ARCHIVED - Lorca Christmas 2019 and Three Kings 2020 programme in English
ARCHIVED ARTICLE
Visit Lorca over the Christmas period and enjoy the atmosphere and activities of this historic city
Full information about what to see in Lorca, tourist information and other what's on information in English can all be found at www.lorcatoday.com
Municipal Belén
The principal monumental Belén (nativity scene) of Lorca can be seen in the Palacio de Guevara.(click the link for map)
This is a particularly attractive belén and many of the components reproduce faithfully the monuments and historic buildings of the city, set amidst the story of the nativity includin the Palacio Guevara itself and the castle.
Opening hours: 11:00 to 14:00 and 18:00 to 21:00 daily.
NB. On the 24th and 31st December the belén is open only from 11:00 to 14:00 and on the 1st January is only open in the evening from 18:00 to 21:00.
Entry free of charge.
Click here for the What's on agenda to see a full programme of guided tours offered in the city centre and in the castle.
The castle is open throughout the festive period including Christmas day.
Main areas of activity:
Christmas Recinto de Navidad, with attractions for the children and open-air hostelry service. This is spread across the Plazas of Calderón, Concordia, Corredera and Alporchones, bringing seasonal life and a buzz into the city centre.
Plaza de España. This is home to the tourist office and the town hall. Many of the workshops take place here in a marque erected for the festive season, and the parades and cabalgata conclude here. Throughout the festive season the town hall is used as a backdrop for a videomapping show, which features the use of video images and music in a 14 minute long spectacular. See agenda below for times. click for map: Plaza de España.
The Centro Cultural is the venue for several children's activities and workshops: Click for map
Churches of Lorca. Many concerts are inside churches during the festive season. Click for list of churches, each of which has a map showing the location.
Teatro Guerra: The main theatre in Lorca. Click for map.
Christmas, New Year and Three Kings programme 2019/20
Friday 6th December
Lorca city is holding a big celebration to welcome in the festive activities.
18.30 Christmas fantasy in white parade, heading through the streets of the main shopping area and concluding in Calle Corredera, in collaboration with many local social groups including APAT Lorca, Apandis, Adilor, Asofem and Down Lorca
19:30 Free open-air concert in Calle Corredera featuring the group ‘Cap pela’, a vocal group from Mallorca with seven vocalists. The group was founded in 1994 and offers a varied repertoire of music ranging from R&B, soul, funk, pop, Jazz to popular songs and even a few original compositions, the total mix happy, upbeat and in keeping with the spirit of the festive season.
Sunday 8th December
12:00. The municipal nativity scene (belén) is inaugurated in the Palacio de Guevara with music from La Jarapa.
Friday 13th December
19:30. Inauguration of the Christmas Recinto de Navidad, with attractions for the children and open-air hostelry service. This is spread across the Plazas of Calderón, Concordia, Corredera and Alporchones, bringing seasonal life and a buzz into the city centre. On this evening all of the attractions in the Plaza Calderón cost 1.50 euros.
Saturday 14th December
18:30. In the Teatro Guerra of Lorca a dance spectacular by the Academia de Danza de Maria Teresa Lazareno entitled Salvar la Tierra.
19:30. In the Iglesia del Carmen. Free entry concert of Christmas carols by the choir Coro Amadeus.
Sunday 15th December
13:00. In the Palacio de Guevara a free concert of Murcian Christmas carols alongside the municipal belén by the Coro Amadeus.
Monday 16th December
18:00 to 21:00. The fairground rides in Plaza Calderón are 1.50 euros.
20:00 In the Teatro Guerra the dance academy "La Academia de Artes escénicas de Marta Gutiérrez" presents their spectacular Christmas Gala.
Tuesday 17th December
18:00 to 21:00. The fairground rides in Plaza Calderón are 1.50 euros.
21:00. In the church
Iglesia de san Cristóbal the municipal musical band of Lorca offers its traditional Christmas concert. Entry is free of charge.
Wednesday 18th December
18:00 to 21:00. The fairground rides in Plaza Calderón are 1.50 euros.
20:00. In the church
Iglesia de Santiago the Trio Red Velvet performs a free entry concert as part of the cycle of "Classical music at Christmas" with piano and vocal soloist.
Thursday 19th December
During the morning Christmas carols in the street with the various schools of Lorca performing.
18:00 to 21:00. The fairground rides in Plaza Calderón are 1.50 euros.
