Christmas wishes for in-laws USA families love to send at the holidays carry warmth, gratitude, and a little American cheer. Whether you are writing to your mother-in-law in Texas, your father-in-law in Ohio, or your brother-in-law and sister-in-law across the country, the right words can make the family dinner feel even closer. This list brings together heartfelt, funny, and short messages made for American homes, snowy mornings, and long drives home for Christmas. In-laws become family in the truest sense at Christmas. They welcome you to the table, share treasured recipes, cheer for the same football team, and help trim the tree. A thoughtful wish thanks them for that welcome and tells them how much their love means through the year. Use these 45 wishes in a card, a text, a holiday letter, or a toast at the table. Pick one that fits your family, add a personal line about a shared memory, and send it early so it arrives before the turkey is carved and the eggnog is poured. Last up...
The best things to do at Christmas in Lyon pair Europe's most spectacular light festival with France's gastronomic capital at its most festive. Around December 8, 2026 — expected December 5–8 — the Fête des Lumières (Festival of Lights) turns the city into a glowing open-air gallery, while the Marché de Noël (Christmas market), Ferris wheel, and cozy bouchons keep the magic going. Joyeux Noël (Merry Christmas) — here is your 2026 plan.
Last updated: September 22, 2026
Jump to:
Fête des Lumières |
Christmas Market |
Bouchon Dinner |
River Cruise |
Fourvière Basilica |
Vieux Lyon Traboules |
Place Bellecour Ferris Wheel |
Croix-Rousse |
Saint-Jean Cathedral |
Rue de la République |
Illuminated Bridges |
Ice Rink |
Confluence District |
Beaujolais Day Trip |
Vin Chaud & Treats |
FAQs
1. Experience the Fête des Lumières (Festival of Lights)
Four evenings of monumental light installations across the whole city. What began in 1643, when citizens lit candles to thank the Virgin Mary for sparing Lyon from the plague, is now a free celebration drawing some four million visitors — projections on the Hôtel de Ville, animated Renaissance facades, and rivers that double every glow. Go on the second or third evening to dodge the worst crowds, and dress for 2–7°C nights.
2. Browse the Marché de Noël at Place Carnot
Lyon's main Christmas market fills Place Carnot, near Perrache station, with roughly 100 wooden chalets selling crafts, ornaments, cheeses, and warming food from late November through Christmas Eve — arrive hungry for pralines roses, bugnes, and mulled wine.
3. Dine in a Traditional Bouchon
A Christmas visit demands dinner in a bouchon, Lyon's historic bistros serving quenelles (pike dumplings in creamy sauce), tablier de sapeur, and Lyonnais sausages. Look for the official "Bouchons Lyonnais" plaque on the door — it marks the real thing.
4. Take an Evening River Cruise
A night cruise on the Rhône or Saône gives front-row views of the illuminated city without the walking. December cruises run heated cabins with mulled wine service and dinner options from simple tastings to full multi-course menus.
5. Visit Fourvière Basilica After Dark
Fourvière Basilica, above Vieux Lyon, is the spiritual heart of the festival: its white facade becomes a giant projection screen, and the esplanade gives panoramic views over the glittering city. Take the funicular up from Vieux Lyon station.
6. Wander the Traboules of Vieux Lyon
Vieux Lyon's Renaissance traboules — secret covered passageways between buildings — feel made for December evenings. Roughly 40 are open to the public (look for bronze plaques), and string lights across the cobbled streets complete the medieval mood.
7. Ride the Ferris Wheel at Place Bellecour
Place Bellecour, one of Europe's largest squares, hosts Lyon's giant Ferris wheel (grande roue) each winter plus a traditional carousel. A ride at dusk delivers sweeping views of the Christmas-lit Presqu'île and the installations below.
8. Explore Croix-Rousse's Alternative Installations
Croix-Rousse, historic home of Lyon's silk weavers (canuts), hosts the festival's more experimental, community-made installations. The mood is less touristy and more authentically Lyonnais, with elevated viewpoints over the glowing city.
9. See Saint-Jean Cathedral by Night
Saint-Jean Cathedral in Vieux Lyon, partly dating to the 12th century, anchors the city's religious Christmas: its facade is often transformed by projection mapping, candlelit services run through the season, and the astronomical clock inside is one of France's oldest.
10. Do Christmas Shopping on Rue de la République
December turns this grand avenue into a tunnel of festive light linking Place Bellecour to Place des Terreaux — the two squares with the largest installations — so shopping and sightseeing blend. Detour to Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse for gourmet gift hampers.
11. Walk the Illuminated Bridges
Pont Bonaparte, Pont Lafayette, and their neighbors become artworks during the festival, restructured by beams, projections, and LEDs. A loop from Bellecour across to Vieux Lyon is quieter than the central squares, and the river reflections double the spectacle.
12. Skate at the Place Bellecour Ice Rink
Each December, Place Bellecour adds a temporary outdoor ice rink beside the Ferris wheel — one of Lyon's most family-friendly Christmas activities, set against grand facades and holiday lights. Weekday afternoons are the quietest.
13. See Modern Christmas in the Confluence District
Where the Rhône and Saône meet, the Confluence district shows off 21st-century architecture — the crystalline Musée des Confluences and the orange "Cube". Installations here are the festival's most contemporary, a sharp contrast to the Renaissance quarters upriver.
14. Take a Day Trip to Beaujolais Wine Country
Thirty to 45 minutes north, the Beaujolais vineyards wear their winter colors beautifully, and Gamay wines pair perfectly with Lyonnais cuisine. December tastings are quiet and personal — including the year's Beaujolais Nouveau (released each third Thursday of November) — and the village of Oingt wears holiday decor.
15. Warm Up with Vin Chaud and Lyonnais Treats
Street-level indulgence is mandatory: steaming vin chaud (mulled wine), roasted chestnuts, and pralines roses — pink sugared almonds that turn brioches brightly festive. Vendors cluster around the major installations, and Vieux Lyon cafes serve hot chocolate thick enough to stand a spoon in.
FAQs: Visiting Lyon at Christmas
When is the Fête des Lumières in 2026?
Four evenings around December 8 each year; in 2026 it is expected to span approximately December 5–8. Confirm exact dates on the official festival site before booking.
Is the Festival of Lights free?
Yes — every installation is free. Budget instead for hotels (book months ahead; December rates spike) and TGV fares, which rise closer to the dates.
How many days do I need in Lyon at Christmas?
Plan three nights: one to two evenings for the Fête des Lumières, one day for the Christmas market, Vieux Lyon, and gastronomy, and one day for Beaujolais.
What should I pack for Lyon in December?
Expect 2–7°C with frequent rain. Pack waterproof boots with grip for cobblestones, thermal layers, an insulated jacket, phone-compatible gloves, and a compact umbrella — you will walk for hours in the cold.
Is Lyon good for Christmas with kids?
Yes — the installations delight children, and the Bellecour ice rink, carousel, and Ferris wheel add classic family fun. Bouchons and brasseries welcome families, especially at lunch.
How do I get to Lyon?
TGV trains reach Lyon in about two hours from Paris; Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport connects to major European cities, with the Rhônexpress tram to the center in about 30 minutes. During the festival, the metro runs extended hours and installation zones are pedestrianized.
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