Christmas in Cannes 2018
NEW YEAR'S EVE AT 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.
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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 1 December 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 Le Pistou restaurant. 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 will be on show again. There is an ice rink, 400 sq m, 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. 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 is not Provencal but a true nativity scene, known in France as a Sulpice creche. It is the largest in France. Put in one euro and it lights up! Can be seen 9 December to 7 February. Christmas Day service at 11am &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Christmas Concert at the church takes place at 3pm 16 December featuring a choir of 60 voices: 10 euros. There is a magnificent display of Provencal creches at the St Cassien chapel every Sunday in December 2-5pm. On 16 December at 4pm you can take your santons to be blessed. The chapel can be found near the private airport at La Bocca. 
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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 15 December. Father Xmas arrives and there will be fireworks and mulled wine to enjoy.
The Bonnard Museum has an exhibition Bonnard in Black & Colour and there is naive art by Charlotte Julian inside the Mairie. The Epiphany Concert is 6 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 (including 24/25/28 December & 1/4 January) until 6 January.
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NEW YEAR CRAZY
The celebrated Paris cabaret, Crazy Horse, is at the Palais des Festivals 29,30,31 December
and 1 January
Vietnamese Circus - actually acrobats - at the Palasi 22/23 December
Tickets for all shows can be obtained from the Tourist Office at the Palais and FNAC on the rue d'Antibes
The celebrated Paris cabaret, Crazy Horse, is at the Palais des Festivals 29,30,31 December
and 1 January
Vietnamese Circus - actually acrobats - at the Palasi 22/23 December
Tickets for all shows can be obtained from the Tourist Office at the Palais and FNAC on the rue d'Antibes
Christmas Lights in Mougins
The Christmas Fair takes place 7-9 December in the old village and Father Xmas will be there. The creche in the Lavoir also opens (free). There will be carols and mulled wine as well as pony and trap rides
The ice rink will be operating. There will also be live music, food trucks, workshops and lots of fun for all.
The ice rink will be operating. There will also be live music, food trucks, workshops and lots of fun for all.
Christmas Further Afield
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ANTIBES - Events take place from 1 December until 6 January. There is a big wheel with terrific views, a giant carousel, a Xmas market and ice skating for children in the Pre des Pecheurs. There are chalets and special light shows to be found throughout the town. On 14 December at 5.30pm you can float off into the Med your lanterns to the sound of fishermen's songs. This is followed by an ice show On 16 December a giant yule log cake will be distributed to the public with hot drinks.
Father Christmas arrives on skis - water skis of course - at Juan les Pins on 23 December at 10.30am. There is a farm with animals 22-30 December. For New Year enjoy a concert (11am & 4pm) and fireworks (6.30pm NY's Day) also in Juan, See www,antibes-juanlespins.com for full details
CAGNES SUR MER - the winter horse racing season starts 1 December. Festive highlights include: Christmas Eve; Boxing Day; 27 December; New Year's Eve; 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 at La Strada library, av de Cannes, from 2pm daily. Take them home and create your own Provencal creche. The Christmas market is on December
THEOULE - take a Christmas stroll around the village from 8 December until 6 January between 10.30am and 5.30pm to discover nativity scenes from around the world. The santon fair in the cultural hall opens the same day. There is a full programme of events into January so see www.theoule-sur-mer,org
ST RAPHAEL - the town has a terrific Christmas programme from 8 December until 7 January. There is also a light show at the old port and a big wheel (4 euros) on the prom. Other events include the Xmas market, the lighting of the tree 8 December at 6.30pm. At the Basilique are creches (9am to 6pm). The son et lumiere on the facade takes place 22,27,28 December and 2/3 January with three showings from 6,30pm each lasting 15 minutes. Father Xmas arrives 24 December at 5.30 with fireworks at 6.30pm There is a fabulous show in Jardin Bonaparte of light sculptures from 22 December to 7 January 9am till 8pm. See www.noel-saintraphael.fr
Best to go by train from Cannes.
SKI SEASON
opens 1 December 2018
There are ski buses from Nice & Antibes to the resorts. Ask at the tourist office for details.
opens 1 December 2018
There are ski buses from Nice & Antibes to the resorts. Ask at the tourist office for details.