The holiday season is upon us and there is so much going on. It is magical to experience Christmas in Almuñécar & La Herradura, but it is tough to find out the when and the where for many things. We’ve decided to share what we know here for you and as we learn more, we will just keep adding to this same post. Many places don’t publicize until a few days prior to the event. We aren’t sure why, but as soon as we find out more, we will continue to add to this post.

2017 Holiday Season in Almuñécar & La Herradura

Remember you are in Spain, so it isn’t just all about Christmas and then you are done. Nope, the holiday season continues through the first week of January, to be sure we celebrate the Epiphany and the 3 Kings! Check here to view our holiday Calendar. If you happen to be looking for the public school School Calendar 2017-2018 holidays, we have that here for you too!

Okay, so what we plan to do is share with you the things we know about. Keep coming back, as we will continue to add through the season. If you have something you would like us to add, just send it to us via email and we will do our best to include it. Please also keep an eye out on Facebook, the city tourism cultural agenda as well as the city council website.

Table of Contents

2017 Holiday Season in Almuñécar & La Herradura

Christmas in Almuñécar

Christmas in La Herradura

Other Holiday events in Almuñécar & La Herradura

December 1 – Holiday Lights and More

December 2 – Christmas Gala

7 pm in the auditorium of the Herradureño Civic Center.

The Association of parents of the Las Gaviotas de La Herradura Public School celebrates this Saturday, at the auditorium of the Herradureño Civic Center, at 7 pm, the Christmas Gala. Advance tickets can be purchased at the Illusions shop or at the box office before the show.

December 6 – Winter Wonderland Fayre

December 8 thru 10 – La Carrera Immaculate Conception Festivities

The neighborhood of La Carrera will celebrate festivities from December 8 to 10

The delegate councilor of Institutional Relations and Festivities of the City of Almuñécar, María del Mar Medina, and the president of the Association of Neighbors of La Carrera, Toñi Salinas Muñoz, have presented the official program of the XVI Fiestas del Barrio la Carrera de la Concepción in Honor of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, to be held from December 8 to 10.

The festivities will start on Friday, the 8th, with a joyous rocket fire in the early hours of the morning and will continue until Sunday, the 10th and will end with the burning of a fireworks display.
Celebration in Honor of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception
La Carrera de la Concepción neighborhood (Almuñécar)
From December 8 to 10, 2017

Agenda Friday, December 8

10.30 am Cheerful waking up with fireworks
11 hours Mass in honor of the Immaculate Conception on the square next to the Virgin
12 hours Breakfast of donuts with chocolate, offered by the Neighborhood Association
12,30 hours Activity offered by Athletismo Sexitano
13.30 Performance of the Niágara Musical Trio
14 hours Biker concentration of the Mothers Club “Los Tiburones”
14,15 Typical food of the Bar
16 hours Performance by the María Gómez Flamenco School “La Canastera”
17,30 hours Popular children’s games offered by Spider-Man

Agenda Saturday, December 9

10.30 am Cheerful waking up with fireworks
10.30 am Performance of the Niágara Musical Trio
14 hours Lunch by the Association. Plate of crumbs with peppers and bacon 2 euros to raise funds for the holidays
16 hours Performance at expensive Batuka 2.0
17 hours. Performance of the dance group Al Mainoba
20 hours Kañasur performance

Agenda Sunday, December 10

10.30 am Cheerful waking up with fireworks
12,30 hours Parade of Charanga and cabezudo
1.30 pm Performance Alma Marinera
16 hours Zumba with Evi Martín
17 hours Gastronomic Contest
17 hours Animation Batucada 2.0
17 hours Cycling School of Almuñécar organizes events for children
18 hours Tribute to a neighbor the Neighborhood
20 hours Castle fireworks and end of parties.

December 8-10 – Medieval Market

You’ve got to see the Medieval Market along the Paseo del Altillo. Dec 8-10. This is great fun for everyone, with great food and crafts too!

December 9 – Arts & Crafts Fair

There is an arts & crafts fair next saturday in Salablanca in La Herradura. Saturday from 10:00 – 15:00.

December 9 – Orgiva Tea Garden Christmas Fair

The Orgiva Tea Garden will host a Christmas Fair.
Saturday, 9th December 2017. 11:00 – 18:00 (11am till 6pm)

There will be stalls of arts and crafts as well as other goodies to see and buy. There will also be a children’s corner with games and activities, as well as a variety of live music performances. You will also enjoy plenty of hot food, cakes and refreshments.

