What's on in Meribel for winter 2018/19

France’s top athletes will compete in a vertical race and team event on Méribel’s pistes and peaks. Watch the mass start and cheer on the contestants as they tackle gruelling climbs, tricky technical sections and daring off-piste descents on their course around les 3 Vallées.

Christmas is a magical time to be in the snowy Alps and the celebrations are refreshingly less commercialised than in the UK. On Christmas Eve, carols are sung in Méribel’s village square, Father Christmas makes a visit in a horse-drawn sled after a fairy-tale parade of stilt walkers and acrobats, and torchlight descents and firework displays are held on the snow. Religious services are also held on Christmas Eve, while the 25th is a quieter day with deliciously empty slopes for skiers to enjoy.

Whether you are a mountain bike addict or new to the sport, there is something to discover at this week-long free event. Test the latest bikes, discover the joys of electric mountain bikes, take a tour on snow on special fat bikes, and learn all about Méribel as a summer biking Mecca. There are stands, exhibitions half-day outings plus gourmets lunches and free tests of snowscoots and bikes. The Winter Tour is held at Mottaret Centre on the snow, so arrive on foot or on skis.

This guarantees to be the most spectacular competition of the season and it is one not to miss, even if terrain parks are not your usual scene. For those unfamiliar with slopestyle, the sport involves skiers and boarders going down a course of rails, jumps and other obstacles, performing tricks that combine spins, grabs, grinds and flips. Twin tip skis allow skiers to go backwards down part of the course, and epic crashes are not uncommon. This French Cup will see top athletes performing extraordinary jumps and tricks, launching themselves into the air from specially built ramps the size of houses. The competition is held in Mottaret’s DC Area 43 terrain park, so make sure you swing by to catch some of the action.

A week-long party on the snow, back for its sixth year. This fun-packed week combines skiing, live music, DJs and comedy in various locations around the resort. As the days grow longer and the temperatures milder, this is a great week to come to Méribel and let your hair down in the sunshine then party late into the night. Expect some big names: previous festivals featured comedy from Marcus Brigstocke and music from Newton Falkner.

Méribel has earned a reputation for excellent après-ski music, and the Rond-Point (affectionately known as “the Ronnie”) is regularly rated as one of the Alps’ top après-ski venues. What could be better than a whole week of live music performed on its sunny terrace? Back for its seventh year, this family-friendly festival combines the best local groups with big-name imports from the UK, such as last year’s appearance by top DJ Normal Jay. To add to the fun, a big-air contest is held next to the bar. What could possibly go wrong?

The last big event of the season, this is Méribel’s festival-in-a-day. Held in Méribel Village, this charity event combines music and DJs, fancy dress, fantastic food and a brilliant end-of-season vibe. It’s popular with seasonaires and families thanks to the special children’s area. Expect more big names, such as DJ Joe Wiley, and all the money raised goes to great causes.

For more weekly events taking place in Meribel over the winter and beyond, keep an eye on our events calendar here.