The first details about Monaco’s ever-popular Christmas Village in Port Hercule have been revealed, from the pain d’épices et gourmandises gingerbread theme to the dates when Father Christmas will be making an appearance. Here’s what we know so far about Monaco’s 2024 Village de Noël.
The Monaco Christmas Village will open on Quai Albert Ier in Port Hercule on Friday 6th December and continue into the new year until Sunday 5th January 2025.
This year’s theme is pain d’épices et gourmandises, meaning gingerbread and sweet treats, and holds all the promise of a wonderfully festive and family-friendly atmosphere.
The seasonal attraction will feature 21 food stalls and 24 craft chalets alongside a number of eternally popular family activities such as the staple Ferris wheel, a Christmas-themed carousel, a sledding slide and Santa’s sleigh rides. A new addition for 2024 is an interactive Christmas trail, designed to engage visitors of all ages.
The Christmas Village will also host various live performances in the form of afternoon stage shows and evening music acts over the course of the month-long event. Visitors should also expect to see costumed entertainers, stilt walkers and dancers to be amongst the crowds!
Children’s workshops, such as biscuit decoration and face painting, will take place in the Animation Chalet every weekend then daily during school holidays. The free sessions will typically be held between 2.30pm and 6.30pm.
Father Christmas himself is set to make two special appearances in the Village on 23rd and 24th December, from 2.30pm to 6.30pm.
For New Year’s Eve, the party will get going from 9pm on a new stage near Ubaldi, allowing an additional 2,000 people to join in with the festivities. A midnight fireworks display will mark the occasion.
The Village des Sports, also located in Port Hercule, will complement the festivities with outdoor activities such as zip-lining, Ninja courses, climbing walls and treetop challenges. It will run from Friday 20th December until the close of the Christmas Village in early January.
Read related:
Autumn fun fair returning to Port Hercule with more rides and attractions than ever before
Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Tik Tok.
Photo credit: Ed Wright Images / Mairie de Monaco