The harbour of Port Hercule in Monaco transformed itself into a sparkling playground of rides, music and laughter. The 2025 edition of the Foire Attractions de Monaco opened its gates with a promise: to enchant all ages, in a setting where sea meets ride-whirl, and tradition flirts with the thrill of the new.
Setting the scene
Every year around the All Saints (Toussaint ) school holidays, the fair takes over the Quai Albert Iᵉʳ and the Darse Sud of the port. In previous years, the event has hosted around 80 stands and rides, from gentle carousels for the youngest to high-adrenaline attractions for the bold. In 2025 the figures show that some 779,739 unique entries were registered. Imagine how popular this fair is. Even with some rain neither spirits or numbers are dampened by very much.
A beloved tradition, with new fire
The magic of this fair lies not just in the rides themselves, but in the setting: grand yachts drifting in the harbour, the warm glow of lights reflected in water, the smell of churros and waffles mingling with the salty air. And yet each year brings something new: for 2025, two new rides were unveiled to “electrify the port of Monaco.”
The fair’s organisers emphasise the family-friendly dimension (“manèges pour les tout-petits”) alongside the thrill machines (“à sensations fortes”).
A little boy stands on his tiptoes, gripping a brightly coloured fishing pole. Before him, the classic pêche aux canards game, yes, the very one with bobbing rubber ducks drifting lazily in a circular pool, sparkles under the bulbs. He bites his lip, concentrates, misses once, twice, and then …victory! His hook snags a duck wearing a ridiculous pirate eye patch. His face explodes into a grin. The fair around him roars with sounds of bells and laughter, but for that moment, he is the champion of the lagoon, clutching his prize like gold.
Meanwhile, high up a teenage girl is strapped into a ride that looks like a hybrid between a starship and a slingshot. As the machine tilts and spins, she lets out a scream that is half-terror, half-exhilaration. Below her, the fair is a blur of colour, motion, and neon streaks. The drop comes without warning, and her stomach lifts in that delicious, terrifying way that only a true thrill ride can deliver. When it finally stops, she steps off with shaky legs and a huge, irrepressible smile, already eyeing the next ride that will make her heart leap again.
Numbers and moods
From the professional side, fairground owners spoke of a “very good” edition. Many noted a strong attendance in the early weeks, followed by a mild lull when the weather turned.
The scope of the event is impressive: on some days tens of thousands of people passed through. For instance, on 8 November one day counted over 32,000 entries at the Quai Albert-I
alone; on 25 October, just short of 11,000 at the Darse Sud. At peak times, simultaneous attendance reached over 4,000 people on the quay, above 90% of its capacity.
Rain, wind and laughter
Yes, the weather tried to dampen the party. Storm Benjamin forced a closure on 23 October; a rain-soaked Sunday (16 November) slowed things further. But the essential spirit held firm.
The laughter returned. Families, young couples, visitors from mainland France, Italy or beyond, they came, they queued, they bought a funnel cake or a waffle, they let their children go on the bumper cars. And they stayed. One long-time ride operator noted children who visited when very young now returning as adults, proof that the fair is a memory-maker.
A treat for all senses
What is a fair without the smells and tastes? Beyond the flurry of rides, the fair’s food section, crepes, churros, waffles, Hungarian brioche, but also savoury snacks like socca and hot-dogs adds to the sensory sweetness of the event.
And the setting? You may be on a carousel, but you’re still looking out over yachts and the Mediterranean. A blending of glamour and good-old-fashioned fun.
A Social Ritual
The Foire Attractions is more than just a funfair: it’s a social ritual for Monaco and the Riviera. The city’s animation and leisure services say that the unique atmosphere of the quay and the port helps recreate a convivial, warm setting each year.
It invites the young and old alike to step out of the everyday. The seaside glamour of Monaco meets the joy of the fairground, if only for a month, but in that time bridges are built between generations, locals and visitors, thrill-seekers and families.
Even though the weather put some rain into the mix, the 2025 edition ends with applause. The mood remains optimistic: the fairground workers hope to return in 2026 with even more to offer.
In a world of high-tech entertainment and virtual experiences, there’s something wonderfully reassuring about standing in line for the bumper cars, smelling the caramel on a churro, hearing the clang-clang of a ring-toss and the whoosh of a ride. In Monaco’s harbour, for those few weeks, life slows to amusement-ride speed.
