Trinité
29-30Nov : Xmas market
La Turbie
28-30Nov : Xmas market
Le Broc
06-07Dec : Xmas market, decorate Xmas trees, mulled wine
Le Rouret
07Dec: Xmas market
Le Tignet
14Dec : Xmas market, mini farm, pony rides
Les Adrets-de-l’Estérel
Xmas dates to be advised
Lucéram
14Dec: Xmas market, hot chocolate and mulled wine
Mandelieu-La Napoule
06Dec: Xmas market, Xmas stories, pony rides, Père Noels mailbox
Menton
06Dec-04Jan: Xmas displays through the town with a circus theme. Programme here: http://www.tourisme-menton.fr/Noel-a-Menton.html
Monaco
05Dec-04Jan: Xmas market
Monaco Xmas market (image: Flickr)
Mouans Sartoux
14Nov-24Dec: Santon fair. Also, 06Dec: Lights festival and paper lantern parade on 06Dec followed by free hot chocolate & bonbons; Xmas market 07Dec
Mougins
06Dec: Creche display, Xmas carols and lights, post a letter to Pere Noel. 13-14Dec: Xmas market and lantern parade
Nice
06Dec-04Jan: Xmas markets, bouncy castles, ice-skating rink, ferris wheel. Also, Luna Park Nice will be open these exact dates as well.
Xmas festivities in Nice (image: Nice Tourisme)
Opio
14Dec: Xmas market, lantern parade, 13 desserts, Père Noel
Peillon
30Nov: Xmas market
Peymeinade
22-24Dec: Xmas market
Roquefort Les Pins
14Dec: Xmas market, facepainting, mini farm, cooking workshop, magic and circus displays, horse and cart rides, bouncy castle, lantern parade ending with hot chocolate
St-Cézaire-sur-Siagne
01Dec: Crèche aux santons. 06Dec : Competition for Xmas decorated doors in the town. 19Dec: Xmas concert. 20Dec : Xmas market and mulled wine. 22Dec: Xmas cinema
St-Étienne-de-Tinée
20-25Dec: Xmas markets
St Laurent du Var
20-24Dec : Xmas market
St Jean Cap Ferret
07Dec: Xmas concert. 19Dec-06Jan : Xmas market, kids craft workshops, horse and cart rides, yeti hunt, Xmas stories
St Martin Vesubie
13/20/21Dec: Xmas market
St Paul de Vence
17Dec: Marionnette show. 19-21 Dec : Xmas market
St-Vallier-de-Thiey
13Dec: Xmas market
Sospel
14Dec: Xmas market
Tende
24Dec: Xmas feast and gifts for small children (There is a cost for this)
Tende in winter (image: Panaramio)
Theoule-sur-Mer
29Nov-04Jan: Creche decorations & display, santon displays
Tourrette-Levens
29-30Nov: Xmas markets, bouncy castle, pony rides
Tourrettes sur Loup
13Dec: Xmas concert (there is a cost for this). 14Dec: Xmas market, treasure hunt in the village
Valberg
24Dec : Torch descent by ESF ski school on the pistes. 28Dec: Truffle market. 01Jan: Fireworks
Valbonne / Sophia Antipolis
16-18Dec: Kids workshop & fireworks. 20-24Dec: Xmas market, kids workshops, mini farm, photos with Père Noel
Valbonne Xmas market (image: Tourisme Valbonne)
Vence
20Dec-04Jan : Xmas market
Villeneuve Loubet
06Dec: Xmas show. 14Dec: Xmas market & concert. 20Dec: Xmas workshop (festive treats) and Xmas stories
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