What to do in Lyon in November? Despite the cold and gloom that are slowly settling in, staying in bed is out of the question. Just the thing: the editors of Lyon Secret have put together a host of culturalactivities and outings for everyone. Exhibitions, concerts, unusual activities, immersive experiences… Follow our schedule, you won’t be bored!
Immerse yourself in the magic of a candlelit concert
You’re already familiar with Candlelight‘s innovative concept of candlelight concerts, which dust off the classical repertoire and bring it up to date. The greatest classical composers are brought to light, but that’s not all! The anthems of real rock and pop stars are also revisited. Coldplay, Pink Floyd, Muse… all lit up by thousands of candles in Lyon’s most iconic venues. In short, there’s bound to be a Candlelight concert for you!
Locations: Several iconic Lyon venues (Chapelle de la Trinité, Basilique Saint Bonaventure, Temple du Change)
Date: Multiple dates
Price: from €19
Get ready for the 70th edition of the legendary SaintéLyon
It’s the end-of-year event that all sports enthusiasts look forward to. And that’s understandable, because the challenge is huge! With 82 kilometers to cover, runners will have to cover almost two marathons to get from Saint-Étienne to Lyon. But rest assured, there’s something for every level, with 8 solo or relay race formats ranging from 13 to … 194 kilometers! It’s an undeniably legendary event, to be experienced with your sneakers on, or clapping your hands to cheer on the runners at the finish.
Enjoy a good meal at a Bouillon
There’s nothing quite as comforting as a hot meal. Organize a restaurant outing in one of the city’s bouillons with the people of your choice and share a good time! What is a bouillon? It’s a restaurant serving typical French dishes, such as onion soup or a plate of purée saucisse. The basic concept was to provide fast, high-quality, affordable meals for the working classes who came to eat there during their working day. Today, there are still a few of them left, and we’ve compiled a list of the best in Lyon!
Treat yourself to a blind dinner
Turn off the lights, turn on your taste buds. Dining in the Dark is a unique bistronomic experience in which the view gives way to the taste buds, bringing out the full flavours of your dish. Especially for the occasion, Harner, an intimate wine bar and tapas restaurant, will be concocting an ephemeral menu for guests to discover blindfolded. Meat, fish or vegetarian, choose your menu color, and the Harner’s chefs and waiters (and your taste buds) will do the rest.
Location: Le Harner, 70 rue des Rancy, 69003 Lyon
Date: Multiple dates
Price: €65
Discover the works of illustrator Charline Picard in the exhibition “On Embarque”.
Charline Picard is an illustrator specializing in children’s books. Based in Lyon, she creates albums combining fiction and documentary, in which nature plays a predominant role. Her artistic approach combines traditional techniques, such as drawing and painting, with digital tools. From November 19, the “On Embarque” exhibition invites you to discover her original gouache works and the various stages in her creative process, from pencil sketch to final book. Water, in all its forms, is omnipresent. Through her illustrations, immerse yourself in captivating tales of adventure, with elements such as a giant shark, a pop-up waterfall and even a heroic little otter. The icing on the cake? Admission is free!
Location: 2/4 avenue Marcel-Houël – 69200 Vénissieux
Date: Multiple dates
Price: free admission!
Marvel at the Christmas Market
Granted, it’s still a little early. But then again, at Lyon Secret, the Christmas season is declared as soon as there’s a breath of fresh air! We’ll have to wait a little longer to taste the mulled wine, but from November 22, the Christmas market will be taking place in Lyon! We can ‘t wait for the original gift ideas, the many regional products to sample and the maple syrup temple that takes us back to North America!
Location: Place Carnot, 69002
Date: From November 22
Get involved at the Festival des Solidarités Internationales
From November 16 to 30, take part in the 2024 edition of the Festival des Solidarités Internationales! This annual event, organized by the City of Lyon and the Maison des Solidarités Locales et Internationales, showcases the international solidarity initiatives of Lyon’s associative network. Throughout the festival, meet the people working for a fairer, more united and sustainable world. Celebrate the opening of the festival at Lyon City Hall! On Saturday November 16, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 45 associations will welcome you to the Hôtel de Ville for discussions and interactive workshops on major themes such as education, the environment, health and living together.
Location: 1 Place de la Comédie, 69001 Lyon
Date: November 16 to 30
An unusual painting workshop
After the blind dinner, the blind painting workshop! If you’re looking for a challenge and an evening out of the ordinary, you’re invited to take part in Neon Brush, an unusual activity where, equipped with phosphorescent paint that reveals itself under neon lights, you’ll have to demonstrate your creativity on a canvas, and create a masterpiece that you can then take home.
📍 Le Dérobé, 21 rue Dumont, 69004 Lyon
Travel to Confluence for a dinner show
Want to shake up the archetypal codes of cabaret for an unusual and innovative experience in the company of the best music-hall artists? Trained in the greatest international cabarets and on the stages of renowned shows, the peerless artists of the YACK Stories company invite you to a prestigious venue in Lyon, the Docks Circus, for an original dinner-show. With acrobatics, costumes and gastronomic surprises concocted by chef Anthony Brunet, you’ll be amazed at Crazy World at Docks Circus every Saturday evening until April.
Location: Docks Circus, 45 Quai Rambaud, 69002 Lyon
Date: Multiple dates
Price: from €74
Go to Japan Touch (November 30 and December 1)
It’s back every year to take us on a journey to the land of the rising sun. Japan Touch takes up residence at Lyon Eurexpo ! With hundreds of booths, events, guests, workshops and more, everything related to Japan will be represented! Whether you’re a manga fan, an enthusiast of Japanese culture or just curious, this huge show is well worth the detour! You’ll even be able to sample a multitude of Japanese dishes and specialities between two stands to keep your strength up.
📍 Location: Eurexpo Lyon
📅 Date: November 30 and December 1
🎟️ Admission from €11 in advance for Sunday, free for children under 10.
🕒 Opening hours: Saturday, 1am to 7pm; Sunday, 10am to 6pm
Bonus: Anticipate your first ski session less than two hours from home!
The 2024 – 2025 ski season is just around the corner! Several resorts around Lyon will be opening soon , so why not get in a little session before Christmas? As we all know, skiing outside the school vacation period is the best way to get the most out of the season without queuing at the ski lift and paying full price for your ski pass. And there’s no better way to enjoy a delicious raclette after a day’s skiing or snowboarding… hear, hear!