December 15 -30 Christmas Market

The Ayuntamiento in Almunecar is putting on several chalets on the Plaza de Madrid for a Christmas Market on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 December, from 11am to 10pm. Welcome to all on our KIWANIS stand, where lavender sachets, home made jams and truffles will be for sale, and to snack, a choice of quiche (warm or cold) with a glass of cava. Come and try your luck to win a bottle of CAVA !

All proceeds go to Almunecar charities for children.

December 16 – Cupcake Decorating Workshop

Workshop to decorate Christmas cupcakes to raise funds for the Cabalgata de Reyes (3 Kings Parade).

Saturday December 16 10:30
Pandi Cupcakes in collaboration with the City Council of Almuñécar Almuñécar – La Herradura City Council and the Casa Juventud Almuñecar, have organized this cupcake workshop. Each participant can decorate their cupcakes with Christmas motifs and then take them home to enjoy or make them as a gift. Join us and spend a fun morning decorating your cupcakes as you like and get into the Christmas spirit. There will also have crafts and cupcake contest!

For more information and reservations go through the Casa Juventud in Plaza Teatro or call 958 882 433.
Cost: € 9, but for each participant € 2 will be donated to buy candies for the Three King’s parade.
Limited spaces, so don’t wait to sign up!

December 17 – Christmas Fayre

December 19 – Christmas Market

December 19 – Christmas Choir

December 23 – Musical

December 28 All Fools Day

In Spain, All Fools Day is known as “Día de los Santos Inocentes” and takes place right in the middle of the long Christmas season (which runs all the way through to January 6, the Epiphany). On December 28 it’s your turn to play your favourite jokes on friends and family! Read more now

January 5 – The 3 Kings Parade

This usually begins at the stadium at 17:00 each year. Be prepared to see some amazing performances and have candy thrown to the spectators from the floats.

The Royal Procession of the 3 Kings (Cabalgata de Reyes) 2016

Official Almunecar Map of 3 Kings parade route 5pm January 5th.

Starting point is at the stadium (snowflake icon)

Celebrate the Holidays in Granada

Guide to celebrating Christmas in Granada – click here to read all of the great information for you, from lights to ice skating!
Christmas in Granada – Read more now.
Getting to Granada – bus instructions/directions

New Year’s & Christmas in Malaga

Christmas Markets in Malaga and an amazing new light show! – Click here for more details.
50 Things to do in Malaga at Christmas – Read more now.
A Magical Malaga Christmas, with things to do from Christmas markets to ice skating, seeing the lights and dining out. New Years Eve activities too – Read more now.
Getting to Malaga – bus instructions and directions (these are airport related, but the bus stops in central Malaga)

Christmas in Spain

As in most countries Christmas is very much a time for family in Spain and in Costa Tropical. For Spaniards Christmas Eve, known in Spanish as ‘La Nochebuena’ or ‘Vispera De Navidad’, is a time to be with family and friends. Everyone gathers for a large family feast, which is a standard late meal. The menu can vary with lots of different traditional dishes but you can be sure that Turron, polvorones or mantecados will make an appearance somewhere. After the meal it’s common for families to go out to the local bars and meet up with extended family and neighbours.

With Christmas Eve being of greater significance, Christmas day is a little different to what you may expect. The day is a public holiday but restaurants, cafés and bars will be open and often with Christmas menus to cater for functions and tourists.

Check out these creative ways to present a gift to someone special!

Epiphany Three Kings – Los Reyes Magos

Just when you thought you couldn’t bear to think about Christmas until next year, everyone is out in the streets, packing the shops in search of gifts “from” the Three Kings (the three wise men). Coinciding with the feast of epiphany when the three wise men arrived in Bethlehem this event is most exciting for the children, as this is the day that they’ll finally get their presents. In Spain the tradition of Los Reyes Magos is more popular than Santa Claus and is celebrated with a parade through the streets. As the floats with the Three Kings pass, sweets are thrown to the kids (and adults) in the crowd with the inevitable competition of who can collect the most! The parade sets out on the 5th January normally at 5pm.

As well as the parade and presents Los Reyes Magos also bring with them another tradition, the eating of the Roscon. This is a large, round cake with a hole in the middle filled with cream. There is usually something hidden inside, a toy, figure of one of the kings or a figure of Jesus.