We keep telling you, but yes, Christmas is coming closer than ever. And every year, it’s the same ritual for many of us: we go to the Christmas market, stock up on gifts and treats, and let the festive enchantment guide us. You might go to the largest Christmas market in the Paris region, in La Défense, or to the medieval market in Provins, renowned for its charm and unique atmosphere. But if you’re really looking for a change of scene, we’ve found a market/festival that really blows the lid off the genre. Le Fabuleux Village, or the legend of the Flottins d’Évian, is a formidable eco-responsible market. Halfway between a theater troupe and a traveling Christmas market, you won’t find any elves or traditional decorations here. Instead, you’ll find elves, imps and driftwood sculptures on display from mid-December! As if in a life-size fairytale, you’ll discover endearing characters and whimsical travelers populating the village…
A free, magical Christmas festival within easy reach of Paris
Every year for the past 19 years, on the shores of Lake Geneva in Evian-les-Bains, mischievous characters have taken over the village of Evian-les-Bains . From December 12 to January 3, discover the most magical of Christmas festivals! Legend has it that, one December evening, while Santa was flying over Lake Geneva on a training flight, a big squabble between reindeer forced him to ditch his plane. It was then that the Flottins built a magnificent driftwood hut to house Santa and his rescuers. Since then, Santa has made a point of visiting them every year before embarking on his world tour.
Between storytelling, concerts, street performances and parades of driftwood sculptures , the village is transformed into an open-air theatrical stage. A bubble of dreams and poetry, where you’ll be propelled into another world for a moment. Fantastic, but also Eco-Responsible, the Fabuleux Village makes it a point of honor to transform and sublimate the driftwood washed up on the lakeshore. The result? No less than 350 tonnes of driftwood are collected and reused. You’ll see impressive floats in dreamlike shapes decorating the village here and there.
In addition to the many shows on offer over the three weeks, you’ll be able to do a little shopping in the float den, ride the little train through the village, eat at the gourmet den or take part in creative workshops for the whole family… In short, the list is long, but believe us, you won’t be bored for a moment. A poetic Christmas festival not to be missed!
📅 Dates: December 12 to January 3
📍 Location: Évian-les-Bains – downtown
💸 F ree admission