The Saint Nicholas festivities in Nancy
From late November 2023 to early January 2024
The two high points of the winter season in eastern France are the Christmas Market in Strasbourg and the Saint Nicholas Festivities in Nancy!
Saint Nicholas is traditionally celebrated throughout Lorraine, but it’s in Nancy that the liveliest and most lavishfestivities take place. The official feast day of Saint Nicholas is 6 December, but the patron saint of Lorraine deserves more than just one day of celebration! The highlight of the festivities is the first weekend in December, when people flood the streets to enjoy two days of parades and processions, floats and music, and of course sweets and confectionery.
Enter the world of Saint Nicholas: from the Christmas tree in Place Stanislas, to the big wheel and children’s funfair in Place Carrière. Get your skates on for a session at the ice rink at ‘Quai des Glaces’ (Place Simone Veil) and savour a chocolate or gingerbread Saint Nicholas while you wait to watch the grand parade.
Every evening during the six weeks of festivities, a video mapping on the façade of the town hall retells the legend of the three children rescued by Saint Nicholas from the evil butcher.
The festivities also include Christmas Markets, known here as the villages of Saint-Nicholas, which boasts numerous artisanal stalls.
Saint Nicholas weekend – Early December 2023
The high point of the Saint Nicholas festivities, the Saint Nicholas weekend is an emblematic and magical time with two days of free events for all ages across the whole city.
Throughout the weekend, street theatre, parades, ice-rink, funfair and big wheel in the world of Saint Nicholas, and music with the local brass band the ‘fanfare des enfants du boucher’
Grand parade with floats including some fantastic surprise ‘sweet’ machines and characters from the legend of Saint Nicholas, on Saturday early evening.
On top of the many events and activities on offer at the Children’s Village in Place de la Carrière, the rides in La Pépinière Park, as well as our municipal and metropolitan museums, are free to enjoy all weekend long
