What's On Today: Tuesday 22 December 2009

An exposition of tango-themed postcards thoughout the ages. Tuesday to Sunday 14:00-18:00. Musée de la Carte Postale, 4 Avenue Tournelli, 06600 Antibes. Tel: 04 93 34 24 88. E-mail: cartepostalemuse@aol.com

White themed exhibition by the stArt collective in the Galerie Les Cyclades, rue du Petit Four. Tel: 04 93 34 96 20.

Place de Gaulle is transformed into a winter town with cross country ski and snowshoe paths thanks to synthetic snow.

Stalls selling seasonal produce and Christmas arts and crafts will be set up in Place Nationale.

The Cannes Buddhist Centre are holding meditation classes in Antibes every Tuesday night from 20:00-22:00. At the Hotel Mediterrannée, 6 avenue du Marechal Reille. €9 per person.

Christmas events including the releasing of balloons with Christmas messages for father Christmas, a gospel concert and mulled wine and hot chocolate on offer. Starting at 16:30 in Place Marinoni. Tel: 04 93 01 02 21.

A range of events and activities celebrating the season. These include musical processions, carol concerts, pony rides, exhibitions of crafts and arts, workshops and more. On Place de la Libération & Moneghetti. Tel: 04 93 78 01 55

Oriental dance lessons each Tuesday evening at the Moneghetti gymnasium from 18:30-21:00. For information and reservations Tel: 06 22 82 85 47 or 06 23 45 68 69.

The Musée National Fernand Léger will exhibit a collection of drawings by the artist. At 255, chemin du Val de Pome, 10:00-17:00 (18:00 until 1st November)

Exhibition and sale of bijou contemporain at the Espace Solidor.

A show for children - in French - Le Chateau Magique de Pépito at 14:30 at the Espace centre. Tel: 04 92 02 61 80.

The annual Animations de Noël with traditional Christmas foods, gifts and decorations on sale. Also an outdoor ice skating rink open 10:00-13:00 and 15:00-19:00, live music, pony cart rides and a living crèche. Events take place in the centre of town and Cros-de-Cagnes.

Local food delicacies and gifts on sale at market stalls open daily 10:00-19:00 in Place de Gaulle.

Over 60 meetings will take place over three months at the Hippodrome de la Côte d'Azur at 12:00 (15:30 on 6th March). Entry is €4.50, free for under 16s. Free car parking.

The International Women's Club of the Var coffee mornings are the occasion to meet members and learn more about the club and the benefits of membership. Held every second Tuesday of the month at the Café St Eloi. For further information about the activities available see the website.

100 chalets with traders selling decorations, seasonal gifts and local produce will be on the Esplanade Pantiero, 10:30-20:00 (21:00 on Friday and Saturday)

A magical forest with Father Christmas' grotto, workshops and entertainment for children will be set up along avenue Pierre Sémard, 11:00-18:00

An ice rink will be located in the allées Azémar, 10:00-19:00 (14:00-19:00 on Sundays). Entry, including skate hire, is €2.20 per hour, free for under 8s. Gloves, which are not supplied, must be worn. Close on Christmas and New Year's days.

The International Women's Club of the Var coffee mornings are the occasion to meet members and learn more about the club and the benefits of membership. Held at the Hotel Les Oliviers from 10:30-12:00. Meetings also held in Bargemon and Lorgues.

Père Noël will be taking a short break from his preparations so that he can visit with children in Golfe-Juan. Photos available from 10:00-12:30 in the town center of Golfe-Juan.

Exhibition of photographs of the Alpes-Maritimes from 1890 to 1920 at the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire de Provence, 2 rue Mirabeau. Open 10:00-19:00. Free entry.

Gourmet market and street entertainment with jugglers, acrobats, dansers, singers and an equine theatre in Cours Honoré Cresp, 09:00-19:30. On Christmas Eve, Father Christmas will take off to deliver presents, 17:00-17:45.

Exhibition of work by Marc Trabys titled "Vestige", at the Galerie St-Graal at 75 rue Klein. Tel: 04 93 32 64 84

Test out your figure eight or maybe even your triple salchow! The ice skating rink at La Palestre opens for the holiday season. La Palestre, 730 Avenue Georges Pompidou, Le Cannet. Tel: 08 25 56 48 88.

Exhibition of photographs at the Maison du Portal, between place de la République et la place de la Liberté. Open Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, 14:30-17:30.

The International Women's Club of the Var coffee mornings are the occasion to meet members and learn more about the club and the benefits of membership. Held every second Tuesday of the month. Contact Kirsten Munster for details of venues and dates: kirstenogpalle@gmail.com

The 8th edition of Mandelieu-la-Napoule's Noël en fête. Entertainment, a Christmas market, food and music during the week before Christmas. Daily. Place Esterel Gallery, 809 Boulevard des Ecureuils, 06210 Mandelieu La Napoule (in the city center). Tel: 04 92 97 99 27.

