The start of the winter season in Morzine usually follows a reasonably predictable pattern.
Final touches are happening in new businesses across town, new seasonaires are nervously running through welcome routines and chalet menus, the occasional very-last-minute painting or tiling for those who’ve run out of time and the rest of us are dusting off our winter gear and working out what needs replacing.
For those at home who aren’t out for the first week of the season it might be a little early for preparation, but we imagine the excitement is building rapidly.
The general vibe around town is a sense of getting ready, the calm before the storm. However, when the lifts do actually open there’s no fanfare as the season kicks off, no moment of celebration to bring in the new season. Or at least there wasn’t, until now!
New for winter 2015/16, Morzine launches the Winter Start Festival.
On the 5th & 6th December, the town will celebrate the coming season with a good old winter fair.
Spread across the town, the fair will be broken down into several areas:
-Entertainment centre in the Tourist Office Square
-Christmas Market at Place de la Mairie
-Exhibitors on Rue du Bourg, which will be closed to traffic
Plus… It marks the opening of all of Morzine’s Shops
Exhibitors, entertainments and retailers at the fair will include:
- Snow removal gear exhibition, including France’s largest snowplough!
- Artificial snow production
- Presentation of the latest Skoda, Renault, Ford and Suzuki’s models and 4 wheel-drives
- Information on safety in the mountain and avalanche rescue demonstration with transceiver
- Ski maintenance workshop
- Home decorations
- Christmas decorations
- Fashion show (sportswear, skiwear and underwear!) performed by 8 professional models
- Presentation of the latest range of skis for Winter 2015/2016 with brands including Head, Lacroix, Movement, Rossignol, Dynastar, Atomic, Salomon, Fisher
- Arts and crafts at the Christmas Market
- Roasted chestnuts, mulled wine and other festive treats…
And especially for the event the Pleney cable car will be opened up to pedestrians, and if the snow conditions allow; Piste B run and the Stade piste will also be open for your first runs of the season!
The timings for the various events is as follows:
Saturday 5th December
10am – Opening of the fair and Christmas Market
4:00pm – Broomball match on the outdoor ice rink in the Tourist Office Square
5:00pm – 2016 Mountain Euro Cup / Tourist Office Square
-Presentation of participating countries and teams
-2016 Mountain Euro Cup Random Draw
5:30pm – Inauguration of the fair and official start of the season in the Tourist Office Square
6:00pm – 2015/16 Winter Fashion show (skiwear, sportswear & underwear) in the Tourist Office Square
8:30pm – Magnus League Ice-Hockey Match HCMAG vs Bordeaux / Skoda Arena
(check the Source Facebook on how to win free tickets to the game)
Morzine Winter Night Party in the resort’s bars and clubs
Sunday 6th December
11:30am – Winter season Blessing by the Parish Priest at the Morzine Church
12pm – Brassband “Edelweiss” Concert
4pm – Christmas Carols accompanied by Ars Sonora Chimes at the Tourist Office Square
Image: Juli Monteolivia
