There are loads of events organised year-round throughout Les Arcs and the surrounding area. From quirky local events to large scale sporting spectacles there is always something worth a gander. In this section, we bring you information about the major annual events in resort, and don't forget to check out our weekly calender for the latest updates.
Wondering what to do this Christmas and New Year? The festive season in the snowy Alps is always magical and every year there is some sort of celebration in resort to mark the occasion. Christmas is a far less commercial event in France than in the UK and so you won’t find things publicised for months in advance - but you can always be sure of a glass of vin chaud (mulled wine), a few carols and perhaps the odd firework or two!
Many of the restaurants will put on a special festive menu with champagne and traditional French dishes, so book in advance if you want to treat yourself to a meal out. Likewise, planning ahead is advised if you have your heart set on ringing in the New Year in a particular bar or club – many of them are ticket-only, so enquire in advance to avoid disappointment!
Les Arcs celebrates Christmas with a torch lit descent of the pistes, a firework display and a visit from Father Christmas in each of the resorts during the week leading up to the 25th.
The New Year is welcomed in each resort with a torch lit descent and a firework display.
To find out exactly what Les Arcs has in store this year have a look at our What’s On Calendar. To get a feel for what Les Arcs nightlife is all about, take a look at our Dining & Going Out Guide.
French Ski Joering Championships - January
Every year, the speed and slalom ski Joëring championships take place in Les Arcs. If you don’t know what it is, picture a water skier and a horse….now put the two together on the snow and you have Ski Joëring!
There are generally three parts to the competition: The Giant Slalom, The Slalom and the Speed test. All types of horses can compete in the event, and competitors are judged on a combination of horsemanship, the power of their horse and their precision and speed around the course.
In honour of the man who co-founded the resort of Les Arcs, locals and visitors join forces in this fun and friendly ski race held in Arc 2000. The Robert Blanc Derby takes place when the pistes have closed, starting from the top of the Transarc gondola lift at 2600m, and finishing in Pré St Esprit (1822m). The aim is to complete the 1000m descent as quickly as possible by your preferred mountain discipline (ski, board, telemark, mono…..)
Over 500 well-wishers come to pay their tributes to Robert (who was sadly killed in an avalanche in 1980) every year by participating in the Derby and the subsequent ceremony.
The event ends in the small village of Pré St Esprit with a buffet of Savoyard specialities. The area is known for its fine sausages (diots), small pasta-like shapes known as crozets and the famous tartiflette, a calorie-laden combo of onions, bacon, potato, cream and reblochon cheese; ideal after a day's exertion in the cold.
The Flying Kilometre (Kilomètre Lancé) - April
Arguably the most spectacular event in the winter sports calendar, the grand final of the speed skiing season returns to its spiritual home in Les Arcs.
Speed skiing is also known as Kilomètre Lancé (“Flying Kilometre”), and consists of travelling as fast as possible along a one kilometre stretch of piste, with the benefit of several hundred metres of near-vertical run-up. Timing is automatic, beginning and ending when the skier is still in motion.
A kamikaze nightmare to some, a heroic pursuit to others, the discipline has been a specialty at Les Arcs since the resort was assigned the event during the Albertville Olympics in 1992. Helmets, poles and suits are designed with minimal air-resistance in mind, and the high-tech equipment enables skiers to reach speeds of up to 250 kilometres an hour.
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