#hello_monaco weekend: what to do on December 19th and December 20th

It’s the last weekend before Christmas, last chance to finish with the gift shopping and get into the holiday spirit while walking on the decorated streets and choosing the most beautiful Christmas tree. And here are some suggestions for your weekend.

The Christmas village, on the theme of Canada, is smaller than previous years as it is launched with the public’s safety in mind. From 4 December 2020 to 3 January 2021, four children’s attractions will be available: Hook-a-duck, the traditional Carrousel ride, a new merry-go-round called the “balade en caribou” and another ride in the shape of a tree. The ice rink is also slated to open on 4 December.

This year’s Christmas village will be decorated with real trees of various sizes which will give the Quai Albert 1er a holiday atmosphere. Finally, a chalet will offer pancakes and waffles to be consumed only on the tables provided. The Christmas Village will be freely accessible, with the wearing of a compulsory mask.

The Stade Nautique Rainier III swimming baths was transformed into an open-air skating rink from till Sunday 7 March 2021, Port de Monaco.

Oceanographic Museum of Monaco has reopened with a special Animation Program for Christmas Holidays 2020 from December 19 to January 03. Some of the attractions are:

IMMERSION IN THE GREAT BARRIER OF CORAL – NEW

One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the largest animal-based construction on the planet visible from space! Accompanied by a guide, you will dive 10 meters deep to meet the “Great 8”, the living icons of this fascinating underwater forest. Information sheets will be included in the projection to help you identify and understand the behavior of these species. Be attentive and pay attention to what is going on all around you… Between the nocturnal hunting of the sharks, the spawning of the corals, the parade of the manta rays or the first bath of the baby turtles… Your virtual and interactive diving is promising to be memorable!

TOUCH BASIN

With family or friends, experience a magical encounter with the animals of the Mediterranean coast in our educational room, privatized just for you! Crabs, starfish, sea cucumbers … They are familiar to us, but do you really know their particularities? How do they get around? What do they eat? What is their role in this ecosystem? Young and old, let your senses guide you and discover the specificities of each marine species present in the basin.

In the afternoon you can enjoy choreographic performances by the Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo: “Cinderella” by Jean-Christophe Maillot with the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Igor Dronov on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 December 2020, at 4 pm Grimaldi Forum Monaco – Salle des Princes.

On Sunday music lovers can enjoy the Christmas Concert by the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Pierre Debat, with Les Petits Chanteurs de Monaco and Olivier Vernet, organ on Sunday 20 December 2020, at 4 pm in Cathédrale de Monaco. On the programme: Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Charles Gounod and Franck César.

The Art of the Cinema – Dance and Cinema: screening of the film “The Young Girls of Rochefort” by Jacques Demy, organised by the Audiovisual Institute of Monaco in partnership with Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo on Sunday 20 December 2020, at 11 am in Grimaldi Forum Monaco.

Delphine and Solange are lovely witty 25-year-old twins. Blonde Delphine teaches dance and redhead Solange teaches music. They have music in their heads as others have their heads in the clouds and hope to meet true love around the corner. When carnival workers come to town, they go to the bar run by the twins’ mother. The fair is about to open as a sailor yearns to find his ideal woman.

And there are of course a few exhibitions open in Monaco. So if you want to learn more about other events and exhibitions that are taking place in Monaco these days visit our Calendar.