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Until January 5 Christmas, New Year and Three Kings in Cartagena 2025-26
Music and family entertainment as well as the grand parades of Father Christmas and the Three Kings as festive fever sweeps the city of Cartagena!
As ever, the programme of events over Christmas and the New Year in the city of Cartagena is one of the most extensive in the Region of Murcia, and this year there are so many things going on that what follows is necessarily an abbreviated version!
Apart from the one-off events at the Auditorio El Batel, which include the New Year concert by the Region of Murcia symphony orchestra, the Grand Acrobatic Circus of China and a Michael Bublé tribute, the main venues over the festive season are the following:
Plaza de España – December 20 to January 3: A children’s area with workshops and activities as well as music in the afternoons.
Parque de los Juncos - December 20 to January 4: Bouncy castles and children’s activities in the mornings.
The seafront promenade in the port - December 18 to January 6: A gastronomic market, cultural activities, concert and workshops both morning and afternoon.
Plaza Héroes de Cavite – December 5 to January 6: Christmas decorations all day.
Plaza de las Antiguas Puertas de Madrid – December 12 to January 6: Nativity scene
Plaza del Icue – December 21 to January 4: Concerts, Father Christmas and The Three Kings both set up home here to greet children.
Plaza Juan XXIII – December 12 to January 5: Arts and crafts market 11.00 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 21.00.
Plaza San Francisco – December 6 to January 6: The municipal nativity scene.
The programme includes the following:
Friday December 12
18.00: The arts and crafts market opens in Plaza Juan XXIII.
19.30: The official presentation of the nativity scene in the Plaza de las Antiguas Puertas de Madrid, accompanied by soprano Inés Ananda Navarro and the Coral Discantus choir.
20.00: The Christmas concert of the Cuarentuna de Cartagena in the church of the Sagrado Corazón de Jesús (San Diego).
Saturday December 13
20.00: The original music of Lilo & Stitch ‘Ohana’ in a family musical at the Teatro Circo Apolo in El Algar.
20.15: Concert by the Orquesta Sinfónica de Cartagena and the Coral Discantus choir at the church of Santa María de Gracia.
Sunday December 14
19.45: The Unión Musical de Cartagena offer a concert at the church of Santo Domingo.
Wednesday December 17
12.20 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 20.00: Collection of Christmas sweets and goodies in the Plaza del Icue, with live music and other entertainments.
Thursday December 18
18.00: Stolen in concert on the promenade in the port.
17.30: K-pop Warriors at the Teatro Circo Apolo in El Algar.
Friday December 19
19.30: Tenor Pablo Martínez and the choir of the Conservatorio de Música de Cartagena perform a recital at the nativity scene in the Plaza de las antiguas Puertas de Madrid.
Saturday December 20
12.30: Viva la Navidad! A show featuring Mickey Mouse, an elf and a snowman in the Parque de Los Juncos.
12.30: “Un puente de circo”, a show of acrobats, humour and fantasy in the Plaza Juan XXIII.
13.00: Canel en Rama in concert on the promenade in the port, alongside a gastro market, a children’s area and other activities.
18.00: The opening of the Christmas party area in the Plaza de España, with magician Pedro Lucas hosting a splendid show!
19.00: Russinggers Gospel in concert in the Plaza de España.
19.15: Concert by the Escuela Coral Sauces and the Agrupación Musical Sauces in the church of El Carmen.
20.30: The Coral Iuvenis choir and the Banda Ntra. Sra. de la Soledad offer a concert at the parish church of San Vicente de Paúl.
20.30: The GRAND ACROBATIC CIRCUS OF CHINA perform at the Auditorio El Batel - click here for further details including ticketing.
Sunday December 21
12.00: Flamenco Mass at the church of the Sagrado Corazón de Jesús (San Diego) featuring members of the Piñana family, including brothers Curro and Carlos.
12.15: The Coral Polifónica Cartagonova give a concert at the church of San Ginés de la Jara.
13.00: Ignacio Segaz in concert on the promenade in the port alongside a gastro market, a children’s area and other activities.