The Jean Cocteau Museum presents a number of original works donated by Séverin Wunderman, including pastels, sketches and ceramics created during the artist's "Mediterranean" period. At the Musée Jean Cocteau, Quai Napoléon III from 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-18:00 except Tuesdays and bank holidays. Tel: 04 92 10 50 14

An ice rink will be erected in the Jardins Biovès during the holiday season. Until 18th December, open 16:00-19:00 except Wednesday Saturday and Sunday, 10:00-19:00. From 19th December open 10:00-19:00. Entry is €5 and €4 for 4 to 7 year-olds.

Father Christmas will arrive in a cloud down the front of the Palais de l'Europe to meet children each day at 17:00.

Seasonal food market in the Mail du Bastion, 10:00-19:00.

Stalls selling toys, gifts, decorations and food will be set up in Port Hercule. There will also be fairground rides for children, an ice rink and go-karts on ice.

The forum will include performances by Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet, Transe Express, Marie Chouinard, Trafic de Styles, Hamburg Ballet, Groupe Grenade, Compagnie Georges Momboye and Armitage Gone ! Dance. In various locations in the principality. Tickets are €16 to €29.

Training for amateur players at the Stade Louis II every Tuesday night, 19:30-22:30. Players/associations entrance.

An ice rink will be set up at the Stade Nautique Rainier III during Winter.

22 santons makers will be present at the fair to sell their Christmas characters in the Strada Médiathèque, 14:00-18:00.

Exhibition of six slideshows made up of 80 postcard sized images each and three huge posters by Olivier Millagou at the Galerie de la Marine, 59 quai des Etats-Unis. Open 10:00-18:00, closed on Mondays.

Exhibition of David Ancelin's artefacts at the Galerie a., 4 Rue Sainte-Réparate. Open 10:00-13:00 and 14:00-18:00, closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Exhibition of drawings based on Lewis Carroll's protagonist by the Dutch artist Pat Andrea at the Galerie des Ponchettes, 77 Quai des Etats-Unis. Open 10:00-18:00, closed on Mondays.

Exhibition of drawings by Philippe Favier at the Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain de Nice, Promenade des Arts. Open 10:00-18:00, closed on Mondays.

Works by the artist will be on display in the windows of the Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain de Nice, Promenade des Arts.

Exhibition of Robert Jadat's paintings of dancers at the Art France Galerie, 14 Rue St Joseph.

Céleste Boursier-Mougenot's musical flights of fancy will be on display at the Musée National Marc Chagall, Avenue Docteur Ménard, 10:00-17:00. Entry is €7.50.

Exhibition of works of art by Kristina Solomoukha at Le Dojo, 22 bis boulevard Stalingrad.

Exhibition of ceramics by Elisabeth Petit-Brighigna at the Centre Culturel de la Providence, 4 Placette de la Providence, 15:00-19:00 Monday to Friday.

Lewis Carol's story adapted (in French) by Dany Majeur, at 14:00 at the Théatre de la Cité, 3 rue Paganini. Tel: 04 93 16 82 69.

Christmas in Nice with a "village" of stalls selling gifts and crafts, and ice skating rink, pine forest to play in, games, shows and an exhibition of the Magic of a Russian Christmas (Magie du Noël Russe). On the Place Masséna from 11:00-20:00 daily. Tel: 08 92 70 74 07.

Special Chirstmas exhibition in the parc Phoenix indoors hall open 09:30-18:00. Entry €2. Tel: 04 92 29 77 00.

Live animals in a nativity scene from 14:00-19:00 in Place Rossetti, Vieux Nice.

Live broadcast of the Opéra de Paris production of Diaghilev's ballet at the Pathé Masséna, 31 avenue Jean Médecin at 19:30. Tickets are €22.

Jazz Be-Bop followed by a Jam Session with musicians Antoine Marcel and Selim Nini from 21:00 to midnight (free glass of champagne for women). Entry €5. At Sezamo, 32 rue Fonraine de la Ville in quartier Riquier. Parking on Place Arson. Tel: 06 66 23 34 44.

French language courses with the association Le Language Club. Two-hour lessons take place once a week and each training module lasts 10 weeks. Beginners: Thursday 09:00-11:00 or 14:00-16:00. Intermediate: Tuesday 14:00-16:00 or Friday 09:00-11:00. Classes at the Médiathèque. For more information and registration Tel: 04 92 60 99 89.

The nativity scene and other seasonal events in Place Clémenceau.

