Christmas in Villefranche-sur-Mer

A magical Christmas Village in Villefranche-sur-Mer

Located right in the town centre, the Villefranche-sur-Mer Christmas Village will take young and old into an enchanted world from Saturday 6 December 2025 to Sunday 4 January 2026.

At the heart of the event is a 300m² natural ice rink open every day from 2pm to 7.30pm (from 6 December to Tuesday 4 January 2025), with exceptional closures on 25 December and 1 January, and special opening times on 24 and 31 December (2pm-5.30pm). The ticket price is €6 for all visitors, payable by credit card on site or by booking online.

Around the ice cream, the Christmas Village comes alive with rides, strolls, gourmet chalets, markets and illuminated decorations, for a magical Christmas in Villefranche-sur-Mer at the pace of families.

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Christmas activities and highlights

Children and adults alike can enjoy a lively Christmas in Villefranche-sur-Mer, with a host of activities.

Father Christmas on a motorbike will be on parade on Saturday 13 December at 5.45pm in Rue Nationale with the Bycoeurs Child Safe association, which will also be running a tattoo and make-up stand from 4pm to 5.30pm in front of the Jardin Sud at the Hôtel de Ville.
Pony rides take place from 2pm to 6.30pm on 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26 and 27 December, and on 24 December from 2pm to 5.30pm (€4 a ride, €10 for 3 rides). The trampoline is open every day from 2pm to 7pm (closed on 25 December and 1 January) – €5 a ride for children aged 3 and over – while the carousel welcomes families every day from 10am to 7pm (closed on 25 December and 1 January) – €2 a ride, €5 for 3 rides, €10 for 6 rides.
Santa’s Chalet in Villefranche-sur-Mer, in the Jardins Sud of the Town Hall, is open to children on Wednesdays 10 and 17 December from 3pm to 5pm, on 13, 14, 20 and 21 December from 3pm to 6pm, on 22 and 23 December from 3pm to 6pm, and on 24 December from 2pm to 5pm.

Markets, tales and delicacies

The Arts and Crafts Market takes place on Place des Arts from Friday 19 to Sunday 21 December, from 9am to 7.30pm, with local craftspeople and producers. The Solidarity Market with Agivr will be taking place in the Galerie Municipale from Friday 5 to Sunday 14 December, every day from 10am to 6.30pm, and from 10am to 12pm on Sundays 7 and 14 December, for an inclusive and solidarity-based trail between the Galerie and Place des Arts. The Bühl Twinning Committee will be serving up German specialities (linzertorte, bédélés, etc.) on Saturday 13 December from 10am to 6.30pm.

The Chalet gourmand will be open from 2pm to 7pm on 6, 7, 13 and 14 December, and again from 19 to 29 December, offering crêpes, waffles, candyfloss, hot chocolate, hot dogs, churros, etc. (closed on 25 December). There will also be a chestnut sale from Monday 23 to Sunday 29 December, except 25 December.

To add to the warm atmosphere, Christmas tales will be read at the Kiosk, Place des Arts, by the association Les Fygues à Vériel, on Saturday 13, Saturday 20 and Monday 22 December from 4pm to 5.30pm, free of charge.

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The magic of lights and the Christmas spirit

Throughout the year, Villefranche-sur-Mer lights up for Christmas: ornaments on flagpoles, street crossings, colourful projections on Rue Nationale, which is decked out in a luminous “coat of rays”. 3D light displays (a penguin, a rocking horse, a giant gift packet, a bear, a deer, a sleigh, etc.) have been installed in Rue Nationale, Place des Arts and the Rond des Chantiers, along with Christmas trees decorated by the Service des Espaces Verts. The majestic Santa Claus is enthroned in the South Gardens of the Town Hall, next to his letterbox where young and old can leave their wishes.

Villefranche-sur-Mer is committed to a low-energy approach, with 100% LED decorations and the lights going out at 11pm every evening.

Christmas Bath and Christmas in the Quartier Saint-Michel

Sunday 21 December 2025 – 11am: Christmas Bath; 3.30pm: Christmas in the Quartier Saint-Michel

On Sunday 21 December 2025, Villefranche-sur-Mer is offering an unusual Christmas with the traditional Christmas Bath on Plage des Marinières.

At 11am, brave souls can immerse themselves in the fresh Mediterranean water, a local tradition full of merriment. In the afternoon, at 3.30pm, the festivities continue with“Christmas in the Quartier Saint-Michel“.

This family-friendly event includes decorating the Christmas tree, a mass in the Chapelle Saint-Grat, and a torch-lit procession that brings the day to a close in a spiritual and convivial atmosphere.

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Responsible Christmas
& practical information

With Opération Récup’Sapins, the local authority is inviting people to hand in their used Christmas trees at various points around the town:

Place des Arts,
Place Claude-Bernard,
Place de la Libération,
Place Laurent-Bonnevay,
Place Ferdinand-Buisson,
rue Rouget-de-l’Isle,
Jardin de Schkeuditz.

The trees are then recycled as mulch for local flower beds. 2024/2025 record: 1,342 trees, or 6,360 kg collected.
To make it easier to get to the Christmas Village and the shops in the centre, the Town Hall is offering 2 hours’ free parking (instead of 1 hour) in the enclosed surface and underground car parks, from Saturday 6 December to Wednesday 24 December inclusive.