20:30. Free entry concert in the
Iglesia de San Mateo as part of the Cycle of Christmas Music. This is a special concert featuring the Il Divo tribute act Trivox, a vocal trio specialising in classical music.
Friday 20th December
17.00. Centro Cultural. Children's puppet theatre. The group Marimba Marionetas presents La Aventura de la Navidad.
18:30. Collection of donations of non-perishable foods on behalf of Cáritas in the Virgen de las Huertas convent.
19:00. Christmas mass and living nativity scene in the Virgen de las Huertas.
19:00. The Teatro Guerra of Lorca offers a dance spectacular by the Academia de Danza of Nuria Guevara entitled "El Embrujo de la Navidad".
20:30. The Virgen de las Huertas convent is the venue for free hot chocolate and cake as the royal Postman arrives seeking letters from the youngsters ahead of the arrival of the Three Kings on January 5th.
Saturday 21st December
17:00. The parade “La Cabalgata de la Ilusión” returns as Santa Claus arrives in the city in preparation for Christmas. The parade forms up in calle Floridablanca, before heading off down Lope Gisbert, Subida San Francisco, Corredera, Álamo and concluding in the Plaza de España. After arriving, Father Christmas takes a few refreshments before heading down to Santa’s House in Calle Corredera 23 on the corner with Calle Pío XII where he will wait for the arrival of children and their wish lists. Children arriving with a letter for Santa will be given a poinsettia courtesy of the municipal gardens dept. until stocks run out!
18:00. The Violeta Mateo dance academy offers a solidarity gala entitled “The Magic of Christmas”. All money raised will be donated to the charity ONG Familias Solidarios con el Pueblo Bielorruso.
18:30 and 20:30. A videomapping audiovisual projection lasting 14 minutes, with images bringing the front of the town hall to life. Entitled Lorca Vive la Navidad. Best viewed from the Plaza de España.
20:00. Two choral concerts, both free entry.
The first is in the church, the Iglesia de San Francisco and features the Coro Amadeus choir.
The second is in the Casa del Artesano, the former Pósito municipal, 3rd floor and features the choir Coral Bartolomé Pérez Casas.
Sunday 22nd December
The house of Father Christmas in Calle Corredera 23 on the corner with Calle Pío XII is open, Santa waiting for the arrival of children and their wish lists.
11:30 and 13:00. The dance studio of Nuria Periago presents a Christmas dance spectacular Navidance in the Teatro Guerra.
11:00 The annual Christmas gathering of the local cuadrillas in calle Corredera fills the centre of city with traditional Murcian folk music and dancing, the cuadrillas spreading out along the street to perform. It’s a pretty lively occasion, as groups of people form around each cuadrilla to enjoy the music, some dancing in the street. This is the XXXX Encuentro de Cuadrillas de Lorca.
18:30 and 00:30. A videomapping audiovisual projection lasting 14 minutes, with images bringing the front of the town hall to life. Entitled Lorca Vive la Navidad. Best viewed from the Plaza de España.
19:00. Plaza de España; Children’s handicrafts workshop; create your own Christmas card.
Monday 23rd December
12:00 The children’s film “Los increibles” in the Centro Cultural.
The house of Father Christmas in Calle Corredera 23 on the corner with Calle Pío XII is open, Santa waiting for the arrival of children and their wish lists.
18:00 to 21:00. Fairground attractions at 1.50 euros. The children’s rides in the Plaza de Calderón can be enjoyed at the price of 1.50€.
18:30 and 20:30. A videomapping audiovisual projection lasting 14 minutes, with images bringing the front of the town hall to life. Entitled Lorca Vive la Navidad. Best viewed from the Plaza de España.
19:00. A free children’s workshop in the Plaza de España: make your own Christmas figures.
19:00. In the Teatro Guerra the Dance academy Gim Dance de Carmen Franco performs its Christmas spectacular entitled “El Gran Show”.
Tuesday 24th December
The house of Father Christmas in Calle Corredera 23 on the corner with Calle Pío XII is open, Santa waiting for the arrival of children and their wish lists.
12:00 to 14:00. Fairground attractions at 1.50 euros. The children’s rides in the Plaza de Calderón can be enjoyed at the price of 1.50€.
16:30 to 18:00. In the Plaza de España entertainment is offered for children with live music before they head home to await the arrival of Father Christmas and their presents……
Thursday 26th December
12:00. In the Centro Cultural. Projection of the film ET el Extraterrestre.
17:00. The Centro Cultural offers a children’s puppet theatre performance entitled “El Sol y el Girasol”.
