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The winter season in France is sparkling with festive events. From the end of November to early January, Christmas markets are held across the whole country. In February and March, it’s carnival season. And there’s loads more going on – find out what’s on in France winter 2025-2026:
National Events in Winter
25 December – Christmas Day is a national holiday.
31 December – The Réveillon de la Saint Sylvestre – as the French call New Year’s Eve, named after the 33rd Pope of Rome, and his feast day. The French tend to celebrate it with a lavish feast of fabulous food at home with friends and family or in a favourite restaurant, parties are held at town halls and salles des fêtes, and events with fireworks are popular. In Paris, thousands of revellers head to the hotspots of Montmartre or to the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe, and there is music and dancing on the streets! At midnight, it’s time to wish everyone bonne année and lovers kiss under the mistletoe.
1 January – New Year’s Day is a public holiday. It’s a growing tradition to brave the cold weather and ‘enjoy’ a dip in the sea, often in fancy dress costumes. From some 2000 bathers in Dinard in Brittany, to several thousand in Dunkerque in the far north braving the cool waters of the English Channel, daring to take the new year plunge is becoming more and more popular!
6 January – La Fête des Rois. It’s traditional to eat a special cake called the Galette des Rois on this day (read more about it here). You’ll see these delicious cakes in every patisserie in France. Traditionally a ‘fêve’, a little figurine lucky charm is hidden inside the puff pastry stuffed with frangipane, and the person who finds it in their slice of cake is crowned king or queen for a day! If you want to make one at home, here’s a recipe for Galette des Rois
14 February – St Valentine’s Day
Christmas markets and festive events
Photo: Christmas decor the Chateau of Amboise, Loire Valley
Discover loads of information about the Christmas markets, Christmas lights, events and festive food in our Ultimate Guide to Christmas in France on The Good Life France website: thegoodlifefrance.com/ultimateguidetochristmasinfrance
Enjoy our podcast about Christmas in France!
What’s on
Festival of Lights, Lyon
5-8 December 2025
For four days each December, Lyon sparkles during the Fete des Lumières, the largest lights festival in the country. The event pays homage to a time in the 17th century when plague was rampant in France and on orders of the municipal council, a procession climbed the hill to the Cathedral of Lyon by candlelight to pray to the Virgin Mary for salvation. Lyon was spared and it became customary for residents to light candles in their windows once a year to celebrate their salvation. Nowadays it’s a huge luminous celebration of art and light, with stalls selling hot wine and roasted chestnuts, plus restaurants offer special menus and special deals during the festival.
Richerenches Truffle Festival, Provence
Mid-November 2025 – mid-March 2026
Truffle markets take place alongside the weekly market each Saturday morning in the medieval town of Richerenches, Vaucluse. Expect to indulge in truffle flavoured gourmet specialities. Take home a couple of truffles, you can get them at a good price at the market.
Festival des Dindes, Licques
13-14 December 2025
A fun and quirky festival where turkeys are celebrated. Held over a weekend, there’s a gastronomic fair with wine tasting and food for all your Christmas luxuries. Then on Sunday morning, sip the local liqueur, which is heated in a huge cauldron, as a gaggle of gobbling turkeys are released to “rampage” through the streets accompanied by local brotherhoods and dignitaries in all their festive finery. In the afternoon there’s a tented lunch and tea dance attended by hundreds! paysdopale.fr
Epernay – Habits de Lumière, Champagne
12-14 December 2025
The famous Champagne city of Épernay, celebrates the gastronomic heritage of the region with a vibrant fete, the Habits de Lumière. For three days, the city is lit up and there are lots of activities on offer, including pop up Champagne bars, firework displays and a big street parade on Avenue de Champagne, exhibitions, musical entertainment, cellar tours and a whole host of shows for children and adults. On the Sunday morning there is a parade of several hundred collector’s cars, and in the afternoon, there is a special tea party for children.
Carnival de Limoux, Aude
19 January – 30 March 2025
This is the oldest carnival in France – it’s been held for around 700 years! Taking place at a town 30km from Carcassonne, each weekend the carnival features masked dancers and performers and a parade. Read more about it here: thegoodlifefrance.com/limoux-carnival
La Chandeleur – Pancake Day in France
2 February 2025
La Chandeleur or Crêpe Day is the day in France when people traditionally eat crêpes and drink cider! Here’s how to make the perfect French pancake/crêpe.
Festival of Violets, Tourrettes-sur-Loup
1-2 March 2025
In the Alpes-Maritime department, the lovely village of Tourettes-sur-Loup holds an annual violet festival the first weekend of March, with farmers markets and a violet parade with a battle of the flowers, a truly fragrant festival! tourrettessurloup.com
Coming up
Spring starts 20 March, 2026 – don’t miss the spring issue of The Good Life France Magazine – subscribe here for free: thegoodlifefrance.com/magazine-subscribe
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