the luxury calendar: the best events in the world in december

The Dandelion Chandelier Luxury Calendar is a curated list of the best luxury events in the world in December 2019.  Whether your passion is travel; food and drink; planes, yachts and autos; fitness, wellness and sports; fashion and design; pop culture; or the arts, we’ve got you covered. Want to know what to do in December 2019 to have true luxury experiences all month long? Read on.

top luxury experiences in december 2019

The luxury flock touches down in glamorous locations both sub-zero and tropical this month.  From Christmas markets to Art Week in Miami to full moon dances on the beach in the Caribbean, there’s sparkle and music everywhere on our luxury event calendar for December. As the Winter Solstice approaches, the world lights up.

Here’s our Dandelion Chandelier list of the best luxury events and true luxury experiences in December 2019. It’s our curated luxury calendar of what to do in December.

luxury calendar: best events in the world in december 2019

travel in december 2019

‘Tis the season for travel and travel gifts, and lucky for us there are wonderful new places to explore come snow or sand. From new hotels like Breckenridge’s Gravity Haus and The Oberoi Marrakech to restored classics like La Réserve Eden au Lac Zurich; Or trips on the newly minted 34 Delta One “suite” from Salt Lake City to Heathrow and the Carnival Panorama, December is ready to take you to new places. 

food and drink in december 2019

December is an especially bubbly month not only because it is home to National Champagne Day but also because it plays host to a number of bubbly theme pop up bars like the Miracle Christmas Cocktail Bar and even a new book celebrating one of the drink’s most esteemed producers.  On top of that there’s a festival in Champagne called Habits de Lumiere in Epernay to celebrate the season.  If bubbles aren’t your speed, there is plenty else to indulge in including the annual The Bracebridge Dinner at Yosemite and Brew Years Eve in Chicago.  So get ready to eat, drink and be merry all month long, even if in moderation – tis the season, afterall.

planes, yachts and autos in december 2019

This month will see glittering evening air shows that will light up the sky over the Netherlands with the 2nd ever Scheveningen Light Air Show.  There will also be extraordinary yacht shows and regattas like the Salon Nautique de Paris and Kata Rocks in Phuket.  There’s even the glamorous  Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race that concludes with fireworks lighting up the sky on New Year’s Eve.  Plus auto shows and auctions in LA, San Francisco and in London where you have a chance to bid on an Aston Martin once owned by HRH The Prince of Wales at Bonhams’ Bond Street Sale.  It’s a fast and furious (and fantastic) way to end 2019!

fitness, wellness and sports in december 2019

It’s a big month for American college football, with the NCAA conference college championship games and some iconic New Year’s bowl games like The Orange Bowl taking place.  In the world of snow sports, the FIS Ski World Cup takes place in ultra-luxurious St. Moritz.  Prefer slightly warmer events?  There are equestrian events including the Hong Kong Cup; the King George VI Chase; and the Olympia Horse Show.  If personal fitness and staying healthy during the holidays is more your thing, there are wellness festivals to attend, new fitness apps to try out and even a chance to take a dip in icy waters.  Come at us, December.

fashion, art and design in december 2019

The city of Miami may get most of the attention this month in Fashion and Design thanks to the arrival of Art Basel and all of the sister shows that come with it. But fret not, friends. There is plenty of other action in store thanks to fun pop ups such as the FAD Market, as well as a couple conferences to hit up too.  Aside from Art Basel, a few of our other top finds for the month include New York’s lesser known December Fashion Week, a discussion on John Galliano for Dior at The Museum at FIT and Sotheby’s auction of items from the private collection of Marc Jacobs in Marc Jacobs: A Life of Design.  So get ready for a fabulous and festive month of December no matter where you are.

