So THAT'S how Santa gets down the chimney...

Stumbled upon some kind of "Noel magique" celebration in downtown Angouleme one Saturday evening when I went to the pharmacy to buy cough drops. 

When I got there, they were projecting lights onto the facade of the Hotel de Ville and blasting Christmas music in English, which I thought was a little odd.  I did hear Petit Papa Noel, at least.  That song is mandatory.

Then Santa Claus appeared at the top of the Hotel de Ville, waving at the children below.  The announcer said "Santa Claus is going to come down now!"  I thought he'd just come out the front of the Hotel de Ville - nope.  He rapelled down.

"Don't worry, kids, he does this all the time!"

Down the Hôtel de Ville Saint Nicholas came with a bound...

I really don't have any more good pictures, since I didn't think I'd need my camera to run to the pharmacy, so I'll try to describe the rest of the festivities.

After reaching the bottom, Santa Claus did a really awkward dance to "All I Want for Christmas Is You" while "elves" (teenagers wearing costumes, Santa hats, and a metric ton of glitter) frolicked around.

Then the announcer proclaimed that "Santa is going to show us his brand new toy!" which turned out to be another red-costumed girl who pretended to be a wind up doll, who when wound up would sing Disney songs in French (all of which I knew because watching Disney songs in French on Youtube is how I "study" the French language).  She also sang Joy to the World surprisingly well in English.

Then all the kids could go up to Santa and get candy.  This is when I chose to leave - there's a reason I bought those cough drops, and my throat wasn't going to take much more of being out in the cold.  Plus poor Daphne was shivering away despite being wrapped in my coat.  If the thinning of the crowd was any indication, it was over anyway.

Definitely one-ups our mall Santas.