As the festive season kicks in and Christmas approaches you
will find no shortage of Christmas markets and events along the Riviera.
Alongside the markets there are a selection of choir and carol concerts and I also detail the services at the English-speaking Church in Cannes.
Here is a list of some of the Christmas markets, though it
is by no means exhaustive - do check your local villages and towns as they are likely to have something on:
Christmas Markets
Tourettes – Levens – Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th
November – 10am – 6pm. Local products, stalls etc.
Chateau du Berne Vineyard - Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th
November – 10am – 6pm. Local producs, stalls, wine tasting.
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| Image Chateau du Berne |
La Roquette Sur Siagne - Sunday 25th November – 10-6pm – stalls, food, kids rides.
Holy Trinity Church, Cannes – Saturday 1st December –
11-4pm – home-made mince pies, tombola, knitted goods, present stalls and kids games.
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| Homemade mince pies will be on sale - be quick to get yours! |
Cannes Christmas Market – Saturday 1st December –
Sunday 6th January 2019 – 10am – 9pm (10pm on Friday & Saturday).
Monday 31st December 2018 – 10am -
11pm.
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| Cannes Christmas Market by night |
- a stunning Christmas tree outside the Palais des Festivals,
- “The turning on of the lights – Sat 1st December at 6pm followed by an ice skating show.
- Meet Santa – 1st, 2nd, 8th, 9th, 15th, 16th, 22nd, 23rd and 24th December from 2 – 6pm in the Christmas village,
- Christmas parade on the 24th December at 3pm along Rue D’Antibes
- a 400m sq ice skating rink
- over 40 different stalls,
- Cannes also hosts some spectacular New Years Eve fireworks
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| Ice Skating in Cannes |
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| Cannes Chalets at the Christmas Market |
Clos des Roses Vineyard –Saturday 1st and Sunday
2nd December – 10am - 6pm.
Stalls, Father Christmas, clowns, pony and trap rides.
Nice – Village de Noel – 1st December – 31st
December. Every day 11-8pm (9pm on Friday and Saturdays) Christmas stalls & sculptures, ice rink
and big wheel are amongst the many attractions.
Kidooland Christmas Fair – Sunday 2nd December –
10am – 3pm. Stalls and stands , refreshments , activities
and games for children , photos for Christmas , English books, Kidooland, 1890 Chemin de Saint Bernard,
06220 Vallauris
Le Rouret - Sunday 2nd
December – 10.30am – 7pm. Father Christmas, farm animals, local producs,
fairground rides and shuttle buses provided.
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| Some of the beautiful produce at the Le Rouret Chirstmas Market |
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| Meeting Santa |
Mouans Sartoux - Sunday 2nd December – 9am – 6.30pm, many craft and food stalls as well as Santa arriving to distribute goodies to the kids.
Moncao Christmas Village
– Friday 7th December – Sunday 6th January 2019 everyday 11am – 10.30pm (11pm
on Friday & Saturday)
24th December – 11am
– 7.30pm & Chirstmas Day & New Years Day – 2.30pm – 10pm
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| Monaco at Christmas |
Monaco go to town
with their Christmas offering – be sure to check out the displays in front of
the Casino. This years’ theme is Christmas in New Orleans - Big wheel,
carousel, other rides, food and drink stalls, parades and ice skating.
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| The beautiful displays outside the Casino in Monaco |
Saint Paul de Vence – Saturday 8th December - 11 am – 7pm at the hotel La Vague de Saint Paul. Stands, sweetmeats and mulled wine.
Fayence Christmas Market - Sunday 9th December - 9am - 6pm - Christmas music, lights, stalls and a festive tasting of 13 desserts and mulled wine at midday!
Saint Martin Vesubie – Saturday 15th December –
10am – 6pm. Pony rides, marionette shows, candle workshops, 4pm - Santa arrives. 5pm – juggling spectacle
with flaming torches!
Antibes Christmas Market – 15th December - 6th January – everyday 10.30am – 7.30pm (till 9pm every Saturday) Special opening hours for 24th
& 31st December – 10.30am – 6pm and 25th Deccember
& 1st January – 2pm – 7.30pm.
Antibes have a huge array of
events on including a big wheel, ice rink and Santa arriving on jet skis on
Christmas Eve!
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| Snowman Parade in Antibes |
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| Antibes Ferris Wheel at Christmas |
Valbonne Village – Saturday 22nd – Monday 24th
December – hours to be confirmed. The village comes alive with festival stalls
in the immediate run up to Christmas
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| Some of the stalls at Valbonne Christmas Market |
The Big Blaze Choir are hosting their free annual carol
concert at Holy Trinity Church in Cannes at 5pm on Sunday 9th
December. Be there early to make sure of a seat –it’s always a popular event. Entrance is free.
The Riviera International Singers are hosting several
Christmas concerts of traditional carols and a selection of Christmas sacred
music:
- Antibes Cathedral – Friday 7th December - 8.00 pm, (for the SNSM Life boat association)
- Valbonne St. Blaise Church - Friday 14th December - 8pm, and Saturday 15th December at 7pm
The concerts will be followed by a
warming cup of mulled wine.
Entrance is 12€ for adults (wine included) and 5€ for children under 12.
Entrance is 12€ for adults (wine included) and 5€ for children under 12.
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| Image: Mimosa Matters |
The Mimosa Matters team are hosting a thank you Carol concert for
all those who’ve helped raise funds and supported them this year. Children are invited to come dressed as kings,
shepherds, angels, animals, stars etc
- Église Saint Paul des Nations, 5 Avenue Georges Pompidou, 06560 Valbonne - Thursday 13th December – 6.30pm- 7.30pm.
Traditional Carol Service - Holy Trinity Church, Cannes - Sunday 17th December - 7pm - there will be a traditional Carol Service followed by mulled wine and mince pies. Entrance is free
English Language Church Services
Here are the times for the Christmas Services at Holy Trinity Church in Cannes - if you have children a wonderful service is the children's Christmas Eve service at 4pm - it is a 40 minute candlelit service filled with Christmas music and joy.
- Carol Service - as above - Sunday 16th December - 7.30pm
- Christmas Nativity Service - Sunday 23rd December - 10.30am
- Christmas Eve Children's Carol Service - Monday 24th December - 4pm
- Christmas Eve Midnight Communion - Monday 24th December - 11.30pm
- Christmas Day - Tuesday 25th December - Holy Communion at 9am and a Family Service with Communion at 10.30am
Accommodation:
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