ARCHIVED - Alhama de Murcia Christmas calendar: December 3 to January 6
Concerts, guided tours in English and a Christmas market are all on offer in the municipality of Alhama de Murcia
- Friday December 3, 5.30pm: opening of Santa’s Grotto, behind the Casa Amarilla in Plaza de Las Américas.
- Friday December 3, 6.30pm: lighting of the Christmas decorations and lights.
- Tuesday December 7, 11am: guided ‘Tour the Museum’ visit in English. The tour is free but a prior reservation is necessary by calling the tourism office (968 633 512) or the Los Baños Archaeological Museum (968 630 776) or by making a reservation online.
- Friday December 10, 8pm: inauguration of the painting exhibition by the students from Formateart. The exhibition can be visited for free at the El Pósito Exhibition Centre until December 29.
- Saturday December 11, 12pm: Christmas Music, childrens’ carols choir at the Casa de Cultura.
- Sunday December 12, 8.30pm: ‘setting up of the Nativity scene in Morrón’, starting at the fairground and travelling by car to Collado Mangueta and then a short walk to morrón de Alhama. For more information and to sign-up visit alhamacoym.blogspot.com.
- Friday December 17, 5pm: opening of the IV Christmas market in the Plaza de la Constitución. The opening hours between December 18 and 23 are 10am and 9pm, and on December 24 the opening hours are 10am until 2pm.
- Friday December 17, 6pm: blessing of the municipal Nativity scene by the parish priest at the Los Baños Archaeological Museum. The Nativity scene is open to the public until January 9.
- Friday December 17, 6.30pm: concert by the chamber music group of the Lorca Conservatory at Los Baños Archaeological Museum. Free entry but seats are limited.
- Friday December 17, 7pm: mass in honour of Saint Lázaro Opispo, patron of Alhama at the San Lázaro church.
- Saturday December 18, 11am: guided visit ‘Tour the City’ in English. Tickets cost three euros for adults and two euros for children. The tour is free but a prior reservation is necessary by calling the tourism office (968 633 512) or by making a reservation online. The starting point is the tourism office in Alhama de Murcia.
- Saturday December 18, 8pm: Christmas concert at the San Lázaro church, tickets are free.
- Sunday December 18, 12.30pm: Christmas carols at the Christmas market (Plaza de la Constitución) by the group 'Músicos de Sonata y cuadrilla de La Costera'.
- Saturday December 25, 7pm: Christmas dance at the Alhama Elderly Centre (Centro de Mayores).
- Sunday December 26, 7pm: Christmas carols recital by the groups Taller de Guitarra, Laúd y Bandurria del Centro Mayores, Cantores de Alhama and La Edad de Oro at the Alhama Elderly Centre (Centro de Mayores).
- Monday December 27, 5pm: Christmas-themed parade through Alhama with instruments and singing; anyone is welcome to join in. Route: Sonata Music Centre, Calle Los Pasos, Calle Cartagena, La Feria, Corredera, Los Postigos, Miguel Servet, La Feria and Juan Carlos I.
- Tuesday December 28, 8pm: Christmas carol festival at the Casa de Cultura, with performances by Cuadrilla de El Berro, Aires de Espuña, Grupo de Cuerda del Centro de Mayores I, Grupo Folklórico Villa de Alhama, Músicos de Sonata and Los Zalameros.
- Wednesday December 29, 8pm: Christmas carol festival at the Casa de Cultura, with performances by Cantores de Alhama, Grupo de Cuerda del Centro de Mayores II, La Edad de Oro, Cuadrilla de La Costera, La Colla del Ramblar, Grupo de Coros and Danzas Virgen del Rosario.
- Friday December 31, 10.30pm: New Year’s Eve Dance at the Alhama Elderly Centre (Centro de Mayores), with grapes and party favours.
- Saturday January 1, 7pm: New Year’s Day Dance at the Alhama Elderly Centre (Centro de Mayores).
- Thursday January 6, 7pm: Kings Dance, with presents for all participants at the Alhama Elderly Centre (Centro de Mayores).
Oficina de Turismo de Alhama de Murcia
Alhama de Murcia Tourist information office is located on the edge of the Plaza de la Constitución, just a few metres away from the underground car park and the Town hall of Alhama de Murcia.
The tourist office offers free guided audiotours in English which take visitors around the historical sites of interest in Alhama. These be loaned at any time, although allow an hour and a half to complete the tour, and when loaning the audio equipment visitors are asked to leave passports or ID cards with the tourist office.
The office also carries a full range of leaflets for the archaeological museum of Los Baños, which is built around the historic spa which gives Alhama its name, and the mountains of Sierra Espuña, which is also an important area within the municipality of Alhama. Areas such as El Berro and Gebas have a number of interesting routes which can be followed and there are several picnic areas and good walking routes within the Sierra Espuña natural park.
The tourist office also carries leaflets for the many cultural events and fiestas which take place in Alhama throughout the year, including Los Mayos, Semana Santa, Christmas,the Romería of La Candelaria and the Auto de los Reyes Magos in El Berro.
Opening Hours
Winter (September 16 – May 31)
- Tuesday to Friday: 9am-2pm and 4.30pm-7.30pm
- Saturdays: 10am-1pm
- Sundays and Mondays: closed
Summer (June 1 to September 15)
- Tuesday to Friday: 9.30am-2.30pm
- Saturdays: 10am-1pm
- Sundays and Mondays: closed
For more local information, including news and forthcoming events, visit the home page of Alhama Today.