The Festival of Lights with children

A selection of installations which have been specially chosen for families so that children can also make the most of the Festival.

The 2024 festival

• Not for sale : Neon signs advertising something other than consumer goods? That’s odd, but why not? They seem to have fled the streets and shops and are mutating before our very eyes, forming a kaleidoscopic moving tableau on the façade of the Temple du Change and conveying messages that truly resonate with us. Strange signs indeed. They flash and ripple, occupying the entire space, bumping into each other before they blend harmoniously into the background. Not for sale is a jubilant appeal to us all to view public spaces differently and try out alternative forms of consumption. Thursday 5, Friday 6 & Saturday 7: 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday 8: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Address  : Temple du Change, 2 rue de la Loge, Lyon 5ème.
• L'enfant lumière (The child of light): We follow the rather unusual protagonist of the story: a vintage light bulb in a hangar whose light never dims. It vibrates and travels through time and across frontiers. The world opens up to the child who discovers its magic. The film projected on the magnificent facades of the row of buildings draws us into the world of the enfant lumière so we can share the changing emotions of this child of light. We adore the intensity of the pared-back graphics with their pure monochrome lines. We let ourselves be embraced by the perfectly concordant music: notes of blues that float in the air against a backdrop of infinite landscapes that test the bounds of our imagination.  Address : Banks of the Saône.
• Le retour du petit géant (The return of the little giant): A sleeping child - the little giant - amuses himself by projecting his playful dreams onto the façades of the Fine Arts Museum and City Hall. This huge, colourful, effusive projection won the hearts of spectators back in 2008. Now, in 2024, the little giant is back, ready to open his toy box again and invite us to follow his meandering imagination. This delightful dreamscape is also intended to make us think about our place in this crazy world where only beauty and fantasy can redeem us. Are you prepared to suspend disbelief? Then, let’s follow in the footsteps of the little giant. Address : Place des Terreaux
• Brain dance : Eight illuminated puppets - between 6 and 8 metres tall - dance in the dark to the rhythm of an electronic soundtrack. You might recognise their faces - they represent the GAFAM*, the tech giants who hold sway over the web. Brain Dance is a colourful choreography: a cross between a large-scale audiovisual performance and a puppet show. When you look up at these inflatable effigies looming over us, you realise the colossal influence technology has over our lives. Yet these figures have no control over the elements and - who knows - might even be swayed by the unpredictable winds of time. Address : Place Louis Pradel
• Boum de lumières : It’s party time at the Festival of Lights, and the team at the Parc Sergent-Blandan are raring to go. If you enjoy dancing, being creative and having fun with all the family, then this is the place to be. The park welcomes families and children with myriad light-themed activities in the spirit of a village fête where everyone can join in. It’s all the fun of the fair for everyone with the “Tombolight” luminous coconut shy, video-projected drawings, a karaoke party, a collaborative fresco, dayglo mask and badge-making workshops, glittery face painting; you might even encounter some insects. The creative agency Scenitz has called upon the talents of six teams of local artists to bring this funfair to life. May the disco ball be your guide. 
  Time to join in and be creative! Every day from 5:30 pm to 9.30 pm during the Festival of Lights; Address Blandan's park
   

Recommandations

Public transport

During the event the metro, tram and certain bus lines run more frequently.
Special fares : December 8, Travel free after 4 p.m. / December 5 to 7, unlimited travel with the “Ticket famille” for a group of 2 to 5 people, with or without family ties, including at least 1 child aged between 4 and 17. More informations on the TCL website www.tcl.fr/en
 

Frequently asked questions

• Where can I get food at the festival ? 2 special food zones are installed during the festival:
  - Place Bellecour (2nd district)
  - Parc Blandan (7th district)
• Where are the public toilets ?  You can find the location of public toilets on the lyon.fr interactive map. 3 supervised toilets (Bellecour, St Jean and République) will be open from 8am to 11.30pm throughout the Fête des Lumières (7, 8, 9 and 10 December).

Activities to keep children occupied while they wait for the Festival of lights

Here are a few ideas to keep your children occupied while they wait for the Fête des Lumières to begin.

We wish you a happy Festival of Lights with your family!