Ten alternative things to do for Christmas in France and Belgium

If the hustle and bustle of visiting a Christmas market doesn't spark a warming winter glow, DFDS' list of alternative Christmas events provides ideas for spending the festive period a little differently.

Throughout November and December there are a host of alternative ways to enjoy unique experiences and unusual festive events across France and Belgium, all just a short drive from Calais, Dunkirk and Dieppe, which are served by DFDS' ferry services from Dover and Newhaven. The company's list of the top ten includes:

1. Turkey festival in Licques
After being cancelled for the last two years the Fete de la Dinde returns to the town of Licques. Over the weekend of the 10 and 11 December, take part in the packed schedule of events that includes a Christmas market, culinary demonstrations and performances by musicians and artists. The highlight of the festival is the traditional Turkey Parade on the Sunday morning. The turkeys are guided through the town by the Noble Dames and Knights of the Brotherhood of the Turkey, dressed in their best regalia to honour the long history and heritage of turkeys in Licques.

Turkeys were introduced to the area by monks at the local abbey in the 17th century and the town has been synonymous with turkeys, poultry, and game birds ever since. Today the turkeys are specially bred for the Christmas period, and people come from all over France to pick up their Christmas bird in Licques. The town is just a 30-minute drive from Calais.

2. Festival of St Barbara in Lens
Lens is a former mining town just outside of Arras, and this year it celebrates the ten-year anniversaries of the Louvre-Lens, the only satellite museum of the Louvre in France, and the inauguration of Base 11/19 as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

From 2 to 4 December Lens celebrates the Festival of St Barbara, the patron saint of miners, engineers, and lightning. The festival is filled with fireworks, light shows and sound installations and performances from DJs, acrobats, and musicians. This is truly a unique festival and unlike anything you'll have seen before, with metal, light, and fire brought together by some of France's most innovative artists. It has to be seen to be believed.

On 4 December, the feast day of St Barbara, there is a procession, a ball, and a light show, culminating in an explosive and fiery concert among Lens' mining machinery to honour the town's heritage.

3. Wonck Caves
Between Liege and Maastricht lies the town of Wonck, a small town between Liege in Belgium and Maastricht in the Netherlands that would be largely unassuming were it not for two interesting features – its caves and the enigmatic Tower of Eben-Ezer.

The Tower of Eben-Ezer was built in the 1960s and its inspiration draws heavily from the Bible, with each of the four creatures of the Apocalypse atop its four towers, as if they are observing the area. The tower itself is filled with unusual artwork, fossils and artifacts, and the grounds are filled with bizarre sculptures.

The Wonck Caves were formerly used to mine limestone, and later provided shelter during World War II. They are now used to grow mushrooms and to house a Christmas market every year. There are 75 stalls lining the underground passages, illuminating the walls with a warm glow that only adds to the festive atmosphere.

4. Chateau de Canon, Mezidon-Canon
Canon Castle near Caen opens its doors to visitors from 17 to 30 December, when you can see how they do things in the luxurious surroundings of an eighteenth-century chateau. Take a tour of the chateau and see its lavish decorations among the period furniture and artwork. In the grounds there is a life size nativity scene (with live sheep!), as well as Santa's grotto and children's activities. There are wreath workshops, interactive walking trails and shows to enjoy, as well as a gift shop where you can purchase Christmas gifts and treats.

5. Winter Wonderland Castle, Ghent
Ghent's moated castle, the Gravensteen, is transformed into a Winter Wonderland Castle from 10 December. The imposing structure sits high above the city, and you can climb the shadowy spiral staircases to the top of the castle walls and look out over the sparkling lights of the city centre. Take a walk through hundreds of years of history as you explore the illuminated castle at night and enjoy the haunting atmosphere of this centuries-old fortress.

6. Festival of St Nicholas, Boulogne
St Nicolas is the patron saint of children and of sailors, so it is no wonder that the fishing port of Boulogne has a particular affinity for him. The feast day of St Nicolas is observed on 6 December and is a widely celebrated tradition in France, especially for children. On the Saturday before (3 December), Boulogne celebrates the day in style. St Nicolas descends from one of the buildings, climbs into his carriage and begins the parade through the town. The parade includes decorated floats, brass bands, and performers in traditional costumes with huge articulated puppets. As the procession makes its way through the town gifts and sweets are given out to children, before ending at the Quai Gambetta where St Nicolas then boards a fishing boat to continue his journey and deliver presents to the children of the world. The parade culminates in a spectacular fireworks festival over the Channel to send St Nicolas on his way.

