Magical Málaga

Málaga is magical at any time of year – recently toping the InterNations’ pool as the World’s best city to live in - and the Festive Season is no exception. With a great range of Christmas activities to choose from Málaga makes a great destination for festive fun

A compulsory stop on any visit to Málaga at this time of year are the Christmas Lights on Calle Larios. The city’s most famous street is covered with tens of thousands of lights and this year the theme is “Celestial Angels”, with 16 heavenly figures suspended along the street. As well as this, Calle Larios also has a light show (at 6.30pm, 8pm and 10pm every evening apart from December 24 and 31) when the lights flash and ‘dance’ in time to the music, which includes festive favourites such “Jingle Bells” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”.

Away from Calle Larios, the large trees that flank the Alameda Principal have been bedecked with 270,000 LED lights. – Calle San Juan (parallel to Calle Nueva) is extra festive this year with golden lighting and an ‘Enchanted Cave’. Christmas chandeliers are also hanging in Calle Molina Lario and the 11 side streets off Calle Larios, that adds up to a staggeringly season total of 2 million LED lights throughout the city.

At the northern fringes of Málaga, the Botanical Gardens have once entered into the Festive Spirit with a specially designed area. “Angelical: The Kingdom of Christmas Angels”, divides the Gardens into eight sections with a light show that wonderfully combines the gardens and its special features.

Returning to the City Centre, Málaga’s Cathedral provides the backdrop for a state-of-the-art video mapping show. The technique projects 3D images onto a building’s façade, and this Christmas the south tower is the venue for a seasonal fairytale, “Angel of Light”. (The shows take place at 6.45pm, 8pm and 10pm).

Music is another important aspect of the festive celebrations in Málaga. The Cervantes Theatre will be the venue for an outstanding evening when The Kiev Ballet performs the Nutcracker – where dolls come to life on Christmas Eve and take a little girl through magical adventures – on Friday December 29 at 4.30pm and 8pm.

The Cervantes Theatre is also the venue for Mendelssohn’s “Lobgesang”. The Malaga Philharmonic Orchestra, accompanied by the Carmina Nova choir, two sopranos and one tenor, perform this Christmas classic at the Cervantes Theatre on December 14 and 15

If you fancy something a little different The New Orleans Gospel Stars will be bringing “The Streets of New Orleans” to the Cervantes Theatre on December 22. On what is bound to be a spellbinding night, the singers will feature a selection of some of the best-known New Orleans classics. Get ready for some festive foot tapping!

For a more traditional service, St George’s Church (in the grounds of the English Cemetery, diagonally opposite the bullring in La Malagueta) is holding Christmas service, complete with carols on Friday December 15 at 7pm.

The Carmen Thyssen Museum beautiful patio will be the setting for a series of free Christmas choir concerts Thursday 7, Wednesday 13, Friday 15, Tuesday 19, Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 December. All concerts start at 7.30pm but as entrance is free; you would be advised to get there early!

Málaga’s Municipal Band also has a free concert in December. On Sunday December 17 – it performs a traditional Christmas concert with festive music from around the world in the Iglesia de los Martires church (just behind the Carmen Thyssen Museum) at 7.30pm.

If you want to indulge in a spot of festive shopping there are Christmas markets in Málaga. Sabor a Malaga is a nine day market showcasing typical produce from Malaga province (cheese, olive oil, cold cuts, pastries, chocolate, liqueurs, honey…) on Paseo del Parque. The Eduardo Ocón Auditorium will host show cooking, food trucks and live music at the same time.

Hipsters and art lovers should head to oho Market, for stalls selling arts and crafts on Calle Tomas Heredia in the Soho district on Wednesday 6 and Friday 8 December from 11am to 7pm. The Muelle Uno Christmas market also has many ideas for gifts – food, arts and crafts and accessories. You will find it on the square near the Pompidou Centre entrance, every day from 10am to 6pm until January 10.

Finally, don’t miss the giant Christmas trees on Plaza de la Constitución, Plaza de la Marina, Plaza de Enrique García Herrera and Plaza del Obispo. It really is “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” – especially in Málaga!