Although some hardy souls are still venturing into the sea the water is a chilly 19°C. Most restaurants on Riviera beaches have shut down for the winter. The still-mild and (usually) sunny weather of November makes outdoor activities particularly pleasant however all along the coast.

(Check out my guide to the Winter on the French Riviera)

And there’s a lot to do. Concerts, sports, jazz, wine and chestnuts are on the agenda this month. In addition to the special events listed below, don’t forget that the Nice Opera is in full swing with a choice of events from opera to free Afterwork concerts in the Opera or in the Cave Bianchi in the old town. Check out more live music in Nice.

Now for this month’s special events.

Nice

Nice-Cannes Marathon

November 9, Promenade des Anglais

The 42km between Cannes and Nice is long enough to be a challenge for local runners and certainly must be one of the world’s most scenic marathons. The festivities start with a little breakfast run along the Promenade des Anglqis on November 8 at 10am in front of the Oceanice Conference Center on Port Lympia. The main event starts at 8am November 9 at the Jardin Albert 1er also on the Promenade des Anglais. The first runners should arrive after two hours at the Festival Palace in Cannes. Organizers are expecting a record-breaking 22,000 participants. The prizes will be awarded there at 10.45am. More here.

Wayne – Full big band Nice Jazz Orchestra

November 7, 8 Theatre Francis Gag 8pm; November 9 3pm

Following the success of a first tribute paid in septet to the legendary Wayne Shorter, the Nice Jazz Orchestra continues this jubilant reinterpretation by tackling the composer’s later repertoire in a large ensemble. Tickets €5-18.80. Details and reservations here

Ensemble Baroque de Nice

November 14 Eglise Saint Martin-Saint Augustin 8.30pm

This local  ensemble holds regular classical concerts, usually in a church. This one is entitled La Joie – Vivaldi / Manfredini. Tickets range from €5-20. More info here.

Beaujolais Nouveau

November 20

Yes, the third Thursday in November is nearly upon us. It’s the day when Beaujolais Nouveau 2025 is officially released. It’s a great evening to head to your favorite wine bar. There’s a lot to choose from but my current pick is La Treille Bar a Vin, 7 rue Saint Augustin in Old Nice. This adorable little place was once painted by Raoul Dufy and now serves up reasonably priced snacks and wine indoors or on an outdoor terrace. For an even livelier scene head to the Gare du Sud around 8pm. After an accordion player creates an ambiance guinguette, a DJ will spin French tunes.

La Fete de la Chataigne au Gout de Nice

November 22, 10am-5pm, Le Gout de Nice, 34 ave Jean Jaurés

Come one and all to celebrate the venerable chestnut. Eat the grilled nuts, sample other local products and partake of a vast plate of polenta between noon and 1pm.

Portes Ouvertes Vin de Bellet

November 29-30 Bellet wineries

The wines of Bellet have been renowned ever since Thomas Jefferson bought cases and shipped them to his home in Monticello. High in the hills over the Magnan neighborhood, the wineries provide stunning vistas over the vineyards to the sea. The Chateau de Crémat is perhaps the best known and certainly the most elaborate of Nice’s wineries. A good time to sample the wines  is during one of the two annual Portes Ouvertes (June and November). It’s a lot of fun to get a guided tour of the winery, taste some wine and sample regional produce all while enjoying local bands.  Give them a call first to let them know you’re coming. More info here. Bus line 52 stops at Chateau de Crémat and  bus 62 takes you up to Bellet.

(See my guide to Getting Around Nice)

Cagnes-sur-Mer

Fete de la Chataigne

November 16 Place de Gaulle 10am

There will be free grilled chestnuts of course but so much more. This chestnut festival celebrates rural life in the hills of the back country. In addition to sampling local cheese, honey, jams and olive oil don’t miss the farmers parading their livestock through the streets. Click here for the program.

Antibes

Fete des Châtaignes

November 8, 5pm

The Commune Libre de Safranier (Free Commune of Safranier) is a part of Antibes’s Old Town dedicated to preservint its traditions. One of those events is the annual Chestnut Festival. Eat your grilled chestnuts, wash them down with vin chaud and dance along with the crowd to traditional Provencale tunes. The festivities center around the Place du Safranier.

(See my guide to visiting Antibes)

CANNES

Cannes Dance Festival

November 22-December 7 Festival Palace

This prestigious festival highlights the joy and diversity of international dance. In addition to contemporary works from the Spanish National Ballet, there are workshops, photo exhibits, master classes and discussions. More here.

(See my guide to visiting Cannes)

Monaco

Monte Carlo Jazz Festival

November 20-29 Opera Garnier

This prestigious jazz festival presents international stars and is priced accordingly. This year’s headliners include Ibrahim Maalouf, Stanely Clarke and the Harlem Gospel choir. Tickets start at €90. For more info click here.

Monaco National Day

November 19

Monaco’s National Day marks the date in 1949 when Prince Ranier ascended the throne. The public festivities begin the evening of November 18 at 8.10pm with a fireworks display over Port Hercule. A concert by Superbus will follow at Espace Léo Ferré. On November 19 head to the Condamine Market for a taste of local specialties in the morning and a concert in the evening at 7.3pm.

(See my guide to visiting Monaco)

Regional Event

C’est Pas Classique

November 8-23

This venerable music festival was once devoted almost entirely to classical music and took place in Nice’s Acropolis. Both have changed. The festival covers a variety of music and, now that the Acropolis is no more, takes place throughout the region. There will be 11 FREE concerts spread over 13 venues. You can check out the entire schedule here. Note that most events are sur reservation which means they must be reserved online in advance but some are entrée libre which means that you only need to show up in advance. Check the page regularly as tickets may become available over the course of the festival. Also, ticketholders who fail to show up for the concert will see the tickets redistributed 15 minutes in advance of the concert. Those determined to see the concert can try to snag those last-minute tickets. In any case, there are no seat reservations. Show up early to get a good seat!

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