Tips and travel guide Estepona

What’s Christmas in Malaga like? What will be open? What can we see and do? When do the Christmas lights go on? It’s one of the biggest Malaga events and one we get lots of questions on. To answer them, we thought the best thing was to create a Christmas in Malaga FAQs blog post. If the answer to your question isn’t here, let us know and we’ll add it in!

Read more on: https://www.guidetomalaga.com/events-in-malaga/christmas-in-malaga/all-you-need-to-know-about-christmas-in-malaga/

In 2024, the Malaga Christmas lights switch-on will probably be Friday November 22 or Saturday November 23 at 7pm, but this date has yet to be confirmed.

What do the lights in Calle Larios look like?

The 2023 display repeated 2022’s, 16 celestial angels on 32 columns stretched along the entire length of the street. We love this one, particularly as it looks just as good during the day.

Watch this space for 2024’s design!

What about the lights in other parts of Malaga at Christmas?

The Alameda Principal also takes center stage with a ton of LED lights (270,000 to be exact!) in the ficus trees, which will be on all day and all night. Plus, there are two brightly-lit almond trees.

Apart from Calle Larios, almost 2 million LED bulbs light up Malaga this Christmas – Calle San Juan (parallel to Calle Nueva) has got 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. Look out for 5 giant trees:

Video mapping

This cool technique projects 3D imagery onto buildings accompanied by light and sound and this year, Malaga Cathedral’s provides the façade again. You can see Angel of Light on the south tower of the Cathedral.

The display will take place three times every evening at 6.45, 8 and 10pm from December 1 to January 4 (no shows on 24th and 31st December).

Christmas lights in the Botanical Gardens

The Christmas garden returns to the lovely botanical gardens for another year. The 2022 edition is called Stela, A Journey to the East, based on the Wise Men’s journey through Persia, Babylonia and then to Bethlehem. All lighting is LED this year in keeping with the national push to save energy, but expect a stunning show combining the gardens, its monuments and lights.

Cirque du Soleil on ice

When are the lights on?

The lights are switched on every evening over the Christmas period between 6.30pm and midnight (2am Friday to Sunday, 24th and 31st December and 5th January. They’re turned off on January 6, 2025 at midnight, the day after the Three Kings parade. .

Many thanks, Follow Guide to Malaga and stay tuned! https://www.facebook.com/GuidetoMalaga

Which days are public holidays in Malaga over Christmas 2024?

Monday, January 6 (Epiphany/ Three Kings)

Wednesday, December 25 (Christmas Day).

Wednesday, January 1 (New Year’s Day).

What will be closed on these days?

All shops, museums and attractions in Malaga. Most bars and restaurants tend to close on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, but many open for Three Kings.

Shops usually close early (e.g. between 3 and 5pm) on Christmas Eve (December 24) and New Year’s Eve (December 31)

Will any restaurants be open on Christmas Day?

Some larger restaurants and those in hotels will be open, but check in advance and book to be sure of a table.

We’re compiling a list of venues open – scroll down to read it.

On July 16, the Maritime Procession is celebrated by land and sea in honor of Our Lady of Carmen, patron saint of Estepona. The procession, one of the most deeply rooted traditions in Estepona, starts from the church of Our Lady of Carmen and continues along the Paseo Marítimo, where two crowds wait, one of tourists and devout Esteponeros on the coast. And another of all the boats sizes decorated for the occasion, coming to receive the Virgin, all in an atmosphere of joy and celebration. The head of the procession enters the water until the bearers of the statue feel their bodies and clothes under the sea while singing “La Salve Marinera.” Then they lift the Virgin and put her on a boat. The Lady of Carmen continues her procession by sea, followed by all the ships full of people and sailors, who, under cheers and sirens, come to accompany their patron on her journey through the waters of Estepona. Once back on land, he continues his journey along the Paseo Marítimo until he settles back in his hermitage, waiting for the July 16 arrival of the following year to walk among the people again.

Between June 23 and 24, the mustaches of San Juan (de júas) are burned, dolls created by various local associations that ridicule well-known local and national characters, destined to be burned at the stake. On the night of the 23rd, the contest is held and only the winner is saved from being burned, only until the following night. The people of Estepona gather on the beach at midnight to get their feet wet and touch the water, which tradition says brings good luck all year long.