Christmas 2023

Christmas events in Marseille

During the end-of-year festivities, Marseille lights up and offers numerous activities: Christmas market, santons fair, ice skating rink, workshops… Do you want to know more about the activities planned this year in Marseille for the Christmas period? Then read on, we tell you everything!

Published on 25 November 2023

The Christmas market

The Christmas sheds are back! This year, there’s a slight change: you’ll find them at the bottom of the Canebière and on the Cours Général de Gaulle from 2 December until the end of the Christmas holidays. Around forty artisans and designers will be on hand to offer you a wide range of handcrafted creations for your Christmas gifts or simply to treat yourself! Jewellery, sweets, decorations, fabrics, wooden toys… Marseille’s Christmas market is also a great place to stroll down the aisles sipping a glass of mulled wine or chocolate and enjoying the end-of-year entertainment to the strains of Jingle Bell!

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The Santons Fair

The mythical Foire aux Santons (Santons Fair) opens its doors every year on the 3rd weekend in November. This year, the fair is celebrating its 221th anniversary, and on Saturday 18 November the 26 santon makers will be showcasing their traditional skills.
The official opening will take place on Sunday 19 November at 12 noon with folk groups and a mass celebrated as every year in the Church of Saint-Ferréol.

Santons are an integral part of Provencal traditions. They can be found in the Christmas cots in most Provencal families.

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Events in every district of Marseille

Around the Old Port

Sound and Light Show (Mapping) – Christmas in the Mediterranean
Projection on the façade of the Town Hall. 9, 10 and 17 December from 6.30pm to 9pm

– Saturday 2 December at 6.30pm – “Dear Father Christmas” show – Launch of the illuminations throughout the town.
In front of the Town Hall – The show ends with a grand procession along the Quai de la Fraternité.

– Saturday 16 December at 4pm – “Waiting for Christmas” show
Old Port / Town Hall
A parade of magical characters. Music, dance and performances. The show will end with a light show (mapping) on the façade of the Town Hall.

– Saturday 23 December at 7pm – “Toujours plus haut” show – Big musical parade. Aerial show.
Old Port / Town Hall

Entertainment on the Esplanade Bargemon
– Ephemeral ice rink and toboggan run – From 16 December to 7 January, 10am to 7pm and until 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
Free equipment and entertainment.
– Santa’s Chalet and face painting – From 2 to 22 December on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays and from 23 December to 7 January every day from 11am to 5pm (from 23 to 29 December the activities will open at 9.30am).

Quai du Port pedestrian precinct (between La Samaritaine and Passage Pentecontore)
2, 16 and 23 December

Pedestrianised city centre (Opéra / Lulli / Rue de Rome / Rue St Ferréol)
16th and 23rd December
On these 2 days, the city centre will be pedestrianised from 10am to 7pm. There will be plenty of entertainment, with jugglers, dancers, gospel singers and a brass band, all strolling through the streets and plunging the town into a joyous musical atmosphere.
Gourmet breaks – from

The full programme of events in the city

In the sector Town Halls

1st and 7th district town halls fair
9 and 10 December
The Mairie du 1-7 welcomes you for a weekend of festivities. Shows, creative workshops, entertainment …Find out more

4th and 5th district town halls- Christmas at the Palais!
17 to 24 December, 10am to 5pm – Palais Longchamp
A dozen chalets with activities for children. Christmas tales, magic, arts and crafts, scrapbooking, puppets, games …
From 3 to 14 years old – Free admission
To find out more

6th and 8th district town halls – A fairytale of light!
– Bagatelle Park illuminated with lanterns – From 1 December to 4 January from 5.30pm to 8pm
– Entertainment and inauguration of the illuminations – 15 December from 6pm to 8pm – Parc Bagatelle
Giant maze & treasure hunt, collaborative fresco, music, creative workshops, face painting & Father Christmas, treats trolley…
Find out more

9th and 10th district town halls- Tell me about Christmas!
-Parc Maison Blanche.
1 December 5.30pm – Launch of the illuminations
13 December 10.30 am – Children’s show
15 December 16.30 – Pony rides, creative workshops, shows, gingerbread and hot chestnut stall
-Saint Joseph hill
17 December at 5pm – Festival of light
-Truffle and Christmas delicacies market
16 December, 9am to 5pm -Place Robespierre – Mazargues

11th and 12th district town halls
– Christmas lights and launch of the Christmas festivities – 4 December from 6pm
Blé de la sainte Barbe, Activities, musical entertainment, buffet around the 13 desserts…
– Christmas Market – 15 December from 4.30pm to 9pm and 16 & 17 December from 10am to 6pm – At the Mairie de secteur.
– Ice rink
From 13 to 15 December from 4.30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on 16 & 17 December from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. – At the town hall.