pop culture in december 2019

No one will be bored this December when it comes to entertainment.  No, we’re not talking about an encore presentation of your family’s Thanksgiving day drama, we’re talking about the world of pop culture.  In the movie theaters this month you will find blockbusters galore with the likes of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and Bombshell hitting theaters.  On the small screen there are holiday specials a-plenty in addition to the return of some fan favorites, most notably The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.  There are also some big openings on the stage this month: A Soldier’s Play; and the revival of West Side Story.  On top of that you can catch a few Christmas inspired concerts too, including one from the Queen of Christmas herself at MSG.  Oh, and there are also some dramatic new podcasts to keep you busy too.  Here’s to an entertaining December!

the arts in december 2019

December is a holiday feast for your eyes and ears thanks to the splendid array of performances and exhibits to see. There’s a plethora of holiday vocal and instrumental concerts from which to choose in nearly every city in the world – not to mention there are Nutcrackers galore like the classic Balanchine at Lincoln Center from the NYC Ballet and the more modern interpretation from Dorrance Dance.  In visual arts, the focus is also contemporary with explorations of street art, photography and survey’s of female artists like Käthe Kollwitz, Mickalene Thomas and Ursula Schulz-Dornburg.  We fear the only problem you will face this month will be choosing which artistic events you will attend.

what else is going on in december 2019?

Holiday decorations and tree lightings

Nothing says the holidays in New York City like the window displays on Fifth Avenue, the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights in Brooklyn, the Winter Village in Bryant Park and the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. 

The 87th Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting is Wednesday, December 4th.  Performers at this year’s ceremony include John Legend, Derek & Julianne Hough, Brett Eldredge, Idina Menzel, Gwen Stefani, Lea Michele, Chicago, NE-YO, and more.  Elsewhere around the world, winter festivals and holiday lights and decorations are a glow in cities and charming villages.

Christmas in France

There are magical nights planned in France this month. In Nancy, the feast of Saint Nicholas is celebrated in a fairy-tale setting, with an equestrian parade, a craft market, exhibitions, theatrical performances, concerts and a spectacular fireworks display on December 2 – 3.

La Fête des Lumières in Lyon is a traditional celebration of gratitude toward Mary, mother of Jesus. Held on December 8th each year, Lyonnaise tradition dictates that every house place candles along the outside of each window, making for a beautiful night.

Other notable commemorations

In addition to Christmas on the 25th, there are many other holidays and commemorations of note. December 1st is World Aids Day, dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection, and mourning those who have died of the disease.

National Day in the United Arab Emirates, on December 2nd, celebrates the union of the original seven emirates in 1971 with fireworks, car rallies and dance shows.

Winter holiday celebrations

Hanukkah begins on Sunday, December 22nd at sundown, and concludes on Monday, December 30th. Boxing Day is celebrated on December 26th in the UK and also in a number of other countries that previously formed part of the British Empire. The African-American celebration of Kwanzaa begins that same day.

New Year’s Eve

And of course New Year’s Eve will see global celebrations, fireworks, and the singing of songs. In Spain and Mexico, many will mark the occasion by eating a grape with each of the twelve chimes of a clock’s bell during the midnight countdown, while making a wish with each one. In France and other French-speaking areas, families join for feasts and parties to celebrate le Réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre. In London, Big Ben will chime – in New York, a crystal ball will drop. In Japan, Buddhist temples ring their bells 108 times at midnight to banish bad thoughts and behavior. In Singapore, “wishing spheres” bear the written wishes of thousands of people.

For each country in its own way, it’s a moment of renewal, rejoicing, redemption and hope. Wherever December takes you, we hope it’s luminous.

what to do to have true luxury experiences in december 2019

That’s it. Our luxury calendar of the best luxury events and true luxury experiences in December 2019. What are you most excited about?

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Jillian Tangen is the Head of Research at Dandelion Chandelier and a former Senior Research Analyst at McKinsey & Co and Analyst at Shearman & Sterling. She is an avid fan of Nordic design, having owned an independent lifestyle store and sales agency focused on emerging Scandinavian design. Jillian lives in New York and is married with three young children. She loves cross-country skiing, the New York Rangers, reading, travel and discovering new brands.

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