Every December, before the Christmas panic takes hold of our lives, the town of Épernay and a host of committed partners prepare a very special gift: the Habits de Lumière festival. Since the first festival in 2000, Épernay has offered a program so full of surprises that this festive long weekend has become an essential date in the region's calendar.
Welcoming both locals and international travelers for the occasion, Épernay's prestigious Avenue de Champagne is transformed into a magical place with a sparkling atmosphere. The epicenter of champagne production and wine tourism - a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015 - closes to traffic and sets up numerous champagne bars, music stages and gastronomic stands to delight the most discerning palates and champagne lovers.
Jazz singers, musicians, performance artists, light installations and creative video mappings add their own festive magic to the historic buildings. This eventful program will delight families with children and champagne connoisseurs alike.
Many of the champagne houses on the Avenue de Champagne will also be hosting tastings, offering special tours throughout the day, and transforming their inner courtyards into champagne bars in the evening. These include some of the most exclusive names such as Champagne Pol Roger, Champagne Perrier-Jouët, Champagne Leclerc-Briant, Champagne de Venoge, Champagne Moët & Chandon or Champagne Mercier, to name but a few (see the full program updates on the Habits de Lumière website, link at the end of this article).
Highlights of this sparkling program
Habits de Saveurs
As part of this festive weekend, some of the region's most famous and starred chefs cook up creative recipes at the Saturday morning market in the center of Épernay. In front of the market's visitors, they offer a glimpse of their culinary art and cuisine that goes well with champagne.
Each chef teams up with a champagne house to showcase one of its vintages in an exceptional pairing. While seeing the chefs in action and listening to their advice is a pleasure in itself, the best part is tasting the gastronomic delights on offer to the curious public.
When's the event? Saturday 10.12.2022 from 09:00 to 12:30
Where? Épernay market
How to get there : Free access
Food and champagne pairing sessions
Franck Wolfert, trainer in champagne tasting techniques, will host four free food and champagne pairing sessions on Saturday. A selection of champagnes from Avenue de Champagne houses and winemakers will be paired with gourmet bites during these 40-minute sessions. A not-to-be-missed event for all champagne lovers!
When is the event? Saturday 10.12.2022 - four sessions available (2:00 pm, 3:00 pm, 4:00 pm or 5:00 pm)
Where? Épernay Town Hall (l'Hôtel de Ville located at 7 bis Avenue de Champagne)
How to get there : Free offer with limited seating (reservation required, see details on the Habits de Lumièr website). Habits de Lumière website)
Classic car parade
The Habits de Lumière weekend traditionally ends with a vintage car parade featuring cars whose owners come from all over France and abroad to take part in Épernay's festivities.
When is the event? Sunday 11.12.2022 - The gathering and display of cars begins at 8:30 a.m., and the final parade through the streets of Épernay starts at 11:00 a.m.
Where? Épernay town center
How to get there : Free access
Special offers from champagne producers
The 3 Domaines
(Champagne Patrick Boivin, Champagne, Vincent Testulat, Champagne Janisson-Baradon)
When will it take place? Friday 9.12.2022, Saturday 10.12.2022 and Sunday 11.12.2022
Where? 1 avenue de Champagne
Where? Champagne bar
Champagne Moët & Chandon
When? Friday 9.12.2022, Saturday 10.12.2022 and Sunday 11.12.2022
Where? 9 and 20 avenue de Champagne
Where? Cellar tours and tastings (daily from 9.30am to 5pm), champagne sales (daily from 9.30am to 6pm), champagne bar with music (Friday and Saturday from 5pm), illuminations of the Orangerie garden (Friday and Saturday from 7pm).
Champagne Perrier-Jouët
When? Friday 9.12.2022, Saturday 10.12.2022, and Sunday 11.12.2022
Where? 24, 26, and 28 avenue de Champagne
What's on? Tours of the Belle Époque cellar (Friday and Saturday, 12 pm to 3 pm and 6 pm to 10 pm, Sunday 10 am to 4 pm), illumination of facades.
Champagne Collard-Picard
When? Friday 9.12.2022, Saturday 10.12.2022 and Sunday 11.12.2022
Where? 15, avenue de Champagne
Where? Champagne bar (Friday and Saturday), champagne boutique (daily from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm), tapas bar, facade illumination.
Champagne Pol Roger
When? Friday 9.12.2022 and Saturday 10.12.2022
Where? 34, avenue de Champagne
What's on? Champagne bar (Friday and Saturday from 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm), live music with the Olivia Begyn Quartet, facade illumination.
