Spring activities with kids ⋆

Do you like Spring time just as much as me? Well, maybe living or traveling in Aix-en-Provence will convince you. Therefore I will sum up some very cool Spring activities with kids in Aix and in the Provence.

Treasure hunt Josette la Poulette

The very creative Camille from Pirouette Bobinette has designed wonderful treasure hunts through Aix-en-Provence. It’s all about the chicken called Josette la Poulette, this year she became the mom of a baby chicken. But the name she wanted it to have, got stolen. Like detectives kids can search for indications through Aix, with the participating shops and museums. My kids loved the hunts from the previous years, they were a big hit. For me too, because it was a lovely way to encounter enthusiastic shop owners and to discover Aix even more. Around Easter you can get the accompanying little booklet (‘carnet de jeu’) at the Office de Tourisme or you can print it out at home. It’s even for free! Have fun!

Plunge into the world of cartoons

Looking for Easter and Spring activities for kids that are slightly older? BD Aix organizes the ‘Festival de Bande Dessinée et Art Associés in Aix-en-Provence. There will be many exhibitions and celebrations, all about cartoons, in their most arty appearance. Kids, young and older, are inviting to enjoy the work of artist and even to participate creating the art. In the Tourism Office of Aix is usually a large coloring plate waiting to be colored by kids. What is even more fun, is that during the festival, all kinds of workshops are held where kids can create their own cartoon art. You can find all the details in this folder of BD Aix.

Get an ice-cream at La Glacière, Cucuron

This ice cream shop just has everything. Delicious ice cream, creative coupes, a very friendly owner and a wonderful setting in a gorgeous village. From Spring on you are welcomed for the new season of La Glacière. When you pay a visit quickly after opening, you might be in time to admire the incredibly beautiful blossoms. Both along the Route d’Ansouis (D56) and next to the playground of Cucuron, there are magnificent fields of almond trees.

Besides visiting La Glacière, you could also find wonderful ice-cream shops like Loucau in Puyricard and l’Art Glacier in Ansouis on my website. After all, during the Spring holidays you would want an ice-cream a day right?

Visit a tennis game

Every year in Spring, there is a huge tennis event being organized at the Country Club Aixois in Puyricard. Promising and senior tennis talents from all over the world visit this little village (in my street!) to play this wonderful tournament. Last edition the famous Andy Murray won the finals. The great thing about this tennis tournament, which makes it one of the best Spring activities with kids, is that it’s free and without reservation. You can just come, wait a sec until there is a pause in the game and then take a seat. You won’t have to watch an entire game, as this might be too much for your kid. We have been visiting ever since we came to live here and will definitely go again this year.

Making and tasting macarons

My lucky daughter was invited for the birthday party of a sweet friend and they got to make macarons. How French is that? The wonderful and kind Nolwenn, who speaks both French and English, had the girls over in her ‘atelier’ and taught them how to make these delicacies. Lucky us too that she got to bring her macarons home! You can find Nolwenn and her delicious macarons on the market at Place de Prêcheurs on Thursdays and Saturdays, as well as in Puyricard on Fridays. I couldn’t think of a more perfect moment to eat macarons than with Easter. Nolwenn also organizes macaron workshops on demand for kids and adults from 6 years old. More info on her Instagram.

Easter egg hunts

I made you a list of the most lovely places where you take the kids for an Easter egg hunt. And they’re places where you get a very Provencal experience yourself.

Hotel de Caumont: in the beautiful heart of Aix-en-Provence, kids from 4 to 12 years can participate the Easter egg hunt and workshop. It involves a tour in the museum, a creative workshop and the egg hunt. During the workshop you have some you-time to visit the current exhibition for a reduced rate. Find more info here.
Musée du Calisson: this activity actually isn’t a chocolate egg hunt, but more of a hunt of calissons. These are the famous delicacies which are traditionally from Aix-en-Provence. Before the hunt starts, the kids get a tour through the (small) museum but also get a look into the calisson factory. More info about the calissons factory.
Chocolaterie de Puyricard: in the gardens of the chocolate factory situated close to Aix-en-Provence (very Willy Wonka), kids from 3 to 11 years can discover all kinds of games around chocolate. dans les jardins de la chocolaterie (très Willy Wonka), les enfant de 3 à 11 ans peuvent découvrir plusieurs jeux autour de chocolat sur le theme d’Alice aux Pays des Merveilles. Keep an eye on their socials when the reservations open.
Terre Ugo: this beautiful lavenderfield in Puyricard usually organises an Easter event together with Le Colibri Aix. On the agenda are a creative workshop and an Easter egg hunt.
Zoo la Barben: Zoo la Barben in Saint-Cannat is even more fun to visit around Easter. The kids can participate in a treasure hunt and there are big chocolate eggs to win. Keep an eye on the website to stay updated.
Chateau Paradis: our familiy has had the most wonderful time when we met other families for a chocolate egg hunt in the beautiful wine domaine of Chateau Paradis. Afterwards the kids could join some activities and parents were invited to take a look behind the scenes of wine production. Follow their socials to get to know the date.
La Coquillade Provence: this luxurious resort, close to Apt, is THE place for families that are keen to treat themselves on the most rich buffet you can wish for. And for kids they organise fun themed events, think dinosaurs or Willy Wonka. Think about bringing your creditcard as well, as this the price for the buffet and kids event is quite excessive too.

Workshop at Chocolaterie Puyricard

Chocolaterie de Puyricard, various moments in April and May 2024: at their chocolate heaven, Chocolathé in Puyricard, kids from 3 to 11 can create their own Easter bunny or lady bug during the fun workshops they organise. Price for a workshop of 1 hour and a delicious piece of chocolate is €24. Reservations go through their website.

Indus3days

In Spring the Tourism Office of Gardanne organizes the Indus3days. Visitors are invited to a huge variety of industries in the region. You can book a tour at the confection workshop of clothing brand Indies, or have a peak behind the scenes of Airbus, the production of calissons at Le Roy René, visit the waste processor Mat’ild or take a look in the chocolate factory of Puyricard. When the tickets and time slots are online, you can book your favorite tour via this website. Take a good look at the conditions, some tours are not accessible for young kids. But some are accessible for kids and how cool is this as a holiday activity. Last year I was so excited, I got a look behind the scenes at Cinema Pathé en learned more about the production of calissons at Leonard Parli.

Petit Architect

The bilingual Maïa organizes both French and English spoken workshops for kids that are interested in architecture. She set up Le Petit Architect in Vancouver, now she has introduced her concept in Aix-en-Provence. In the Spring holidays kids can design their own restaurant during a 4 days (3 hours long) workshop hosted in Aix-en-Provence. More info to be found here.

Ma Ferme

I already dedicated a blog to the wonderful farm shop Ma Ferme in Eguilles, a beautiful village next to Aix-en-Provence. This is even a more fun place to go to in springtime. In February the farm welcomed adorable baby goats, one look at them and you will have that spring feeling for sure. Ma Ferme has organized a cute chocolate egg hunt last year on Easter Sunday, which delivered us two happy kids. It’s a wonderful excuse to get yourself some beautiful plants and veggies from the region. Apart from the egg hunt, Ma Ferme also organizes fun kids ‘stages’ (all in French) during the Spring break. Peggy, the animator, has worked out a fun program for the young ones, where they learn about feeding the animals and harvesting vegetables as well as creating a basket for the chocolate eggs. You could make the reservation directly via Peggy on 07.81.07.06.04 .

Finally you have reached the end of this long list of fun family friendly activities in the Provence. I will update this blog with every cool other fun Easter and Spring activities with kids that I hear of. Enjoy the chocolate eggs!