The clowns celebrate Christmas at Le Thor :
Spectacle for the children in the Village hall, then the Father Christmas, on his barouche, will distribute papillottes with the children then travelled to the White Lady. A fireworks will enclose this nice day.
December 20th


Palate of the Father Christmas at Martigues : A palate feeric for the children with spaces of video games and wood plays, childish make-up and creation, horse-gears, inflatable structures, sculptors of balloons and greedy corner
December 22th-24th

Nice :Luna Park
December 6th - January 4th 2009
Parc des Exposition (covered park)
Large ice rink (Forum Jacques Médecin)
The Phoenix Floral Park has also prepared activities for children from Dec 20th to Dec 28th.


Christmas show at Draguignan : Skating rink, spectacles, ambulation of troops of theatre in the streets, parades of clown, tales and legends, alive crib, puppet, market of Christmas ...ect
December 12th - January 4th


Danse and theater show by children of Cap d'Ail :
All the city celebrates Christmas at the Chateau Les Terraces, activities, barouche of the Father Christmas before the traditional buffet offered with 13 desserts and the mulled wine.
December 13th


Carros : Fairyhood of Christmas
Country cottages of wood with craftsmen and associations, Ponies, clowns, magic, puppets, brass band of Christmas, Christmas carols and arrival Father Christmas.
December 20th-23th

Arles : Drôles de Noël
Now showing : light show, puppet show, acrobatics, songs, entertainment, games, fireworks. 15 professional companies will offer more than 100 shows for children and all the family in 9 different places in Arles City. (free parking)
December 20th - 24th

Christmas of the children at Gassin
great festival with games, show at 3.00pm, events, farm animals, Christmas Father at 5.00pm, candies and firework.
December 20th

Exhibition of automats at Oraison
collection of Father Christmas, office and workshop of the Father Christmas (salle du Château)
December 2nd -January 4th


Menton celebrates mother goose: Mother goose that children kwows by heart will be the scenary and decorating of Christmas in the Biovès garden and in all the city ... magic and fairyhood with open sky!
December 12th - January 4th

White Christmas at Cavalaire
A fairyhood of animations for young and olds... sled trail, workshops creative, ponies, barouche, trial quad/moto, horse hiking on the beach ...
Rock Concert at 5.00pm on the beach accompanied by mulled wine
December 20th - January 4th

Parade with Santa Claus at La Ciotat :
Santa Claus with his friend the magician and the clown Sympatoche are waiting for the children to join the great parade with heroes and princess ... : whirligig, Christmas farm (Dec 13-21), fir tree forest, music, chocolate & mulled wine.
December 17th-24th

Festi Pitchouns at La Croix Valmer : with lots of games, shows, competitions and activities.
December 1st-30th

Christmas bears at Cassis : Magic show for children and great exhibition of Teddy bears. Christmas animations, with christmas father, of course ...
December 8th - January 4th


St Raphaël 12th Festival of light
 Festival of light in the whole town, numerous shows and enchanting events for young and old. Open air ice-rink (500m²) in the heart of the town. 6 parades light shows (13th, 20th, 24th, 25th and 31st Dec) ... the festival is imposing and... it is offered!!! That's Christmas !!!
December 13th - January 4th

Christmas at Cagnes :
Show for Children
December 21th and 30th
Christmas Farm and animation Dec 20th-24th(place de la Marine)
Ice rink December 13th-28th
Christmas mass for children (6pm), Christmas eve vigil with procession (9pm), midnight mass (10pm), living cribs and 13 desserts.
December 24 th


Arrival of the Christmas Father
At La Croix Valmer 23th at 6.00pm with elfs and mulled wine
At St Tropez 24th at 6.30pm from the sea (Quai Suffren).
At Cavalaire 24th at 3.00 pm
At Cagnes 24th (Cros de Cagnes)

Christmas in the Mountain :
Isola 2000 Christmas mass and songs in open air (6.00pm) - descent with the torch and arrival of the Father Christmas, hot chocolate and mulled wine.
December 24th 6.30 pm.
December 25th 6.00 pm : show for children (salle polyvalente)
Auron :arrival of the Father Christmas in the barouche escorted by the skiing instructors, candies for everybody, hot chocolate and mulled wine.
December 24th
Valberg :arrival of the Father Christmas
December 24th 6.00pm


Enchanted forest at Fréjus :
The enchanted forest will twinkle thanks to 640 fir trees, christmas market, whirligig (free). Ponies riding, street parades, concert, shows, It's magic.
December 5th - January 4th

Aubagne : Noël d'Argile
Santon-makers and ceramic artists present their latest works Esplanade De Gaulle.
November 25th - December 31th



Other santons fairs :
Mouans Sartoux :16 Nov-23 Dec
Marseille : 22 Nov-31 Dec (Allées de Meilhan).
Peillon : 22 Nov-14 Dec
Carqueiranne : 22 Nov-21 Dec
Toulon : 23 Nov-20 Dec
Ollioules : 23 Nov-28 Dec
La Valette : 27 Nov-23 Dec
Sollies Ville : 29 Nov-14 Dec
Aix en Provence : 30 Nov-31 Dec (V. Hugo).
Fréjus : 03-21 Dec
Chateaurenard : 05-07 Dec
Théoule sur Mer : 06 Dec-04 Jan
Callas : 06-14 Dec
Carpentras 06-24 Dec
Mandelieu : 12-22 Dec
La Cadière : 13-14 Dec
Draguignan : 13-14 Dec
La Garde Freinet : 13-31 Dec

