Every year Christmas in Vitoria-Gasteiz provide shops, restaurants, services and the visitors with a large amount of plans. Events for all tastes that, together with the streets decoration, lights and the citizens’ coming and going, are the special touch that fills the city with a special atmosphere.
Ice skating in the Plaza de la Virgen Blanca
Plaza de la Virgen Blanca Square turns between Dec. 14th and Jan. 6th into a huge ice rink to delight the audience. From 10:00 to 22:00.
Huge Crib
What is more, La Florida Park holds a huge crib since 1962 that has become a tradition for those who visit Vitoria on these days. It consists of over 200 dummies of human size as well as buildings, thousands of animals and accessories that will delight those who approach the area from early December to January 6th.
Christmas Playground at the «Centro Civico HEGOALDE»
It will remain open from 26th December to 4th January.
Olentzero and The Three Wise Men
Olentzero will arrive in the Town Hall on December 24th longing to collect Christmas letters written by the children. At 6pm Olentzero and his crew -shepherds, woodcutters…- parade through the streets of Vitoria to end up before the City Hall, where roast chestnuts will be shared out among songs dedicated to Olentzero. That evening many bars offer hot wine before Christmas Eve meal.
The Three Wise Men will also visit Alava’s capital. They will arrive by train on January 5th early in the morning and will be taken to Villasuso Palace in order to welcome those who want to share their letters with the three kings. In the evening the Three Wise Men will parade from Plaza de Bilbao Square followed by six floats and a firemen lorry up to crossroads of Avenida de Gasteiz Avenue with Calle Chile Street.
Music, children’s shows and theatre
Alava’s capital focuses on music, shows for the children and theatre plays on these special days. The Mendizorrotza sports complex will once again play host to the Children’s Show Exhibition, with the programme including performances by clowns, various concerts and a children¿s open-air dance.
Christmas markets
Between 14th December and 6th January, the Craft Fair will be held at the Plaza de Jesús Guridi, whilst the Christmas Fair will be set up in the Plaza de la Provincia. The Agricultural Market will take place in Plaza Nueva Square on Dec. 19th.
Sports
Those who love sports cannot forget two important appointments: Media Maratón and San Silvestre. The first takes place on Dec. 22nd. The second goes through the city centre of Vitoria in the evening of December 31st.
Source: Tourism Euskadi
