Christmas in Cannes
CHRISTMAS IN CANNES 2022 - 2023
Stay tuned for further updates as we receive them.
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 just a flavour of events. In Cannes there are free
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Projected illuminations can be seen throughout Cannes 
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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 lights - is officially opened 27 November at 6pm. This is followed by an ice 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. 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 1pm. You must wear gloves - not provided - so remember to take a pair. A Christmas party when Pere Noel arrives takes place on 20 December. There are parades on 4/11/28th from 5pm and the Christmas Parade takes place on 24 December. 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. 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 lights switched on at 5pm on 5 December at Rocheville. Christmas market in the Tivoli gardens opens 6pm December until . The son and lumiere on the facade of the town hall lights up at 6.30pm on Saturday December. Father Xmas arrives and there will be fireworks and mulled wine to enjoy.
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. 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 lights are switched on in the old village at 5.30pm 6 December and Father Xmas will be there. The creche in the Lavoir also opens (free). There will be hot chocolate for the children and vin chaud for the adults.
The Christmas market takes place 11 and 12th and is open from 10am till 6pm. The MACM museum is open at the special price of five euros and free for children on these days. At 5pm on 11th there is a lantern (provided free) walk.
The Christmas market takes place 11 and 12th and is open from 10am till 6pm. The MACM museum is open at the special price of five euros and free for children on these days. At 5pm on 11th there is a lantern (provided free) walk.
Christmas Further Afield
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ANTIBES - The Christmas lights are switched on 26 November till 3 January. Throughout the town there are concerts, theatre, exhibitions and workshops. The Christmas village with the big wheel opens 11 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 on 11 and 26 December 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 18 December with an ice show at 5.45pm. 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 18 December. Father Christmas arrives on skis - water skis of course - at Juan les Pins on 22 December at 10.30am For New Year enjoy an afternoon concert and fireworks (6.30pm).
See www.antibes-juanlespins.com for full details
CAGNES SUR MER - the winter horse racing season starts 3 December till 13 March. Festive highlights include: 23/25/26 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 - best to book - and snack bars.
MOUANS SARTOUX - you can buy santons at the Santon Fair, La Strada library, av de Cannes, from 2pm daily 5 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 4 December from 7.30pm (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 and then watch the fireworks.
THEOULE - take a Christmas stroll around the village from 4 December till 8 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. It is closed for lunch of course. Xmas market on the 18th from 11am. Jazz in the streets and a parade on 22nd. On 8 January it is the Parade of Kings at 3.30pm and fireworks at 6pm.
See www.theoule-sur-mer.org
ST RAPHAEL - the town has a terrific Christmas programme from 4 December to 2 January. The lights are switched on 11 Dec and you will find a Big Wheel, giant Xmas tree, ice rink and a Xmas market. On 16 and 18 December head to the Basilique Notre Dame for 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 2022
SKI SEASON
The ski resorts open in December 2022
There are ski buses from Nice & Antibes to the resorts. Ask at the tourist office for details.
The ski resorts open in December 2022
There are ski buses from Nice & Antibes to the resorts. Ask at the tourist office for details.