La Fête des Lumières

La Fête des Lumières is a yearly festival that takes place in the city of Lyon. It began as a candle-lit celebration of the Virgin Mary, and has become a annual festivity renowned around the world for its colourful light displays and dazzling installations that take place over the course of four nights.

The actual dates of the festival change each year to ensure that the four-night celebration falls in part on a weekend, but the 8 December is always part of the festivities. This is the day on which the Immaculate Conception was traditionally celebrated.

This year (2025), the festival will take place between Friday the 5th and Monday the 8th of December.

The festival evolved from an annual celebration of the Virgin Mary, which can be traced back nearly 400 years.

In 1643, Lyon - which was then the second largest city in France - was struck by Bubonic plague, and there were serious fears that the city would be overwhelmed.

Indeed, nearly half the population - around 50,000 people - were wiped out. But the rest survived, and the city's councillors decided to express their gratitude by inaugurating an annual, candle-lit procession to the Basilica of Fourvière on the 8th of December.

Now fast forward to 1852, when a statue of the Virgin Mary was erected next to the Basilica. To celebrate, the city celebrated its annual procession with extravagance, launching flares and fireworks in addition to the usual candles.

Since the statue was erected, the procession has been celebrated in style each year, morphing into a full on festival that has adapted in lines with the latest light technologies. Recent years have seen the festival showcase laser shows, project mapping, light art and interactive light displays - in addition to the perennial candles, of course.

Lyon is a great city to visit at any time of the year, but during the nights of the Fête des Lumières, the city really comes alive.

Each year there are over 70 different light shows across the city, with many happening at the city's landmarks, including the city hall and the Saint-Jean Cathedral. There are also street performances, and stalls selling chestnuts, mulled wine and other wintry delicacies as part of the city's Christmas markets.

Place Bellecour usually features giant colourful sculptures, while the botanical gardens at Parc de la Tête d’Or are brilliantly illuminated.

And of course, on the 8th of December, the locals still light candles on their windowsills to celebrate this centuries-old tradition.

Check out the website for a full itinerary.