Champagne Esterlin
When? Friday 9.12.2022 and Saturday 10.12.2022
Where? 25, avenue de Champagne
What's on? Tastings (Friday and Saturday from 9.00am), champagne and oyster bar with sushi and other snacks (Friday and Saturday from 6.00pm), live music with the band Brothers (from 7.30pm), facade illumination
Champagne Leclerc-Briant
When? Friday 9.12.2022, Saturday 10.12.2022 and Sunday 11.12.2022
Where? 25 bis, avenue de Champagne
What? Champagne boutique (daily from 11:00am to 5:30pm), champagne bar and "Green Monkey" food truck (Friday and Saturday from 6:00pm to 11:00pm), musical entertainment, cellar tours (by reservation only; please contact the house directly or book in their boutique)
Champagne A. Bergère
When? Friday 9.12.2022, Saturday 10.12.2022 and Sunday 11.12.2022
Where? 38 and 40, avenue de Champagne
Where? Champagne tastings in the boutique (daily from 10.00am to 6.00pm), champagne bar and snack bar (Friday and Saturday from 5.30pm), live music with Orchestre Ambre 9, illumination of the facades.
Champagne De Venoge
When? Friday 9.12.2022, Saturday 10.12.2022 and Sunday 11.12.2022
Where? 33, avenue de Champagne
What's on? Champagne bar, food truck and music (Friday and Saturday, 10.00am to midnight), facade illumination, "L'Écurie" champagne bar (Sunday, 10.00am to 5.00pm).
Champagne Boizel
When? Friday 9.12.2022, Saturday 10.12.2022 and Sunday 11.12.2022
Where? 46, avenue de Champagne
What? Champagne bar, food truck and live music with La Dent Rose (Friday and Saturday 6.00 pm to midnight), cellar tours (English tour daily at 11.30 am, French tour daily at 2.30 pm), "L'Atelier 1834" champagne boutique (daily 11.00 am to 4.00 pm).
Champagne Michel Gonet
When? Friday 9.12.2022, Saturday 10.12.2022 and Sunday 11.12.2022
Where? 37, avenue de Champagne
Where? Champagne tastings in the boutique (every day from 10.30am), champagne bar with music (Friday and Saturday).
Champagne Paul-Etienne Saint Germain
When? Friday 9.12.2022, Saturday 10.12.2022 and Sunday 11.12.2022
Where? 51 avenue de Champagne
What? Champagne tastings in the boutique (Friday and Saturday from 11:30am to 5:00pm, Sunday from 11:00am to 1:00pm), champagne bar, snacks and music (Friday and Saturday from 5:30pm), illumination of the façade.
Champagne De Castellane
When? Friday 9.12.2022, Saturday 10.12.2022 and Sunday 11.12.2022
Where? 63 avenue de Champagne
What? Cellar tours and champagne tastings (daily 10.00am-12.00pm and 2.00pm-5.00pm), video mapping on the façade (Friday and Saturday)
Champagne Elodie D.
When? Friday 9.12.2022, Saturday 10.12.2022 and Sunday 11.12.2022
Where? 71-73 avenue de Champagne
What? Champagne bar and boutique with snacks and local products (Friday and Saturday from 11.00am, Sunday from 11.00am to 7.00pm), music and dance floor.
Champagne Mercier
When? Friday 9.12.2022, Saturday 10.12.2022 and Sunday 11.12.2022
Where? 68-70 avenue de Champagne
Where? Cellar tours and tastings (daily 9:30am-4:30pm), champagne boutique (daily 9:30am-5:00pm), façade illumination.
Champagne Comtesse Lafond
When? Friday 9.12.2022, Saturday 10.12.2022 and Sunday 11.12.2022
Where? 79 avenue de Champagne
Where? Champagne store and tastings (every day from 10.00am to 5.00pm), guided tours of Domaine Comtesse Lafond (by reservation only, please contact them directly), illumination of the façade.
Syndicat Général des Vignerons de la Champagne
When? Friday 9.12.2022, Saturday 10.12.2022 and Sunday 11.12.2022
Where? 17-19 avenue de Champagne
What? Champagne bar with a selection of champagnes from producers (and some winemakers), food truck, music (Friday and Saturday from 6pm to midnight), champagne tastings at the "19, Avenue de Champagne" boutique (open Sundays from 11am to 7pm).
Champagne Mailliard
When? Friday 9.12.2022, Saturday 10.12.2022 and Sunday 11.12.2022
Where? 64 avenue de Champagne
What's on? Champagne bar and music (Friday and Saturday)
