French Christmas in July market coming to Canberra

A village of chalets, shipped all the way from Europe for authenticity, will pop-up at the National Rose Garden this winter to give Canberrans a taste of a magical white Christmas.

There will be stalls boasting sweet and savoury crepes, melted cheese stations and plenty of mulled wine and hot chocolate to keep you warm.

Countless fairy lights, fake snow and Christmas carols will set the scene for the event hoped to draw Canberrans out into the winter chill.

Festival director Vincent Hernandez hoped the event would provide a dash of festivity as Canberrans dream of their rainchecked European holiday plans.

"We are really excited to bring this unique Christmas in July experience to Canberra," he said.

"In a time when we cannot travel, we hope to transport people to a magical and festive place and bring the feel of Strasbourg's most beautiful winter Christmas market to Australia's capital city."

The experience includes "Snow Lane", which features Christmas trees and canons shooting out fake snow, as well as a firepit to roast marshmallows and a mulled wine garden.

As coronavirus restrictions made large events impossible last year, the markets are one of several events planned in the ACT to attract crowds back outside for winter.

The French Christmas in July market will be open from 10am to 10.30pm at the National Rose Garden from July 1 to 4.

The event started at The Rocks in Sydney in 2018, and was also held there in 2019.

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