I feel like Bordeaux needs a break after this holiday season as finding events for this weekend’s list was a bit challenging. Nevertheless, there are a few nice events you can attend and a lot of good exhibition you can see this weekend. The good news is that starting next week, Bordeaux is back on track with plenty of events and activities. You can read about all the interesting events taking place in January here. Like last week, I added some suggestions for more stuff you can do while in Bordeaux, so check them out at the end of the list. If it’s raining check out my article about things to do in Bordeaux when it’s raining. Here’s the list of things to do this weekend in Bordeaux (January 3-5).
Ateliers Light painting
This Sunday the Base sous Marine invites you to a workshop of light painting as part of the Light painting exhibition that is currently being presented there. The workshop is free but you must register in advance. For more details click here.
When: January 5, at 15:00 / Where: Boulevard Alfred Daney, 33000 Bordeaux
A traditional marionette theater
Guignol Guérin is the oldest family-run marionette theater in France. While their well-known show runs in the summer, the theater’s winter edition is only two years old and plays at the center of Bordeaux. Their traditional spectacle takes place in Théâtre l’Inox between December 26 and January 5. For more details click here.
When: December 26 to January 5 / Where: 13 Rue Fernand Philippart, 33000 Bordeaux
Atelier Enfants – Mucha Et L’art Nouveau
This Saturday (January 4) Institut Bernard Magrez will host a creative workshop for kids. The theme of the workshop is Muche and Art Nouveau style of art. The workshop is open to kids over 5 years old. For more details and registration click here.
When: January 4, at 14:30 / Where: 16 rue de Tivoli, 33000 Bordeaux
Free museums Sunday
Like in most cities in France, the first Sunday of the month is a free museums day. You have a free entrance to all the public museums and to most exhibitions. Check out the full list of museums in Bordeaux that you can visit for free this Sunday.
IBOAT • Groove bordel party
The Groove Bordel hosted by the Iboat, is a fun event for groove lovers, mixing different music genres from disco to funk and hip hop. The event will take place this Saturday evening, for more details click here.
When: January 4, at 23:00 / Where: Bassin à Flot n°1, Cours Henri Brunet, 33300 Bordeaux
Sport sur les quais
A free sport event will take place this Sunday (January 5) on the Quai des Chartrons. If adding some sport to your life is on your new resolutions list this year, why not join a fun guided session at the center of Bordeaux :). You can then quit in February like everybody else. For more details click here.
When: January 5, at 15:30 / Where: 24 Quai des Chartrons, 33000 Bordeaux
Arcachon still celebrates Christmas
If you’re moody about Christmas being over there is one place that continues the Christmas spirit just a little bit longer. The Christmas market in Arcachon will be open until January 5th and it even has an ice skating rink, so it’s a great place to go to with kids. For more details click here.
When: December 14 – December 5 / Where: Place Thiers, Arcachon
Exhibitions to see this weekend
Visites commentées – exposition Memphis Plastic Field
Memphis is a movement founded in 1981 by Ettore Sottsass, an Italian architect and designer, which united many young artists who dreamed of shattering the codes of modernism and rationalism. The works of this movement had a great effect on the European design landscape in the past three decades. It has radically changed the language of shapes and colors, focusing on the presence of the object rather than its functionality. Bordeaux’s museum of design is hosting the Memphis exhibition until January 5, so it’s your last chance to see it. The museum will offer guided tours of the exhibition every day this weekend (January 3-5). For more details click here.
When: January 3-5, at 15:00 / Where: 39 Rue Bouffard, 33000 Bordeaux
Exposition Humans – Exhibition
For the first time in Bordeaux, L’institut Bernard Magrez will reunite some of the best contemporary artists of China in one exhibition. Exposition Humans deal with the representation of the human body at the heart of the evolution of Chinese society in the last few years. The exhibition includes more than 50 works of photographers, sculptors, painters and more. The exhibition will be presented until February 16. For more details click here.
When: January 2-5 / Where: 16 rue de Tivoli, 33000 Bordeaux
La déferlante surf – last chance to see it
The Atlantic coast of the south-west of France is a popular destination for surfers these days and it looks like this sport has always been here. But did you know that surfing was actually introduced to Europe through our region in the 50s? it then only makes sense that Musée d’Aquitaine, which explores the history of the region, will also explore the surfing culture in Aquitaine. The déferlante surf exhibition deals with different aspects of surfing from the sport itself to its economic and environmental influences. Among others, the items presented include videos, sounds, different traditional objects, images from different beaches and more. The exhibition will be presented until January 5th. If you go to the museum on January 5th the entry will be free. For more details click here.
When: Until January 5th / Where: 20 Cours Pasteur, 33000 Bordeaux
Muséum de Bordeaux – Rire!
According to scientific research, we laugh 18 times a day on average. Laughter, however, is not unique to us human beings, different animal species also have different expressions of laughter in their language. The super fun exhibition at the natural history museum in Bordeaux offers different activities that provoke laughter. It’s a very interactive and kids friendly exhibition that includes videos, sounds, games, and painting. This is your last chance to see the exhibition as it ends on January 6! For more details click here.
When: Until January 26 / Where: 5 Place Bardineau, 33000 Bordeaux (in Jadin public)
More things you can do while in Bordeaux
Explore the main market in Bordeaux
Capucins is the main market of Bordeaux and its a real treat for foodies with plenty of cafes, restaurants and stalls with local produce. If none of the events this weekend interest you, you can always spend your time there, sipping white wine with oysters from Arcachon. When heading there check out my article about the best places to eat at Marche des Capucins.
Eat the sweet specialties of Bordeaux
The Christmas weekend is a good time to discover the local sweets of the region. Bordeaux offers a variety of pastries and chocolates that you can find only in the southwest of France. If you want to discover these sweet spots you can follow my article about the sweet specialties of Bordeaux.
Discover the foodie streets of Bordeaux
Staying in foodie mood, you can also explore some of the foodie streets in Bordeaux. These are the places where you can find the best bakeries, coffee shops, cheese shops and more. They are not always on the tourist trail and not always easy to find and that’s why I decided to write an article about the foodie streets of Bordeaux.
Go to one of Bordeaux’s museums
Last but not least, if it’s too cold outside, going to a museum is always a good idea! Bordeaux has a great variety of museums, from street art to science and history, just choose one from my list of museums in Bordeaux.
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