– Fête de la Saint Nicolas – 9 December from 2pm – Place Caire in St BarnabéActivities, workshops, carols.To find out more

15th and 16th district town halls
-Illuminated evening – 15 December from 6.30pm to 9pm – Parc Billoux
-Festive Christmas – 16 December from 11am – Parc Billoux
Games, creative workshops, bubble football, face painting, show, merry-go-round, climbing wall…
To find out more

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Château Gombert – Highway to Christmas
3 December at 3.30pm – Centre de Culture Provençale de Château Gombert
Petits chanteurs de la Major take on the most beautiful Christmas songs.

Aygalades – Un dimanche aux Aygalades – Christmas
3 December – 10am to 4pm – Cité des arts de la rue
Performances, farmers’ market, vintage lottery, creative workshops …
Find out more

Cours Julien & Plaine – Christmas market
2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17 December – Cours Julien
10 and 17 December – Place Jean-Jaures (La plaine)

Corniche Kennedy – Villa Gaby Christmas Market
10 December from 9.30am to 6pm

Belle de Mai – Christmas market at the Couvent Levat
9th and 10th December

Other Christmas events in Marseille

The Magic of Christmas at Docks Village

The Docks Village has put on its lights and festive clothes! A real enchantment. Come and discover all the animations and the impressive decoration and why not meet Father Christmas and his elves?

Meet Santa Claus
2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 13, 16 and 17 December from 12 noon to 6pm
(Opposite the Foodclub after Place Paul Ricard)

Christmas bricks workshop (LEGO®)
2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 13, 16 and 17 December from 2pm to 6pm
(Espace événementiel Place Paul Ricard)
Aimed at 5-12 year-olds, these fun workshops are brought to you by the team of elves from Bricks 4 Kidz. Children will be able to let their imaginations run wild with almost 800 models (3D, 2D, classic, mosaic, etc.).

Carburateur Christmas Market
December 1 and 2 from 10am to 7pm – Place des Palmiers (inside the Docks)
Young designers welcome you to their first market. (Jewellery, clothes, delicacies and decoration)

Big Fashion Sale
This sale will benefit the AIDES association. Come and find that rare gem at a bargain price!
14 to 17 December – Place des Palmiers (Dans les Docks)
Thursday from 2pm to 7pm
Friday and Saturday from 11am to 7pm and Sunday from 11am to 6pm
Free admission

Docks Ice Rink
Saturday 23 December to Saturday 6 January, 10.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 6.30pm (Closed at 4pm on 24 December and closed on 25/12 and 1/01) – Place du Port, Cour Bleue
7m x 14m synthetic ice rink

Snowball throwing
From Saturday 23 December to Saturday 6 January from 10.30am to 12.30pm and from 1.30pm to 6.30pm (Closed at 4pm on 24 December and closed on 25/12 and 1/01)
Place du Port, Cour Bleue

Christmas at the Terrasses du Port

“The Secret of Christmas” show
2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 13, 16, 17, 20, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 December and 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 January
( Near the King Jouet shop on level R2)
A show lasting almost 30 minutes. Singing, dancing and musical comedy.
Prices : Adults: €6 – Children aged 3 and over: €4
Dancing, gospel and singing on 09, 10, 16 and 23 December, with the actors strolling between show sessions.

Santa Claus
Every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 24 December from 10am to 7.30pm + Thursday 21 December (24 December from 10am to 6pm)
Central aisle – Level R1

Make-up for children
Saturdays 02, 09, 16 and 23 December from 2pm to 6pm. Central aisle – Level R1