#hello_monaco weekend: what to do on January 6th and January 7th

You probably thought after the New year that the holidays were over. Technically, no — not until January 6, when Christians all over the world celebrated Epiphany. In some places, the day is known as “Three Kings Day” after the wise men, or Magi, who, the Bible says, brought the infant gifts and proclaimed him the Son of God. In other places, the day is known for giving gifts, for extremely cold baths and for biting into babies. So let us give you a few suggestions how finish your holidays.

You can begin your day with a walk in the Christmas Village. The theme this year is “Rainier III, a Passionate Prince”. There will be specially created decorations for all ages to enjoy, showcasing Prince Rainier III’s greatest passions, namely the sea, the arts, wildlife, and sport.

In addition to the “Rainier III, Passionate Prince” Christmas Village on the Quai Albert I, a vast area of fun and sporting activities will take up residence on the South Dock of the Port of Monaco, from Friday December 15, 2023 at 4 p.m. to Sunday January 7, 2024 at 10:30 p.m.

Several flagship installations:

• a treetop adventure course (from 8 years old)
• a climbing structure, made up of several colored routes representing different levels of difficulty (from 6 years old)
• 3 obstacle courses of increasing difficulty inspired by the famous TV game Ninja Warrior: “P’tit Ninja” for children aged 3 to 6; “Ninja Kid” for ages 6-12 and “Ninja Hero” for teens ages 12 and up. These last two courses will be more than 50 meters long.
• Finally, something new in the Principality… a 180 meter long zip line will allow the bravest to fly over the Swimming Pool Route, starting from the highest diving board of the Stade Nautique Rainier swimming pool.

The Sports Village is organized by the Mairie de Monaco from December 15, 2023 to January 7, 2024.

Experience the magic of A Christmas Carol at the iconic Casino Square, with giant snowballs illustrating scenes from Charles Dickens’ famous fairytale from Thursday 7 December 2023 to Sunday 7 January 2024, at the Place du Casino. Soak up the spirit of Christmas, generosity, and goodwill to all men! You’ll also find the legendary Christmas Carousel and Chalet in the Jardin des Boulingrins gardens opposite the Casino de Monte-Carlo. The perfect place for an enchanting time with all the family! The Chalet will be serving traditional crêpes, churros, and comforting hot drinks.

The Principality’s Nativity Trail, founded in 2014 in Monaco’s Old Town, to bring festive Christmas cheer and convey the culture and values embodied by nativity scenes from every continent, will be held this year from Friday 8 December 2023 to Monday 8 January 2024 in Monaco-Ville. Each year, nativity scenes are displayed all along the trail, set up in specially installed chalets and in the various State buildings in the Old Town district.

Experience the spirit of Christmas at the Patio of the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo from Saturday 9 December 2023 to Sunday 7 January 2024. This year, the iconic prestige hotel invites you to soak up the magic of the festive season with traditional English-style celebrations and decorations in its winter garden, Le Patio, for a Christmas full of luxury and sparkle.

Among many interesting exhibitions that are held in Monaco these days you can take a look at “Vanitas Xmas” by Frederique de Mortain, held at Espace 22 from Thursday 21 December 2023 to Saturday 13 January 2024, from 11 am to 8 pm.

Celebrate the end of the year with a stunning exhibition! Fréderique de Mortain brings Vanitas to life through curated objects, collages, material inserts, charms, jewelry, and unexpected items. Make a visit from December 21st to January 13th for a unique artistic experience from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm.

Hauser & Wirth Monaco presents Mark Bradford’s ‘Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen’, From September 29 to February 10 a major new solo exhibition centered around a selection of paintings based on the historical tapestries known as ‘The Hunt of the Unicorn,’ first exhibited at the Fundação de Serralves in 2021. A site-specific wall painting that will wrap the entire gallery space and an adaptation of ‘He would see this country burn if he could be king of the ashes’ (2019) will complete an immersive experience that draws the viewer into Bradford’s ongoing engagement with the themes of predation, destruction and the hope of rejuvenation for those in crisis.