Christmas, New Year and Three Kings 2023-24 in the outlying districts of Alhama de Murcia
Rural celebrations in the mountains of Sierra Espuña and at the foot of the Sierra de Carrascoy
While most of the official Christmas celebrations in the municipality of Alhama de Murcia are held in the town itself, there are also special events being held in the outlying villages and rural districts, the highlights including …..
The schedule for the 2023-24 festive season includes the following:
In El Berro:
Until December 10: Homemade Christmas card competition, entries to be delivered to Comestibles Fina.
December 9 and 10
11.00: Christmas market in the village.
Saturday December 16
14.30: Women’s lunch in the Bar Sierra Espuña, please come in costume (prizes are awarded!). Price 25 euros.
Wednesday December 20
16.30: Coffee and Christmas decoration workshop organized by the Floristería del Carmen in Alhama, price 10 euros (including coffee and materials).
Sunday December 24, Christmas Eve
Mamá Noel, the often overlooked wife of Father Christmas, visits during the afternoon.
20.00: Christmas Eve Mass with music by the Cuadrilla de El Berro in the local church.
Monday December 25, Christmas Day
17.30: The Cuadrilla de El Berro perform at the local Casa de la Cultura.
Friday December 29
17.00: Video console competition for all ages in the Casa de la Cultura.
Monday January 1
12.30: New Year Mass with the Cuadrilla de El Berro in the local church.
Friday January 5
16.00: The Three Kings parade in the streets of the village, followed by the handing out of gifts in the Casa de la Cultura and the serving of the traditional Roscón de Reyes cake.
Saturday January 6, Three Kings Day
11.00: The Auto de los Reyes Magos, the traditional nativity play which is held in the village every year on this date.
In Gebas:
Saturday December 16
17.00: The official opening of the nativity scene and a pottery course in the Salón Social de Gebas. The nativity scene can also be visited on December 24, 25 and 30.
20.00: Wine tasting, participants are invited to bring tapas to share.
Saturday December 23
17.30: A Christmas film for all the family, popcorn included and “caldo con pelotas” (turkey meatballs in broth) after the screening at the Salón Social.
Monday December 25, Christmas Day
12.30: Christmas Mass with music by La Edad de Oro in the local church.
13.30: A welcoming glass of wine in the Salón Social.
Saturday December 30
17.30: Christmas sweets workshop, focussing on mantecados, organized by Panadería “El Castellano”. Participants are invited to bring their own festive sweets to the Salón Social.
Saturday January 6, Three Kings Day
17.00: The Three Kings reach Gebas, brining their gifts before all are invited to Roscón de Reyes cake and a glass of cider.
In Las Cañadas:
Saturday December 23
21.00: An evening of music with Dúo Jema at the Salón Social de La Molata, followed by hot chocolate and churros and a Christmas raffle.
Monday December 25, Christmas Day
12.00: The church bells celebrate the arrival of Christmas at the church of La Molata.
13.00: Christmas Mass with music from the Cuadrilla de La Costera at the Salón Social de La Molata.
13.30: Raffle for a Christmas hamper outside the church of La Molata.
Monday January 1, New Year’s Day
12.00: The church bells ring the New Year in at the church of La Molata.
13.00: New Year’s Mass at the church.
Thursday January 4
17.00: A Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer workshop for children at the Salón Social de La Molata.
Friday January 5
21.00: The Three Kings arrive in Las Cañadas, bringing gifts to the Salón Social, after which everyone is invited to enjoy the traditional Roscón de Reyes cake and a glass of cider.
Saturday January 6
21.00: The festive season ends with another night of live music, this time with Dúo Sueños de Luna and another raffle in the Salón Social de La Molata.
In La Costera:
Saturday December 9
12.00: The official opening of the nativity scene of La Costera at the church of San Pedro.
Saturday December 16
12.30: Traditional music and dancing by the Cuadrilla de La Costera, “Peña de La Tinaja” (from the La Flota district of Murcia) and the Cuadrilla de Las Torres de Cotillas. Venue: Salón Social, Tele Club de La Costera.
Saturday December 23
12.00: Bolos Huertanos championship behind the Salón Social.
Monday December 25, Christmas Day
17.00: Christmas Mass at the church of San Pedro featuring the Cuadrilla de La Costera.
18.30: Christmas bingo in the Salón Social.
Tuesday January 3
17.00: A Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer workshop for children at the Salón Social.
Saturday January 6, Three Kings Day
12.30: The Three Kings reach the Salón Social of La Costera with gifts for children.
22.00: Three Kings Ball with music from the singer Marta Saorín at the Salón Social, with a raffle for two Christmas hampers.
Sunday January 14
10.00: The festive season is not over in La Costera until the traditional family ramble, this year to the old La Trinidad mill, with its dovecote, in the area of Los Carrascos. The route covers a distance of around 4 km and is not suitable for pushchairs. Registration by email at pedaniadelacostera@gmail.com.
In El Cañarico:
Monday December 25, Christmas Day
11.00: Musical Christmas Mass in the local church.
Thursday January 4
17.00: A Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer workshop for children at the Salón Social.
Friday January 5
16.30: Gifts are delivered to the children of El Cañarico, followed by the traditional Roscón de Reyes cake at the Salón Social.
For more local events, news and visiting information go to the home page of Alhama Today.
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: 08.30 to 14.30
- Saturdays: 10.00 to 13.00
- Sundays and Mondays: closed
For more local information, including news and forthcoming events, visit the home page of Alhama Today.