Living Crib at Aubagne
with the Dansaïre de Garlaban :  Almost 60 characters liven up the town, forming a dancing and singing crib. A real show that brings to life scenes from the "pastorale*".
December 20th (16h30)

The santon Crib Trail at Aubagne
Take a walk in the city and you’ll discover more than 600 cribs or santons, hand made by artist Santon-makers in window of numerous shops. RV on the cours Foch for panoramic crib. Don't miss the collection «René Pesante» with more 400 santons & cribs ( Ateliers Thérèse-Neveu)
November 21th - January 5th


Crib of the Petite Provence in Le Paradou : Reconstitution of a village of Provence like it use to be with scenes of everydaylife (open all the year)



Provençal Crib at Allauch
this is the 31th birthday of the crib Gilbert Orsini. 450 animated santons in an area of 120 m² combine modernity and tradition to display the history and costumes of Provence, in a cascade of light ...
November 29th - January 25th

Santons procession at La Cadière and living crib (2.30 pm), farandole, arrival of the Christmas father (3.00 pm) and then 13 desserts with mulled wine
December 21th

20 cribs from throughout the world at Berre l'Etang :
Pérou, Kénya, Mexique, Equateur,...
December 1st to January 3rd

11th nativity scene circuit at Luceram
400 nativity scenes will be on display in the streets and cellars of the medieval town, as well as in the churches, chapels, museums and picturesque sites in surrounding areas. A sign-posted circuit enables visitors (almost 30,000 last year) to discover traditional, original and totally unexpected nativity scenes.
December 6th - January 11th


The Crib Trail in the Forcalquier through 13 villages in the area including Dauphin, Banon, Lurs, Mane, Reillanne, Montlaux, Pierrerue ... some have classified santons as historic monuments.
December 15th - February 1st

Traditional crib in Les Baux de Provence
Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs
December 12th -January 4th

Santons valley in la Roya
Exhibition of 300 cribs in 5 villages : Breil, Fontan, Saorge, La Brigue et Tende.
December 13th to January 10th



The Provence of Christmas in Ramatuelle :
numerous cribs from many different places await discovery during a walk through the village
December 13th - January 9th


Living crib and christmas farm in Nice
“Lou Présepi” welcome from 10am to 5pm animals from the farm, then from 5pm to 8pm, living crib with santons, songs, tales christmas music- Place Rossetti
December 23th - 28th

Christmas traditions

Avignon Christmas Market opens the Christmas festivities in the Place de l'Horloge where more than 40 artisans propose santons, Provençal fabrics, pottery, art handicrafts, Christmas decorations and also fine wines, foie gras, etc.
December 2nd - 30th


The Little Market for the Gros Souper (Big Supper) at St Rémy
All the products needed for the Gros Souper (traditional Provençal supper for the Christmas vigil) and the 13 desserts... as well as art handicrafts for the last decoration presents, and all in a warm, friendly atmosphere (Place de la Mairie)
December 19th-21th

Market for the 13 desserts at Aix
December 15th - 24th (place Jeanne d'Arc)

Provençal Christmas Fair at Auriol in the streets of the village, with reconstitution of old trades, local produce, crib competitions, 13 desserts, open days at the olive oil mill.
December 13th -14th

Cassis : White Christmas Market
local products, including the Gros Souper and the famous 13 desserts, santons, cribs and idear for gifts, with music and mulled wine... ...without forgetting the Father Christmas
December 5th -14th
...and to stretch your legs ... ice rink on the beach : Dec 6th - Jan 4th


La Seyne sur Mer
Tales and traditions of Christmas, santons fairs, Living crib, folk dances, market of Christmas, craft of Provence, literature of Provence.
Nov 29th - December 23th

Other Christmas markets :

Bouches du Rhône :
Aix : 3-31 Dec (Cours Mirabeau)
Châteaurenard, Eyguières : 5-7 Dec
La Ciotat : 12-14 Dec
Allauch, Auriol : 13-14 Dec
Aubagne, Graveson : 13-14 Dec


Var :
Fréjus : 5 Dec-4 Jan
Toulon : 6 Dec-4 Jan
Figanières,Six Fours, Garéoult : 7 Dec
La Cadière : 13-14 Dec
Ste Maxime : 13-31 Dec
Entrecasteaux, Lorgues, Bras : 14 Dec
Bargemon : 18-21 Dec
Cotignac, Néoules : 21 Dec


Vaucluse :
Althen : 5-7 Dec
Monteux, Lauris : 6-7 Dec
Villars : 6-14 Dec
Carpentras : 6-24 Dec
Cadenet, Mondragon, Piolenc : 7 Dec
Vedene : 12-14 Dec
Le Thor, Mirabeau, Rasteau: 13 Dec
Bollène, Valréas :13-14 Dec
Orange : 13-24 Dec
Les Taillades, Puyméras, Vacqueyras : 14 Dec
Apt : 15-21 Dec
Gordes :15Dec-6 Jan
Sorgues : 22-23 Dec

