Tarbes in December
In December, the city lights up to offer a fairy-tale setting that will make children and adults dream.
The city center is transformed into a playground with many animations around the Christmas holidays!
From 28 November 2026 to 3 January 2027
Welcome to the Christmas village and its animations!
What a joy to find the Christmas village and its small chalets of merchants with original gift ideas, delicacies, specialties from here and elsewhere, illuminations and the inevitable ice rink!
Enjoy the holiday cheer with:
- THE CHRISTMAS VILLAGE, open every day from 10am to 8pm except December 24 and 31 from 10am to 6pm + December 25 and January 1 from 3pm to 7pm.
- THE ICE RINK open every day
- AND MANY OTHERS: Santa Claus, The Pyrenean Singers, opening shops on Sundays, the Christmas parade, the Cash Machine etc.
NEW! ‘Tarbes est Noël’ Grand Light Parade
Sunday 20 December 2026 at 5.30 pm
City centre – Free
Welcome to one of the highlights of the ‘Tarbes en Décembre’ festivities!
A procession of magical troupes, local organisations and musical groups
from the Marcadieu Market Hall to Place de Verdun, via Rue Foch, through the heart of the pedestrianised city centre…
On the programme:
- From 2.30 pm – Place de Verdun: Free Christmas workshops for children (face painting, making Christmas presents, Father Christmas, games) organised by the Sovist Association
- All day – Place de la Mairie: Christmas village and entertainment – Carousel, stalls
- From 5.30 pm: Grand light parade featuring performances by fairy-tale troupes and artistic and musical groups (street performances, percussion groups, street theatre troupes, motorcyclists dressed as Father Christmas, vintage cars)
600 participants setting off from the Marcadieu market hall towards Place de Verdun - From 6.30 pm: Christmas carols from around the world displayed in the windows along Rue Foch, organised by the Ateliers de la Porte Bleue
- 7.00 pm: End of the illuminated parade
- Shops in the town centre will remain open until 8.00 pm with special ‘Tarbes est Noël’ promotions – Tellement Tarbes.
Free entry
Recommended car parks: Foire Exposition – Maurice TRELUT Stadium – follow the signs
In the event of bad weather, the parade will be cancelled – check #tarbestourisme on social media
The Christmas Parade is organised by the City of Tarbes and Tarbes Tourisme
in collaboration with Tellement Tarbes, the Chevaliers de l’Espoir, Moto Event 65, BAT’FOGO, the Spanish Cultural Centre in Tarbes, DANS6T, Le Débarras des Fées, Em Cima, HA-PY Gospel, workshops at La Porte Bleue, Temps Danse 65, the Sovist nursery, Haras de Tarbes, Amicale Tarbes Auto Rétro, etc.
and the theatre companies Alba, Les Porteurs de lumière and Rêves intemporels.
Organisation contact details
Mairie de Tarbes
15 Place Jean Jaurès
BP 31329 – 65013 Tarbes Cedex 9
Rates
Christmas Village: free entry
Ice rink: 4 € (single rate for 1 hour)
Skating Loyalty Card: 5 tickets purchased = 1 free
