Christmas in Cannes 2020
Decisions re Xmas events last minute due to Covid 19
NEW YEAR'S EVE MIDNIGHT FIREWORKS
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Everyone can enjoy a Provencal Christmas in and around Cannes. There are santon exhibitions, live nativity plays known as pastorales, Christmas markets and food fairs, ice skating, circuses, Christmas lights and son and lumieres, horse racing and Christmas sailing regattas. The list is endless. Here we give you a flavour of events but keep an eye on our website's What's on in Cannes for the dates whilst you are here. |
Coronavirus Xmas 2020
Cannes, Antibes, Vallauris and Vence are the only towns to hold a Christmas Fair in 2020. Churches are open for services but seating will be restricted. Restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs are all closed. Officially only six people, excluding children, allowed around the dining table |
Creche at St Catherine's Church,
Le Cannet
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A Provencal Christmas officially starts 4 December on St Barbara's Day and lasts until Candlemas on 2 February. On Christmas Eve a big supper is served before going to Midnight Mass. On returning from mass the 13 desserts are served, representing Christ and the 12 disciples. It consists of dried figs, almonds, raisins, walnuts, dates, black and white nougat, candied fruit and fresh fruit, oreillettes (sugar pastries) and fougasse.
Epiphany on 6 January is the day the three wise men arrived at the manger. The famous gateau des Rois with a santon inside can be found everywhere. Candlemas on 2 February, the end of the festivities, is celebrated with pancakes. |
Christmas in Cannes Cannes Christmas Village
The Christmas village - and the Christmas illuminations - is officially opened 30 November at 6pm. This is followed at 7pm by an ice show featuring Santa Claus. Ice skating at no charge is available for all until 10pm after the show. The fairground on the Pantiero opens the same day.
The Village chalets include ones selling mulled wine, champagne and seafood bars as well as stands selling everything for those special Christmas decorations and presents. Entrance this year is on rue Felix Faure, opposite Bella Storia restaurant. The 400 sq m ice rink is on Les Allees. The mornings are reserved for children aged 4-10 and it is free. Adults can take to the ice for three euros including skate hire from 12.30pm. Every Friday and Saturday there are special evenings including a Christmas party when Pere Noel arrives on 23 December. Special evening on ice for New Year's Eve. The rue d'Antibes is pedestrianised 2-6pm every Sunday in December, The Christmas parade takes place 3pm 24 December and a musical parade at 3pm 31 December. And the Cannes illuminated sign (think Hollywood)will be lit up again. Xmas Church Services
Notre Dame de Bonne Esperance, Le Suquet Hugely popular with locals and tourists, especially the Italians, are the provencal Christmas and New Year services at the church atop Le Suquet (see above). Get there early or prepare to stand or even have to go elsewhere if full. Christmas Eve at 9pm there is an enactment of the shepherd's story by the Provencal Academy. A real shepherd with a lamb leads the representatives of the villages around Cannes. Wearing traditional costumes, they bring to the child Jesus a selection of local treats. The choir sings Christmas carols in the Provencal language of the 17th century. This is followed by Midnight mass, at 10pm, during which the ladies of the academy knit a shawl for the first child born in Cannes after midnight. Do note that the creche/crib is not Provencal but a true nativity scene, known in France as a Sulpice creche. It is the largest in France at 6 x 4 meters. Put in one euro and it moves, lights up and plays music! It celebrates its centenary in 2020 and has been renovated. Can be seen 9 December to 7 February 9am to noon and 2-5pm. 
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Christmas in Le Cannet Town Hall - son et lumiere
Christmas market in the Tivoli gardens opens 6pm 14 December until 23rd. The son and lumiere on the facade of the town hall lights up at 6.30pm on Saturday 14 December. Father Xmas arrives and there will be fireworks and mulled wine to enjoy.