Alpes Haute Provence :
Banon : 7 Dec
Sisteron : 19 - 21 Dec
Digne : 20-24 Dec
Annot : 23 Dec


Alpes Maritimes :
Cannes : 1er Dec-4 Jan
Cabris : 6 Dec
Le Broc, Gattières : 6-7 Dec
Nice : 6 Dec-4 Jan
Bouyon, Auribeau : 7 Dec
Mouans Sartoux, Roquebilière : 7 Dec
Villeneuve Loubet, Le Rouret : 7 Dec
Menton : 12 Dec-4 Jan
Carros : 13-14 Dec
Le Cannet : 13, 19 & 20 Dec
Cagnes : 13- 21 Dec
Grasse : 13-24 Dec
La Turbie, Pégomas : 14 Dec
Luceram : : 14 & 21 Dec
St Paul, Mougins : 19-21 Dec
Sospel, St Cézaire : 20 Dec
Auron 20 Dec-4 Jan
Opio : 21 Dec
Valbonne : 22-24 Dec


Christmas Village
Monaco : 5 Dec-4 Jan
Cannes : 29 Nov-4 Jan
La Garde : 5-31 Dec
Villeneuve Loubet : 1-24 Dec
Brignoles : 13-27 Dec
St Raphaël : 13-28 Dec
Martigues : 5-24 Dec
St Tropez : 6 Dec-5 Jan
Ste Maxime : 15 Dec-6 Jan
Nice : 6 Dec-4 Jan  (Forum Masséna)


Christmas traditions

"Pastrage*" Ceremony in Allauch

Provençal vigil and Gregorian chants in Gordes

Tarascon Abbey of Frigolet : at 9.30 pm Christmas vigils are sung, at 11 pm vigil with organs and songs, at midnight, mass with "pastrage" ceremony and traditional costumes.
December 24th - 25th

* "Pastrage" is a ceremony in which the church bells invite the shepherds and their sheep to enter the church with offerings for the baby Jesus. There are various variations on this theme in the different villages.

Christmas traditions

Cocktail of "Pastorales" :
Theatre performances in Provençal, with songs, telling the story of the Nativity at :l :

14 Dec : Martigues & Six Fours
20 Dec : Gardanne
21 Dec : St Tropez
26-27 Dec : Barbentane
24 Dec : Salon de Provence
28 Dec : Marseille

The Maurel Nativity is a theatre play entirely in provençal. Written in 1844, it has always drawn large crowds playing to packed houses. Almost always presented by passionate amateur thespians.

January :

Eguilles : 10 Jan
Carpentras : 3, 4, 10, 11, 18 Jan
Allauch : 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 31 Jan
Marseille : 4, 11, 18, 25, 31 Jan
Châteaurenard : 4 Jan
Aix & Martigues: 18, 24 Jan

Christmas traditions

St Raphaël: Festival of Light" with shows and parades by the finest street theatre groups in France. 11.00 pm Spectacle of pyrotechny associated with a spectacular setting (Promenade des Bains)

St Tropez : Fireworks at midnight from the Port

All set for the truffle season! 
The markets are open from November to March (mornings):
Apt : Saturday
Carpentras : Friday
Richerenches : Saturday
Valréas : Wednesday
Aups : Thursday (from Dec 13th)

"Truffles & gastronomie"
special market at Rognes
December 21th

Gourmet & wine Fair at Aubagne
December 13th-14th


Olive Oil Festival on Aix en ProvenceOrganized by Trade union AOC Olive oil of Aix : activities, tastings of various olive oil savours as well as many product from the traditional olive growing production. (place Jeanne d'Arc)
December 13th-14th

New Olive Oil Festival from the Baux valley :
Mouries: December 6th-7th

Fête of the shepherds in Istres During one week, Istres joins again with the traditions of Provence by organizing various events associated with its ancestral habits. The visitors can attend with taken care of the shepherds, the contest of sheepdogs, the procession of transhumance and other folk spectacles before losing itself in the stands of the artisanal fair. From Nov 28th to Dec 7th

Les Baux Provence
...hurry, hurry, these will be the last few days of the Cathedral of Images show presenting Van Gogh ...grandiose!
Untill January 4th

Expo Van Gogh/Monticelli at Marseille

The exhibition proposes to show side by side subjects treated by both artists in order to highlight their vision of painting, their shared taste for texture and the primacy of feelings and emotion over design.
Centre de la Vieille Charité - 13002
Untill 11 January 11 th


Brrrr...Christmas Dip !!!
7 Dec : Cagnes (RV sailing school Cros de Cagnes 10am).
21 Dec : Nice (Rhul Plage 8am to12.00).
21 Dec : la Seyne sur Mer 10am awards of diplomas and prizesth at Plage des Sablettes.
24 Dec : Roquebrune Cap Martin (Plage du Solenzara).
31 Dec : Ste Maxime 10am mulled wine and surprises after the swimming

Christmas traditions