A 'rainbow' of 35 artists including Théo Tobiasse and César will have their works on display in the galeries on the town.

An exhibition of work by Anne Pesce at the Galerie Catherine Issert, 2 route des Serres Opening at 18:00 Friday 18 December. Tel: 04 93 32 96 92.

Markets on Tuesdays in place Coullet and Sundays at the Débarquement au Dramont parking area.

The town's Christmas festival will include a market with around 30 stalls selling arts and crafts and local produce in Esplanade Delayen. There will also be pony rides and bouncy castles for children and street entertainment for all. An ice rink will operate in Place Coullet.

A lover of sailing and the shores of Brittany, these works by Puy, painted in St. Tropez, bring the feeling of the Brittany air to his images of the Mediterranean. Musée de l'Annonciade, on the port, Saint-Tropez. Wednesday to Monday, 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-18:00. Closed 25 December and 1 January. Tel: 04 94 17 84 10.

Seasonal skating rink and enchanted garden for children. On the harbour, St Tropez. Tel : 08 92 68 48 28.

St. Tropez lights the squares and streets and welcomes the Christmas season. From 5 December the seasonal skating rink opens as does the enchanted garden for children. The Provençal nativity scene is also on display. On 19 December those with a sweet tooth will not want to miss the Sweets and Sugar Fair. For those less dessert-crazy, a rock-climbing wall and an exhibition of railway models will be available. Children will have a chance to send a letter to Father Christmas. On 23 December, children can go wild in the 400m2 play area just for them. And Christmas Eve can only mean one thing... the arrival of Father Christmas on the harbour! Tel : 08 92 68 48 28.

A display of one hundred nativity scenes as well as an exposition of Provençal Santons, the traditional nativity figurines of Provence. Daily 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-18:00. l'Espace Culturel, Theoule-sur-Mer. Tel: 04 93 49 28 28.

Exhibition of 150 Provencal Christmas characters in the Château-Mairie in Place Maximin Escalier. Open 14:00-18:00 everyday and also 10:00-12:00 on Saturdays and Sundays.

Twenty artists exhibit and sell a selection of affordable Christmas art, tree decorations, artistic gift wrap and trimmings in an "Exposition de Noël". Objects include pottery, paintings, sculptures ranging in price from €1 to €250. Open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 14:00-18:00 and Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10:00-18:00 at the Salle Saint-Esprit de Valbonne.

A three month exhibition of works by ceramists Rebecca Maeder (Switzerland), Petra Benndorf (Germany) and Rachèle Rivière (France), all laureates of the 2007 El Vendrell ceramics concourse in Catalonia, Spain. Free entry. Espace Grandjean, Avenue du Stade, 06220 Vallauris. Tuesday to Saturday 10:00-12:30 and 14:00-18:00. Tel: 04 93 63 07 61.

Bouncy castles and other fun activities for kids as well as an opportunity to visit the house of Father Christmas, which is temporarily set up in the Place de la Liberation, Vallauris. Local artisans will also be on hand to sell their wares through 23 Dec. 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:30.

An exhibition of 100 Christmas creches from around the world, including Italy, Russia, Poland and Germany. Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00-12:30 and 14:00-18:00. Chapelle de la Miséricorde, place Lisnard, 06220 Vallauris. Tel: 04 93 64 58 24.

Bouncy castles and other fun activities for kids as well as an opportunity to visit the house of Father Christmas, which is temporarily set up in the Place de la Liberation, Vallauris. Local artisans will also be on hand to sell their wares through 23 Dec. 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:30.

Père Noël will be taking a short break from his preparations so that he can visit with children in Vallauris. Photos available from 14:00-17:00 at place de la Libération, Vallauris.

Antiques: all day Tuesdays and Wednesdays: Place du Grand Jardin.

International mother-baby group in Vence every Tuesday 09.30-11.00. At the A.V.F. salle Toreille, Avenue Toreille. For more information contact Val at val.price@wanadoo.fr

The annual Fêtes de Noël with live music, events, activities and market stalls in the streets and squares of town. Also special events for children including visits by Father Christmas on certain days. More details from the Tourist Office on Place du Grand Jardin. Tel: 04 93 58 06 38.

Locals are invited to join in a town-wide search for the best Christmas nativity scene, with a selection on display in the Chapelle Ste-Elisabeth on rue de l'église.

The "Lutins du Père Noël" will be hard at work right up to Christmas with various activities for children including Wii challenges, music and painting workshops and musical performances, rides on teh magic mini train and much more. Events every afternoon from 16:45 and on weekends and Wednesdays from 10:00, in town. For a full day-to-day programme, see "more info".

French lessons for speakers of other languages every Tuesday afternoon. Tel: 04 93 73 08 82.