The Bonnard Museum has an exhibition Nudes in Orange. The Epiphany Concert is 5 January, St Philomene church at 3pm. There is a marvellous Provencal creche at the equally marvellous, and very old, St Catherine's Church - just off the Grande Bretagne roundabout. Open weekends 2-6pm till 22 December and every day from 24 December until 5 January. Remember in France Christmas is for family gatherings on Christmas Eve and Day.
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BOOK EARLY FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE
New Year's Eve the Continentals go out, party and go potty. So you need to book a restaurant asap to get a table on this special occasion. Prices are not cheap, I may add.
If dining at home. a seafood platter is a tradition but again order it well in advance.
Christmas in Mougins
The Christmas Fair in the old village has been cancelled for 2020.
The lights are switched on at 5.30pm and Father Xmas will be there. The creche in the Lavoir also opens (free). There is a concert every evening
The following day the Christmas market is open from 10am and in the evening there is a lantern (provided free) walk.
The lights are switched on at 5.30pm and Father Xmas will be there. The creche in the Lavoir also opens (free). There is a concert every evening
The following day the Christmas market is open from 10am and in the evening there is a lantern (provided free) walk.
Christmas Further Afield
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ANTIBES - The Christmas lights are switched on 29 November. Throughout the town there are concerts from 4-13 December. Events take place from 14 December until 5 January. There is a big wheel with terrific views, a giant carousel, a Xmas market and ice skating (you must wear gloves) in the Pre des Pecheurs all opening 14 December as well as the water display with music and lights takes place every 20 minutes at the Place des Martyrs.
Father Christmas arrives on skis - water skis of course - at Juan les Pins on 22 December at 10.30am. A farm with animals also opens that day. For New Year enjoy a concert
(11am & 4pm) and fireworks (6.30pm NY's Day) all in Juan.
See www.antibes-juanlespins.com for full details
CAGNES SUR MER - the winter horse racing season starts 30 November. Festive highlights include: 23, 24 December and New Year's Day. See www.hippodrome-cotedazur for full details and restaurant reservations. Entry is five euros and free for under 18s. Parking is free or you can take the train to Cagnes sur Mer and then a bus or cab to the course. There are restaurants and snack bars.
MOUANS SARTOUX - you can buy santons at the Santon Fair, La Strada library, av de Cannes, from 2pm daily 8 November- 24 December. It is the oldest and one of the most important santon fairs in the region. Take them home and create your own Provencal creche.
There is a Festival of Light on 7 December and you can collect your lantern from 7pm near the cinema and follow the marching band round the old town and drink hot chocolate as well as meeting Pere Noel. The Christmas market is on 8 December from 10am, the town's Xmas lights are switched on and is followed at 8.30pm by fireworks in the Chateau grounds.
THEOULE - take a Christmas stroll around the village from 7 December till 5 January between 10.30am and 5.30pm to discover large nativity scenes from around the world. The Santon fair in the Cultural Hall opens the same day: only open Wednesdays and weekends until 21 December when it opens every day. It is closed for lunch of course. There is also an animal farm. See www.theoule-sur-mer.org
ST RAPHAEL - the town has a terrific Christmas programme from 7 December to 5 January. The lights are switched on 7 Dec and you will find a Big Wheel, giant Xmas tree, ice rink and a Xmas market. The garden of lights opens 14 December. From 21 December head to the Basilique Notre Dame for son and lumiere, the creche and concerts. Father Xmas arrives 24 December with a Christmas Parade and fireworks.
On New Year's Eve there are DJs, musicians and fireworks.
See www.ville-saintraphael.fr
Best to go by train from Cannes - warning strikes threatened for December.
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2021
SKI SEASON
The ski resorts will be open but not the ski lifts in 2020
There are ski buses from Nice & Antibes to the resorts. Ask at the tourist office for details.
The ski resorts will be open but not the ski lifts in 2020
There are ski buses from Nice & Antibes to the resorts. Ask at the tourist office for details.