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December 5 to January 6 Christmas and New Year 2023-24 in Alhama de Murcia
Tourist train, guided tours, carols, music, a Christmas market and plenty of festive fun for children in Alhama de Murcia
As is the case every year, Alhama de Murcia offers a busy programme of Christmas activities this year, with plenty of free choral and carol concerts, lots of activities for youngsters, the tourist train, the municipal nativity scene and of course the grand parade of the Three Kings on 5th January.
Most activities are free and take place in the area between the Los Baños archaeological museum, the parish church of San Lázaro, the Teatro Cine Velasco in the corner of the Jardín de los Patos, the Casa de Cultura and Parque Cubana opposite the town hall and the tourist office.
Christmas Tourist Train: The Christmas tourist train is running around the town centre of Alhama de Murcia from December 16 to January 6. Rides start and finish at the bus stop in Avenida Juan Carlos I, opposite the marketplace, and tickets cost just 1 euro.
Timetable:
December 16 and 17 and from December 23 to January 6: 10.30 to 13.30 and 16.30 to 20.30.
December 18 to 22: 16.30 to 20.30
December 24 and 31: 10.30 to 13.30
The train is out of service on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. All rides start and finish at the main bus stop.
The Belén Municipal, the municipal nativity scene: Open December 18 to January 9 at the Museo Arqueológico Los Baños. Tuesday to Saturday 10.00 to 14.00 and 16.30 to 19.30, Sundays 10.00 to 14.00.
Main venues
Tourist Information Office telephone 968 633512
Los Baños Archaeological Museum Los Baños (a 2-minute walk from the tourist office) telephone 968 630776
Pósito Municipal exhibition centre
The schedule of events and activities over Christmas and the New Year in Alhama includes the following:
Saturday December 2
11.00: Free tour in Spanish of the Los Baños archaeological museum. Click here for further information.
Tuesday December 5
11.00: Free tour in English of the Los Baños archaeological museum. Click here for further information.
18.30: The Christmas lights are switched on in a ceremony with fireworks, music and performances by the students at Academia Alhanza and Paso a Paso, in Avenida de la Constitución.
Wednesday December 6
10.30: In Alhama Father Christmas lives not in a grotto but in a small house, which in turn is in the Casa de las Menas next to the Rambla Don Diego. Today he opens his doors to children requesting presents and remains on duty until Christmas Eve.
He welcomes visitors from 10.30 to 14.00 and from 17.00 to 20.30 on December 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17 and 23, in the afternoons only on December 15 and 22 and in the morning only on Christmas Eve.
Saturday December 9
11.00: Christmas sweets workshop for children in the Plaza de Abastos.
11.30: Rescue the Time Traveller, interactive family gymkhana to discover secrets about the history of Alhama. Click here for further information.
19.30: Christmas songs concert by the Aires de Espuña group and the Aula de Arte Flamenco “Juan Ogalla” at the Teatro Cine Velasco. Tickets 5 euros, donated to the AECC cancer research and support charity.
Sunday December 10
11.00: Un Paseo por Alhama, guided tour of the town centre in Spanish, price 3 euros for adults and 2 euros for under 13s. Click here for further information.
Thursday December 14
20.00: The “Vestigium” painting exhibition is officially opened at the El Pósito venue, featuring work by students at the Asociación Formateart. The exhibition remains open until January 12.
Friday December 15
17.00: Official opening of the Christmas market in the Plaza de la Constitución.
18.00: Puppet theatre for children in the Plaza de la Constitución.
19.00: Children’s arts and crafts workshops in the Plaza de la Constitución.
Saturday December 16
10.00 to 13.00: Food collection campaign to help those in need over the festive season in the marquee alongside the Plaza de Abastos indoor food market.
11.00 to 20.00: Collection of toys in the Plaza de la Constitución for distribution by the Cáritas charity to children in need in the municipality of Alhama de Murcia. Please, no broken toys – second hand is fine! To make life easier, toys should be boxed with an indication of the appropriate age range.
11.00: Tour the City, a guided tour in English of the town centre. Price 3 euros for adults and 2 euros for under 13s. Click here for further information.
11.30: Christmas children’s choir concert at the Teatro Cine Velasco. Admission free of charge.
13.00: Free tasting of homemade meat products and fruits of the season by stallholders from the Plaza de Abastos in the Plaza de la Constitución.
17.00: Homemade festive sweets produced by stallholders from the Plaza de Abastos in the Plaza de la Constitución.
18.00: Father Christmas arrives in Alhama de Murcia, visiting shops in and around the Plaza de la Constitución.
18.00: A Christmas song festival begins in the Plaza de la Constitución with the Coros y Danzas Virgen del Rosario group, followed at 19.00 by Aires de Espuña and at 20.00 by La Colla del Ramblar.
Sunday December 17
8.30: Ramblers and climbers set up the “belén”, or nativity scene, at the Pico del Morrón, at an altitude of 1,444 metres above sea level in the mountains of Sierra Espuña. Every year this is the highest belén in the Region of Murcia!
Those taking part set out from the Parque de La Cubana by car, parking at Collado Mangueta and then going on to the “Morrón de Alhama”. Further information and registration at alhamacoym.blogspot.com
10.00: Free churros and hot chocolate in the Christmas market in the Plaza de la Constitución.
10.30: Free dramatized tour of the town centre in Spanish, click here for further information.