7. Galopades de Noel, Bayeux
Now in its seventh year, this annual run has become one of Bayeux's favourite Christmas traditions. On Friday 16 December hundreds of participants dressed as Santa Claus and other Christmas characters take part in a night-time run around Bayeux's city centre. There are different courses for adults and children based on age and ability, and the race is untimed so you can take as long as you need. Local merchants and Christmas market vendors sponsor the event and get involved with pop up stalls and window decorations. This is a hugely popular event and the whole city looks forward to it every year, so it's worth watching (or participating!).

8. Urban Art Route, Amiens
On 26 November and 11 December, a brand-new guided tour takes visitors around the incredible street art in the Saint-Leu district of Amiens. Considered Amiens answer to Paris' Latin Quarter, this vibrant and artistic area of the city is the perfect mix of old and new, with trendy bars and restaurants and artisan shops set among the historic buildings and cobbled streets. Important and influential urban artists have contributed to the urban art of Saint-Leu, and the route visits approximately fifteen of these projects, including some that have only recently been added. The tour meets at 3pm on each date outside the church of Saint-Leu.

9. Kerstbierfestival
The weekend before Christmas (17 and 18 December) sees the return of this annual festival with its extensive range of Christmas and winter beers from all over Belgium. It takes place in the town of Heuvelhal in northern Belgium and brings hundreds of beers and thousands of beer lovers from around the world to the area to sample new brews and stock up on their favourites to take home with them. Most beers are available by the bottle, but there are some by the barrel and even beer that should be served hot, known as gluhkriek. Breweries of all sizes, from the smallest of microbreweries to internationally renowned brands, gather at the festival, and it has gained a reputation as one of the top international events in the industry.

10. Habits de Lumiere, Epernay
Over three days from 9 to 11 December visitors flock to Epernay in the Champagne region to celebrate perhaps France's most famous drink. The festival celebrates the area's gastronomic heritage with light shows, musical entertainment and fireworks, all while enjoying champagne from around the region, including those of the greatest champagne houses. There are tasting demonstrations, cooking competitions for everyone from children to Michelin starred chefs (not competing against each other, of course), food and wine pairing workshops and cellar tours. To round off the event, a parade of more than 400 vintage and classic vehicles passes through the streets of the city, one of the largest such gatherings in northeast France.

 
Explore these winter wonders on a short break to France with DFDS. Prices on the Dover to Calais or Dover to Dunkirk routes start from £39 for a car and up to four people. For travel on the Newhaven to Dieppe service, prices start from £80 each way for a car and two people. For more information or to book visit www.dfds.com.

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About DFDS:

DFDS provides ferry and transport services in and around Europe, generating annual revenues of EUR 2.3 bn.

To over 10,000 freight customers we deliver high performance and superior reliability through ferry & port terminal services, and transport and logistics solutions. DFDS delivers high reliability to more than 10,000 freight customers through ferry and port terminal services and transport and logistics solutions.

For more than five million passengers, it provides safe overnight and short sea ferry services.

Our 8,000 employees are located on ships and in in offices across 20 countries. DFDS was founded in 1866, is headquartered in Copenhagen, and listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen.

In the UK, DFDS operates passenger ferry services on routes from Dover to Calais, Dover to Dunkirk, Newcastle to Amsterdam and Newhaven to Dieppe.

DFDS has been named 'Europe's Leading Ferry Operator' for eleven years running (2012-2022), as well as the 'World's Leading Ferry Operator' for the last eleven years (2011-21).

DFDS currently operates up to 54 sailings a day between Dover and Calais and Dunkirk.  DFDS also offers two daily sailings between Newcastle and Amsterdam. In addition, the UK network includes a passenger and freight service between Newhaven and Dieppe, which has four daily sailings and is owned by Transmanche Ferries.

For further information about DFDS, or to find out about the latest sailing times, fares and offers across all routes from the UK, visit www.dfds.com.