Marché de Noël

Get in the swing of Christmas in the Ancenis region and let the magic of the festive season sweep you off your feet as you hunt out authentic, local gifts at the Christmas markets!

Every year, a host of events are organised to celebrate the festive season. The town, its shopkeepers and its associations all pull out all the stops to put on a festive programme of Christmas markets, concerts, merry-go-rounds, Father Christmas, lantern walks, games, tastings, workshops and much, much more... It's all part of the magic of Christmas.

On the programme:

-In the town centre :
Designer's market
11am to 7pm, around the covered market and the town hall
35 designers: jewellery, leather goods, crochet and knitting accessories, zero-waste textile accessories for the kitchen and bathroom, clothes, candles, pottery and ceramics, paintings, wooden objects, games, puzzles, posters, postcards...
On-site catering: chichis, waffles, crêpes, cakes, mulled wine and hot chocolate provided by the Albert Camus school parents' association.

Local imprints" market of publishers and illustrators from the Loire region
From 10am to 6pm in the covered market
Come and meet passionate artists, discover their worlds and talk about their creations: books, drawings, local creations.
With the participation of : Les Sirènes de Loire, Rémi Boudeperche, Trébuchet Éditions, Freddy Joncheray, L'Aure Écarlate, Les Clashettes, Katell Daniel and Ebichu.

Activities for all the family
From 10am to 6pm around the covered market and at the château

Donkey rides for children (aged 2-12). Leaving from the moat garden (château grounds) from 11am to 6pm
Carousel with flying chairs (3-12 years). Place des Halles from 11am to 7pm
Father Christmas photo stand, face painting workshop, arts and crafts workshop from 4pm to 6pm
Lantern Walk: a friendly stroll by the light of lanterns. Get your free lanterns in the shops in the town centre. Starts at 6pm in front of the town hall.
Brass bands: Les Anchahuteurs (11.30am-12pm / 12.30pm-1pm / 2pm-2.30pm) and Terminus Brass Band (4.45pm-5.45pm / 6.30pm-7pm)
Château d'Ancenis - Regards croisés" exhibition from 10am to 12pm and from 3pm to 6pm at the Renaissance dwelling.
Noël aux Cailloux: a big open day with lots of entertainment (demonstrations, creative workshops, etc.), mulled wine and Christmas cake for sale. 119 rue des Douves.

-On the banks of the Loire:
Father Christmas arrives by canoe on the Loire
From 3pm at the halte nautique
Father Christmas will be arriving on the Loire with music provided by the Terminus Brass Band. Distribution of sweets for children. Sale of mulled wine and hot chocolate by Plein Air Ancenien Canoë Kayak.

-At the Arcades:
From 10am to 7pm
Gourmet market with numerous producers and an oyster bar, by the Compagnons Gourmands
A market featuring a dozen designers, a merry-go-round for children, Father Christmas from 10.30am to 12pm, a New Orleans concert at 4pm, mulled wine and snacks.

-Au Bois Jauni :
From 9am to 1pm
Pedal go-kart circuit, letter to Father Christmas, music, tastings, wooden games, shopkeepers' game and a few surprises!

-At Espace 23 :
From 9am to 5pm
Parade of mascots from 10.30am to 1pm.
Elf workshop. Creative workshop for children. from 3pm to 5pm | Ancien local Rouge-Gorge.
Elf hunt. Find the leprechauns, write down each letter, make up the magic word and win a candy cane from 3pm to 6pm.


A shuttle train!
Shuttle linking the different shopping centres from 10am to 7.30pm.
1st departure at 10am from Bois Jauni!
Morning route: Bois Jauni > Espace 23 (bd de l'Atlantique near the Leclerc drive)
> Arcades (Ibis hotel car park) > Town centre (place Saint-Pierre) > Arcades > Bois Jauni
Afternoon circuit: Espace 23 (bd de l'Atlantique near the Leclerc drive) > Arcades (car park
Centre-ville (place des Halles) > Arcades > Espace 23
Free shuttle service provided by the Com'Ancenis retail association and the town of Ancenis.