11.00: Official opening of the municipal “belén” or nativity scene at the Los Baños archaeological museum. The belén remains in place until January 7.
13.00: Specialized tour of neoclassical features in the parish church of San Lázaro offered by Ignacio José García Zapata, professor of Art History at the University of Murcia. Registration at the Los Baños archaeological museum.
14.30: Today is the feast day of San Lázaro, the patron saint of Alhama, and to celebrate there are migas for all in the Plaza de la Constitución.
17.00: Puppet theatre in the Plaza de la Constitución.
19.00: Holy Mass in honour of San Lázaro with music from La Edad de Oro and an offering of non-perishable foodstuffs at the church named after the patron.
20.00: The official Christmas festivities opening speech, with music from the Audite Omnes choir at the church of San Lázaro.
Friday December 22
20.30: Christmas concert by the band of the Ateneo Músico Cultural Maestro José Antonio Ayala and the choir of the Escuela Municipal de Música at the church of San Lázaro. Admission free of charge.
Saturday December 23
10.00 to 13.00: Collection of food in the marquee alongside the Plaza de Abastos.
11.00: Christmas concert by students at the Escuela Municipal de Música in the Jardín de los Patos.
12.00: Music at the belén from the Aurora “Virgen del Rosario”.
12.00: Christmas sweets workshop for children in the Plaza de Abastos.
17.00: Christmas elf charity run over a course of 3 kilometres, ending in the Plaza de la Constitución with children’s games, a gymkhana and of course bouncy castles. Come in festive costume! (prior registration is required)
Monday December 25, Christmas Day
17.30: The figure of the Virgen de la Candelaria is brought down in procession from her sanctuary on the northern edge of Alhama de Murcia to the Iglesia de La Concepción, accompanied by music from the Taller de Músicos de Sonata and any members of the public who wish to play along on their own instruments. Route: Ermita del Collao, Ermita del Padre Manuel, Rambla San Roque, Moreras, Iglesia de La Concepción.
20.30: Nativity play, the “Auto Sacramental de los Pastores”, by the Coros y Danzas Virgen del Rosario de Alhama group at the Teatro Cine Velasco. Admission free of charge
Tuesday December 26
11.30: Musical parade in the streets of Alhama, route Sonata Centro de Música, Calle San Lázaro, Plaza de Abastos, Calle La Feria, church of San Lázaro, La Feria, Juan Carlos I, Calle Los Baños. Both musicians and non-musicians are welcome to join in!
Wednesday December 27
5.00: A skiing trip to Sierra Nevada for young people sets out, price 70 euros, registration at the Concejalía de Juventud in the Casa de Cultura.
20.00: Christmas song concert at the Casa de Cultura with various local groups, admission free of charge.
Thursday December 28
17.00: Scalextric open doors day at Club Slot Alhama, cars and control consoles are provided. Address: Calle Rio Ebro 9.
20.00: Christmas song concert at the Casa de Cultura with various local groups, admission free of charge.
Friday December 29
18.00: “El Viaje de Melchor, children’s theatre at the Teatro Cine Velasco. Admission 5 euros.
Saturday December 30
10.00 to 13.00: Collection of food in the marquee alongside the Plaza de Abastos.
Sunday December 31, New Year’s Eve
15.00 to 21.00: Tardevieja, an afternoon of DJ music in Avenida Juan Carlos I.
Monday January 1, New Year’s Day
Family music and fun in the bars of Alhama during the afternoon.
Tuesday January 2
12.00 to 20.00: The royal pages of the Three Kings take delivery of present letters from children outside the Town Hall, the Casa de las Américas and the Plaza de Abastos.
13.00: Cantajuegos music for infants in the Plaza de las Américas, with afternoon performances at 16.30 in the Plaza de la Constitución and at 18.00 in the Plaza de Abastos.
Wednesday January 3
12.00 to 20.00: The royal pages of the Three Kings take delivery of present letters from children outside the Town Hall, the Casa de las Américas and the Plaza de Abastos.
13.00: Balloon modelling for children in the Plaza de las Américas, with afternoon sessions at 16.30 in the Plaza de la Constitución and at 18.00 in the Plaza de Abastos.
Thursday January 4
12.00 to 20.00: The royal pages of the Three Kings take delivery of present letters from children outside the Town Hall, the Casa de las Américas and the Plaza de Abastos.
13.00: Face painting for children in the Plaza de las Américas, with afternoon sessions at 16.30 in the Plaza de la Constitución and at 18.00 in the Plaza de Abastos.
Friday January 5
17.00 The Three Kings arrive in Alhama with little presents for children in the Plaza de La Constitución.
19.00: The Cabalgata de Reyes, the Three Kings procession in the streets of Alhama. Route: Plaza de la Constitución, Calle Constantino López, Plaza del Nazareno, San Francisco Javier, Rambla Don Diego, Corredera, Calle La Feria, Juan Carlos I, Plaza de la Constitución.
Saturday January 6
11.00: The traditional “Auto de los Reyes Magos” nativity play is performed at various locations in the village of El Berro, followed by Mass in the local church.
For more local events, news and visiting information go to the home page of Alhama Today.
See more information about what’s on at Christmas and New Year in the Region of Murcia 2024-25:
Contact Spanish News Today: Editorial 966 260 896 /
Office 968 018 268