18:30 and 20:30. A videomapping audiovisual projection lasting 14 minutes, with images bringing the front of the town hall to life. Entitled Lorca Vive la Navidad. Best viewed from the Plaza de España.
19:00. Plaza de España. Performance of magic by magician Pedro Lucas.
19:00. In the Teatro Guerra the choir Coral Santa Cecilia and the municipal musical band perform their annual Christmas concert.
Friday 27th December
16:00 to 21:30. The Lorca Shopping Night. During this event the main central shopping area of Lorca in Avenida Juan Carlos will be closed off to traffic, with music in the streets and the shops offering special prices and entertainment to lure in the shoppers.
17.00. In the Plaza de España. Children’s theatre; “El Cocinero en navidad”.
18:30 and 20:30. A videomapping audiovisual projection lasting 14 minutes, with images bringing the front of the town hall to life. Entitled Lorca Vive la Navidad. Best viewed from the Plaza de España.
19:00. Plaza de España; Children’s ceramics workshop.
Saturday 28th December
Throughout the day the Centro Cultural will be displaying a strange meteorite which fell on the Campo de Lorca the night before…..
17.00. Plaza de España. Children’s theatre; “Factor Onírico” presents a Christmas concert.
18:30 and 20:30. A videomapping audiovisual projection lasting 14 minutes, with images bringing the front of the town hall to life. Entitled Lorca Vive la Navidad. Best viewed from the Plaza de España.
Sunday 29th December
18:30 and 20:30. A videomapping audiovisual projection lasting 14 minutes, with images bringing the front of the town hall to life. Entitled Lorca Vive la Navidad. Best viewed from the Plaza de España.
Monday 30th December
The Teatro Guerra hosts the first edition of the “Christmas cinema Marathon” featuring four animation films on the same day(all in Spanish):
11:00 to 14.00. Children’s cinema with El Grinch and Peter rabbit
17:00 to 21:00. Spider Man new Universe and Isla de Perros
18:30 and 20:30. A videomapping audiovisual projection lasting 14 minutes, with images bringing the front of the town hall to life. Entitled Lorca Vive la Navidad. Best viewed from the Plaza de España.
Tuesday 31st December
12.00. The Desfile de las Uvas, the parades of the grapes. This leaves from the Teatro Guerra and concludes in the Plaza de España, travelling along Corredera, Álamo and concluding in the Plaza de España, comprising the trains from Lorca Taller del Tiempo, packed with children. On arrival at the plaza, a special party is offered for children.
16:30 to 18.00. Live music in the Plaza de España as a warm-up for New Year’s Eve. The San Silvestre running race also departs from this point.
Tuesday 2nd January 2020
18:00 to 21.00. The fairground rides in the Plaza de Calderón are 1.50€ for children.
20:30. In the Teatro Guerra the municipal musical band offers a free New Year concert.
Friday 3rd January 2020
12:00. Centro Cultural. Children’s cinema; Mi amigo el Gigante.
20:30. Teatro Guerra fundraiser. Tickets 10 euros, featuring Los Tambores de Ruanda and los Uganda Sticks.
Saturday 4th January
17:30. Plaza de España. The Royal Pages are waiting to collect wish lists from the children of the city, alongside a children’s party and hot chocolate for all.
Sunday 5th January 2020
12.00. The Three Kings arrive by train at the Sutullena Railway Station before departing in horses and carriages on a tour through the principal streets of the city (Alameda de Menchirón, Avenida Juan Carlos I, Musso Valiente and concluding in the Plaza de España.
12.45. The Three Kings are greeted in the town hall by the Mayor, and then move onto the balcony of the town hall to welcome the children of the city. After this, they meet and greet the children one by one, providing a last chance to hand over wish lists to their Majesties in person.
18:00. The Grand Cabalgata of the Three Kings parade takes place. The procession follows a route via Pérez Casas, San José, San Francisco, Lope Gisbert to the Óvalo roundabout, then along Avenida Juan Carlos I and concluding in the Plaza de España. At the end of the procession a Three Kings spectacular and fireworks conclude the cabalgata.
Monday 6th January
11:00. Auto de los Reyes Magos in the village of Zarzadilla de Totana. A theatrical representation of the story of the nativity, acted out by the villagers in different parts of the village.
Click here for the what’s on agenda to see the different guided tours offered in the city during the festive period.
Lorca castle is open throughout the festive period including Christmas Day.
Click for more information about visiting Lorca
See the what's on agenda for special tours and other events of tourist interest.