Christmas in Cannes
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CHRISTMAS IN CANNES 2023
Santa's French sorting office, manned by 60 elves, has opened. Children can write in French or English to Father Christmas either by normal post - no stamp needed - or electronically on www.pere-noel.laposte.fr Every child will receive a letter from Santa Claus, accompanied by a colouring postcard, so remember to put the address on the envelope.
Deadline is 20 December.
NEW YEAR'S EVE MIDNIGHT FIREWORKS
2023 theme: Charlie Chaplin
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.
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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 just a flavour of events.
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Creche at St Catherine's Church,
Le Cannet
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In Cannes there are free seasonal creches/cribs to see in the Christmas Village and Moulin Forville. There is a competition for the best illuminated outdoor space: from a balcony to a facade or a garden. La Bocca has its own programme of events. |
Christmas in Cannes Cannes Christmas Village
The Christmas village, fairground and ice rink officially open 2 December. The bandstand this year has a giant ball plus plus. The village is open until 7 January from 11am till 9pm and 10pm at weekends. Food stalls and lots of gift ideas in the 46 chalets not forgetting Santa's. The Village chalets include ones selling mulled wine, champagne and seafood bars. The fairground is open on the Pantiero and has 59 attractions. Opens 4 -9pm weekdays and until 9pm weekends. From 22 Dec to 7 Jan it opens 4 - 11pm daily. The 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 (45 minute sessions) including skate hire from 1pm. You must wear gloves - not provided - so remember to take a pair. New this year are ice hockey matches. The Christmas parade is on 23 December leaving Felix Faure at 5.30pm. Santa, his elves, musicians, floats are on parade. The rue d'Antibes is pedestrianised 2-7pm every weekend in December and there are carols on the rue Meynadier those days too. 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. Christmas Day service at 11am 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 celebrated 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 festivities start 15 December with the Xmas market in the Tivoli Gardens which is open all weekend until end of Sunday 17 December. The Christmas lights are switched on in Place Foch, Rocheville, also on 15 December. The spectacular son and lumiere on the facade of the town hall takes place on 16 December 6pm. The Xmas parade and arrival of Santa also takes place this evening. . The Bonnard Museum has an exhibition. The Epiphany Concert is 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.
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Christmas in Mougins
The lights are switched on in the old village at 6pm 1 December and the Maison de Noel will be in the old village till 7 January. The wonderful creche in the Lavoir is also open (free). There will be hot chocolate for the children and vin chaud for the adults. There will be ice skating and a visit by father Christmas.
The Christmas market takes place 8-10 December and is open from 10am till 6pm. The '13 desserts and gospel' takes place on 22 December from 3.30pm.
The Christmas market takes place 8-10 December and is open from 10am till 6pm. The '13 desserts and gospel' takes place on 22 December from 3.30pm.
Christmas Further Afield
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ANTIBES - The Christmas lights are switched on 1 December till 7 January. Throughout the town there are concerts, theatre, exhibitions and workshops. The Christmas village with the big wheel opens 16 December on the Esplanade. The water display with music and lights takes place every 20 minutes from 5.30 to 7.30pm at the Place des Martyrs. There are parades plus children's rides at the Place Nationale and family rides at Place de Gaulle.
In the Pinede at Juan les Pins an ice rink opens 22 December. The rink is open to all - three euros for adults - and everyone must wear gloves. Closes 8pm and 9.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays. There is a children's animal farm and a parade on 22 Dec at 5pm. Father Christmas arrives on skis - water skis of course - at Juan les Pins on 20 December at 10.30am For New Year enjoy an afternoon concert and fireworks (6.00pm).
See www.antibes-juanlespins.com for full details;
www.antibesjuanlespins.com/sites/antibes/files/brochures/files/programme_noel_web.pdf
CAGNES SUR MER - the winter horse racing season starts 4 December till 10 March, 2023/4. Festive highlights include: 16 December Christmas Sweater day - free entry if wearing one; 23rd, Christmas Fete - lots of activities for the kids and free entry if wearing a Xmas hat. The main steeple chasing event is 7 January, 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 taxi to the course. There are restaurants - best to book - and snack bars.
MOUANS SARTOUX - you can buy santons at the Santon Fair, La Strada library, av de Cannes, from 2 - 6pm daily 15 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 9 December from 7.00pm (you can collect your lantern from behind the cinema, 1euro) and follow the marching band round the old town and drink hot chocolate as well as meeting Pere Noel and then watch the fireworks at 8.30pm. The Christmas market takes place 10 December 10am-6pm.
Full details: mouans-sartoux.net/agenda
THEOULE - take a Christmas stroll around the village from 9 December till 31 December to discover nativity scenes from around the world. The Santon fair in the Cultural Hall is also open the same period between 10 -12 noon and 2-5.30pm. Santa's house is open 16/17 December and there is a white magic Christmas parade on 20 December. The Balade de Noel takes place 27 December. See www.theoule-sur-mer.org
ST RAPHAEL - the town has a terrific Christmas programme to January. You will find a Big Wheel, giant Xmas tree, ice rink and a Xmas market. At the Basilique Notre Dame there is son and lumiere, the creche and concerts. Father Xmas arrives at 5.30pm at old port 24 December with a Christmas Parade and fireworks at 5.30pm.
On New Year's Eve from 8 to 9.30pm there are DJs, musicians and fireworks(7pm).
See www.ville-saintraphael.fr
Best to go by train from Cannes
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2024
SKI SEASON
The ski resorts open in December 2023
There are ski buses from Nice & Antibes to the resorts. Ask at the tourist office for details.
The ski resorts open in December 2023
There are ski buses from Nice & Antibes to the resorts. Ask at the tourist office for details.
