Last updated: December 01, 2024
Discover the Christmas celebrations of Colmenar Viejo with our comprehensive guide. Whether you're a local or a visitor, this tour will show you the festive traditions that bring our mountain town to life.
The Plaza del Pueblo transforms into the heart of festivities, with its traditional Christmas market and magnificent municipal nativity scene. From here, decorated streets lead to the Basilica de la Asunción, where choral concerts are held, while the Pablo Neruda Cultural Center hosts Christmas exhibitions and workshops. The Auditorium gardens light up with festive decorations, creating a luminous route connecting the main points of interest.
Contact information and details below.
Lights designed by children and professional designers.
During the Christmas festivities, the streets and squares of Madrid are illuminated with millions of LED lights, meeting the requirements of environmental respect and energy efficiency. The national football selector, Luis de la Fuente, will light up the lights at Puerta del Sol on November 28.
Where: Madrid | More Info: Christmas Lights
Classic nativity scene in a historic setting.
The nativity scene at the Palacio de Cibeles is a traditional Christmas display that is replicated in the Patio de Operaciones of CentroCentro, offering a classic and iconic view of Madrid's Christmas celebrations.
Where: Madrid | More Info: Nativity Scene in Cibeles Palace
Immersive display with 400 figures and nine main scenes.
The president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, inaugurated the traditional Belén of the Real Casa de Correos, which this year honors the first birth that Saint Francis of Assisi created in the cave of Greccio (Italy) 800 years ago. This immersive display features 400 figures and nine main scenes, plus four additional scenes visible from the windows of the building.
Where: Madrid | More Info: Nativity Scene in Real Casa de Correos
Over 100 stalls with unique handmade crafts and Christmas decorations.
The Christmas Market in Plaza Mayor is a traditional market where you can find nativity scenes, Christmas musical instruments, toys, and joke items. The Plaza Mayor Traditional Christmas Market Association welcomes all vendors in this Madrid location to offer their holiday products.
Where: Madrid | More Info: Christmas Market in Plaza Mayor
450m² natural ice rink.
The Christmas market in Plaza de España features a natural ice rink, artisanal and gastronomic stands, as well as theatrical and circus performances.
Where: Madrid | More Info: Christmas Market in Plaza de España
Offers a variety of exclusive and handmade products.
The Mercadillo del Gato is a pop-up market offering unique items such as natural flowers in necklaces, exquisite snacks, impeccable suits, vintage dresses, and luxury bags.
Where: Madrid | More Info: Mercadillo del Gato Market
Tasting of Hot Gins and live music.
The Beefeater Xmas Market is a Christmas market inspired by London, located in the heart of Madrid. It offers a variety of Hot Gins, live music, and personalized gastronomic proposals.
Where: Madrid | More Info: Beefeater Xmas Market
Citizen participation in the procession of the Three Wise Men.
The Cabalgata de Reyes is a festive tradition in Madrid where the Three Wise Men, Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltasar, parade through the streets in an impressive procession, distributing candies and gifts to children and adults.
Where: Madrid | More Info: Three Wise Men Parade
Traditional Christmas carols in a festive atmosphere.
In Villancicos en Plaza de Pontejos, enjoy traditional Christmas carols in a cozy and festive atmosphere. Music and joy come together in this holiday celebration.
Where: Madrid | More Info: Traditional Christmas Songs in Plaza de Pontejos
Diverse program of operas and concerts for children.
The Real Teatro de Retiro offers a program of operas, concerts, and musicalized stories for all ages, ensuring that the youngest can enjoy and have fun with their families.
Where: Madrid | More Info: Christmas Activities in El Retiro Park
A unique musical program featuring classical and holiday pieces directed by Maestro Pascual Osa.
The 2024 Christmas Concert by the Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra is a musical event celebrating Christmas with a variety of classical and holiday pieces, including carols and operas. This year, Maestro Pascual Osa directs the concert, which features the participation of the Filarmonía Spanish Ballet with choreographies by José Manuel Buzón.
Where: Madrid | More Info: Christmas Concerts in Madrid
400 m² ice rink in the Glass Gallery of Cibeles Palace.
The ice rink at Cibeles Palace is a holiday attraction offering an immersive experience with ice skating and a Christmas market featuring small and medium-sized businesses selling on Amazon.es.
Where: Madrid | More Info: Ice Skating in Cibeles Palace
Free public ice skating exhibitions organized by the Madrid Winter Sports Federation.
The ice rink at Matadero is an impressive outdoor space with a 600 m2 surface, perfect for both experts and beginners of all ages. It offers free public ice skating exhibitions organized by the Madrid Winter Sports Federation.
Where: Madrid | More Info: Ice Skating in Matadero
10 km race with two categories and an urban course.
The San Silvestre Vallecana is a 10 km race held in Madrid, offering a unique experience for runners of all ages. The race features two parts: the popular and the international, with an urban course and a large participation.
Where: Madrid | More Info: San Silvestre Vallecana Run
Artificial fir forest with elves, musicians, and jugglers.
The Bosque de los Deseos is a place where visitors can write and hang their wishes for the year 2024 in an artificial fir forest, accompanied by elves, musicians, and jugglers. The activity includes a Cascanueces-inspired coloring activity for children.
Where: Madrid | More Info: Wood of Wishes
Eating grapes to the sound of the twelve chimes.
The Puerta del Sol becomes the epicenter of New Year's Eve for the entire country each year. Thousands of people gather to welcome the new year and eat grapes of good luck to the sound of the twelve chimes marked by the clock of the Real Casa de Correos. There are several theories about the origin of this tradition, but the most rooted one dates back to 1909. The Levantine grape growers distributed grapes freely among the citizens, suggesting that eating them on New Year's Eve would bring good fortune.
Where: Madrid | More Info: New Year's Eve in Puerta del Sol
Meeting of family attractions and fireworks events.
The Christmas Fair in Colmenar Viejo features a wide range of holiday activities and events across the municipality, including family attractions, holiday shopping, and an ice skating rink.
Where: Colmenar Viejo | More Info: Christmas Fair in Colmenar Viejo
A circular nativity scene with high-quality figures and scenery.
The Christmas Exhibition in the Parque del Retiro features a large circular nativity scene and a display of nativities from around the world. The installation, designed by the renowned artist José Luis Mayo Lebrija, includes high-quality figures and scenery, recreating the town of Bethlehem, the market, and Herod's castle. Additionally, nativities from various countries and cultures are showcased, highlighting the Basanta-Martín collection.
Where: Madrid | More Info: Christmas Exhibition in Retiro Park