The first chills of winter are arriving… and Haute-Savoie is already beginning to sparkle. Throughout the department, towns are setting up giant Christmas trees, garlands, and light decorations to transform streets and squares into real fairy tale scenes.
If you enjoy lively winter evenings, warm atmospheres, and Christmas trees lighting up under amazed eyes, here is the complete schedule of the first illuminations near you.
The towns that turn on their decorations from late November
The season starts early in several towns, setting the tone from the last week of November:
- Bonneville — Friday, November 28, 5pm to 7pm (Place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville)
- Thonon-les-Bains — Friday, November 28, from 5pm (Place des Arts)
- Annecy — Friday, November 28, at 5:30pm (Place Notre-Dame)
A great opportunity to start the festive period before the December rush.
Illuminations in December
For those who prefer to wait until December starts, other towns will light up their decorations a bit later, sometimes with entertainment, choirs, or hot chocolate:
- Rumilly — from December 1
- Saint-Julien-en-Genevois — Friday, December 5 at 5pm (Town hall forecourt)
- Annemasse — Friday, December 5
- Sallanches — Saturday, December 6 from 6:30pm (Place Grenette)
- Megève — Saturday, December 6 at 7:30pm (Place du Village)
- Évian-les-Bains — Friday, December 12
- Saint-Gervais — Tuesday, December 23 at 5pm
Friendly gatherings, free to attend, perfect for experiencing the magic of Christmas with family.
A tip to enjoy it fully
Arrive a little early: the best spots to watch the illuminations and take beautiful photos fill up very quickly, especially in historic centers like Annecy, Megève, or Thonon.
