Paris in December – what’s on this festive season?
“Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house. Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse…”
On the contrary, Paris in December is buzzing with festivities, activities and events! Christmas and the New Year are approaching and the City of Light, adorned with magnificent lights and decorations, is the perfect place to feel the spirit of the festive season.
So get ready because “Santa Claus is coming to town” and there are many great events for you to check out before his arrival!
The team at MyFrenchLife™ wishes you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
A Disney Christmas
What’s more magical than celebrating the festive season at Disneyland? Paris in December brings Christmas to life with the help of Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy and more of your favourite Disney characters. Disneyland isn’t just for children; there is something for all ages to enjoy this Christmas at Disneyland.
See the Disney stars and Santa himself parade down the streets in the ‘Disneyland Paris Christmas Parade’. If you love Christmas carols, join Mickey and his clan for ‘Mickey’s Magical Christmas Lights’ under the giant Christmas tree illuminated with thousands of twinkling lights. Or for any ‘Frozen’ fans, enjoy a spectacular ‘Frozen themed’ Christmas fireworks, water and lights show!
Disneyland Paris knows how to enjoy Christmas and you’ll leave feeling merrier than ever.
When: from 11 November – 25 December 2016Where: Disneyland Paris, 77777 Marne-la-Vallée. See here.
Skate your way into the New Year
The best way to keep warm this winter is to be active! Ice skating is great exercise as well as a lot of fun – and if you’re not the best skater, many falls and much laughter is a sure thing! Paris in December sets up ice rinks all over the city – entrance and skate rental is only around 5 euros.
Ice skating is a great activity to get you out of the house this winter and share the Christmas spirit with others. And even if ice skating is not for you, merely watching people glide around the rinks is a beautiful site.
When: December 2016Where: multiple venues around Paris. See here.
Paris in December: Christmas markets
It wouldn’t be Paris in December without Christmas markets, and there are plenty of them! Indulge in traditional Christmas foods, holiday treats and vin chaud. Find some great new Christmas decorations or ornaments for the tree, as well as great gift ideas for friends and family this Christmas.
The Paris Christmas markets are a great way to soak up the Christmas atmosphere and discover traditional French Christmas foods and drinks. The Christmas market at La Défense is one of the most beautiful, surrounded by illuminated buildings in the evenings. The Christmas market on the Champs-Elysées offers a variety of crafts and foods from various French regions, and the Montparnasse markets specialises in local produce.
See here for a full list of the Christmas markets this year in Paris and most importantly, enjoy!
When: December 2016Where: multiple venues around Paris. See here.
The best kind of window shopping
Each year Parisian department stores such as Printemps Haussmann, Galeries Lafayette and Le Bon Marché decorate their windows with the most stunning displays. Filled with Christmas trees, winter wonderlands and our favourite Christmas characters, these windows are not to be missed.
These free window displays are the motivation you need to take a stroll on a cold winter’s night in Paris in December. So grab your gloves, beanies and scarves, buy yourself a warm cup of hot chocolate or mulled wine, and marvel in these spectacular and creative Christmas displays.
When: from November 2016 – early January 2017.Where: all over Paris. See here for more information.
Bring in the New Year on the Champs-Elysées
Enough about Christmas, what about New Year’s Eve in Paris? There are many options for spending your New Years in Paris from restaurants to cruises to clubs, but why not bring in the New Year on the Champs-Elysées where hundreds of thousands of people will gather for a video show projected on the Arc de Triomphe?
From 11.30pm to 11.50pm this special video show will light up the Arc de Triomphe in an array of colours, images and patterns. A spectacular site to see! The atmosphere along the Champs-Elysées will be electric with people of all ages celebrating the final eve of 2016!
A picnic along La Seine with a few glasses of bubbly, followed by a fabulous light show on Paris’s most renowned street seems the perfect ending to 2016!
When: 31 December 2016Where: Arc de Triomphe, Place Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris
Métro: George V
Roméo et Juliette
When you’ve finally had your Christmas fix, here’s a non-Christmas related event for you. The Théâtre National de Chaillot presents one of Angelin Preljocaj’s most beautiful ballets: Roméo et Juliette.
The ballet follows Shakespeare’s original plot of two rival families, and two star-crossed lovers with an added twist which enhances the ballet while keeping the traditional romance. With magnificent set design, costumes and 24 talented dancers, this show is sure to please.
When: 16 – 24 December 2016.Where: Théâtre National de Chaillot, 1 place du Trocadéro, 75116 Paris
Métro: Trocadéro
What do you have planned for the festive season? What are your favourite Christmas traditions? Share what you love about the festive season with us in the comments below!
Image credits:
1. ‘Christmas Tree at Galeries LaFayette’, colorsoftimeless, via flickr.
2. ‘Magic Kingdom – Mickey, Minnie and Duffy Christmas’, Jeff Krause via flickr.
3. ‘Eiffel Tower Skating’, Caravanum via flickr.
4. ‘Le marché de Noël européen au Trocadéro’, Jean-Pierre Dalbéra via wikimedia commons.
5. ‘Galerie Lafayette – Christmas decoration 2014’, Theud-Bald via wikimedia commons.
6. ‘Happy New Year From Paris With Love’, Falcon photography via flickr.
7. ‘Romeo et Juliette’, RUBIGO via vimeo.
About the Contributor
Judy MacMahon
