Christmas Market Allauch 8 and 9 December

Get into the mood by visiting Allauch's Provençal Christmas market, Santa will be there (of course), there are stalls selling food (marrons glacés, chocolate and local nougat) and drink and you'll find those elusive perfect Christmas presents. There will be activites for children of all ages. It starts on Saturday afternoon and is open Sunday from 10am.

You can also go to the Vieux Bassin to see Gilbert Orsini's animated creche. The whole gallery is filled with images of Provençal villages inhabited by santons spinning yarn, making bread and celebrating Christmas - definitely worth a look.

To get to Allauch from central Marseille take metro line 1 to La Rose and bus 144 from there.

Chocolate Weekend 10 to 12 February

If you like chocolate this is the place for you. The Salon du Chocolat presents chocolate, all flavours and a variety of forms. There will be tastings, children's activities, recipes and the famous chocolate fashion parade.

It's at the Parc Chanot (Metro 2 Rond Point du Prado). Every day from 10am  to 5pm and it costs 9€ for adults and 5€ for children.
For more information here's the Fou du Chocolat web site.

Chocolate Frock