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.

Food and Wine Festival Allauch 4 November

Go along to the village of Allauch for a Sunday treat. It's the annual festival of food and wine. It runs all day and features wine from all over France and local specialities such as tapenade, aubergine caviar and olive oil. You can also enjoy some provençal music and dancing presented by Leis Ami d'Alau.

To get there take metro line 1 to La Rose and bus 144 to the terminus in Allauch village.

Music by the sea 7 - 9 September

The company La Rumeur has collected together musicians and seafood sellers to entertain you at the Plages de Corbières, L'Estaque. On the programme:

• Friday 7 September at 8:30pm « Lyrico déjanté » Cathy Heiting & Jonathan Soucasse La fanfare « Gershwin & Fire » from the Company La Rumeur.
• Saturday 8 September at 8:30pm « Fantaisiste » Pierre-Yves Plat [classical & jazz ] | Fanfare Fiera Brass [1930s New Orleans jazz].
• Sunday 9 September from 4pm - « en famille » with practical art workshops. 

For more information: 04 91 84 31 68 - 06 68 51 44 55  - www.larumeur.eu -  compagnielarumeur@gmail.com

Festival Time Le Panier 15 & 16 June

It's in the open air. It's free and the sun is shining. Cant think of a reason not to go to Le Panier and see what's going on. They have art, music, boules competitions and processions. On Friday at 9:45 it the Panier's time to celebrate lighting the fire of Saint John (le feu de Saint Jean) accompanied by Irish/Celtic band Phoçair. On Saturday there's a Sardinade at lunchtime and Susheela Raman (Tamil/UK) and Tchanelas (festive Rumba) in the evening. Go along and enjoy. Details are on the Fete du Panier website

Classical Persian Music 12 May

As part of the second Indo-Persian Festival, which runs until 31 May, Shadi Fathi and Djamshid Chemirani will give a performance of classical Persian music at the Auditorium, Cité de la Musique 16 rue Bernard du Bois. The concert starts at 8:30pm on 12 May and costs 14/16€.

There will be Indian food available and there is a free children's workshop at 3:30. How can you resist?

The Scots are coming 13 -15 April

Come to the Hôtel du Département (big blue building metro Saint Just) to sample the best of Scottish food, design and culture.  The Scots are the guests of honour at Artisans 13. There will be music and dancing, a milliner, a women's clothes designer, bags, jewellery, recycled bikes and food. You can get a real Scottish breakfast each morning and there will be special events all day. If you want to practise your English (whether with an English, Scottish, Irish or American accent) there is an English language apero on Friday from 5pm to 7pm.

Open from 10 am to 7pm. Entry is free.  The programme (in French) is here.

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