aixcentric

The chalets for the Christmas market in the cours Mirabeau and the traditional rides for the little ones are nearly ready!  Here are all the dates:

The Christmas market opens tomorrow (19th November) and stall-holders will be selling all manner of gifts and festive foods – and that delicious hot spiced wine – daily until 28th December.  The rides and roundabouts will operate until 4th January.

Next to open, the following day, is the Fete aux Santons where you can stock up on characters for your crib.  My favourite display of santons is the large 8m2 crèche just down from Monoprix which is designed and constructed by local santonniers.  It shows scenes from all over Provence with the typical villagers – the old couple, the lavender-seller, the gossip, the laundresses – together with scenes from the Camargue and the mountains.  Last year there was even a little illuminated pizza oven.  Look out too for the tiny figure of Cézanne painting out in the countryside.  This opens on Monday 24th November and is open 10-19:00.

I’ll post the December dates nearer the time but, unmissable for your diary:  Marché International des Villes Jumelles (3-7 Dec),  International Carols Concert at the Cathedral (7 Dec) and the Scandinavian Fete de la Sainte Lucie (9 Dec).  http://www.aixenprovence.fr/Festivites-de-Noel-2014