18.00: Coco el Musical, Recuérdame, a family musical based on the film Coco at the Auditorio El Batel.
18.30: THE GRAND PARADE OF FATHER CHRISTMAS! Route: Plaza del Ayuntamiento, Calle Mayor, Puertas deMurcia, Santa Florentina, del Parque, Canales, del Carmen, Tolosa Latour, Jabonerías, Plaza del Icue.
19.00: Doña Manteca, a concert of Latin music on the promenade in the port.
20.00 to 21.30: Father Christmas greets children and receive their gift requests in the Plaza del Icue.
Monday December 22
11.00 to 13.30 and 17.00 to 20.30: Father Christmas returns to the Plaza del Icue to greet more children!
19.00: Conecta2 in concert on the promenade in the port, musical entertainment for all the family.
Tuesday December 23
11.00 to 13.30 and 17.00 to 20.30: Father Christmas returns to the Plaza del Icue to greet more children!
18.00: A show featuring Mister Blue, the hypnotist mouse, in the Plaza de España.
19.00: More children’s entertainment in El Desconcierto Navideño in the Plaza de España.
Wednesday December 24
11.00 to 13.30: The last chance to catch Father Christmas in the Plaza del Icue before he takes a rest prior to his long night’s work!
13.00: La Prima in concert in the Plaza de España.
13.00: Sótano 14 in concert on the promenade in the port alongside a gastro market, a children’s area and other activities.
Friday December 26
13.00: Clandestinos in concert on the promenade in the port alongside a gastro market, a children’s area and other activities.
19.00: Descariñados in concert in the Plaza de España.
19.30: The left-hand pianist, a unique concert by Manuel López at the Centro Cultural Ramón Alonso Luzzy!
20.15: NAVIDAD EN ARMONÍA, the a capella group Dimensión Vocal perform in the Plaza del Icue.
Saturday December 27
11.30: Traditional “cuadrilla” folk music and dance groups in the streets of the city centre before a concert in the Plaza del Icue at 12.00.
13.00: Patente 2.0 in concert on the promenade in the port alongside a gastro market, a children’s area and other activities.
18.30: Antoñito Molina in concert at the Auditorio El Batel.
19.00: La Saga in concert in the Plaza de España.
20.00: The A Son de Mar choir offer a concert at the church of the Inmaculada Concepción.
20.15: Manuel Luna in concert in the Plaza del Icue.
Sunday December 28
13.00: Los Vecinos del 4º in concert on the promenade in the port alongside a gastro market, a children’s area and other activities.
18.00: Circus acrobat show in the Plaza de España.
18.00: Living nativity scene in Calle Aire.
18.30: MICHAEL BUBLÉ TRIBUTE at the Auditorio El Batel- click here for further details including ticketing.
19.00: Billy Boon Band in concert in the Plaza de España.
20.15: Swing music in the Plaza del Icue.
Monday December 29
19.00: Cluster Violet + Carlos Vudú & El Clan Jukebox provide rock music in the Plaza de España.
20.15: Flamenco Zambomba music in the Plaza del Icue.
Tuesday December 30
11.00 to 14.00: An early New Year party for kiddies in the Plaza del Rey.
19.00: ‘Número Uno’, a concert by Diego Martín in the Plaza de España.
20.15: Swing music in the Plaza del Icue.
20.30: Concert by the Cartagena Youth Orchestra at the Auditorio El Batel.
22.00: Another early New Year party in the Plaza del Rey.
Wednesday January 31
10.00: The annual San Silvestre running race begins with the younger age groups, the main adult race starting at 11.30 from Paseo Alfonso XII to the Palacio Consistorial.
13.00: Conecta2 in concert in the Plaza de España.
13.00: Alta Tensión in concert on the promenade in the port alongside a gastro market, a children’s area and other activities.
18.00: Musical parade in the streets.
Friday January 2
13.00: Christopher Martínez in concert on the promenade in the port alongside a gastro market, a children’s area and other activities.
17.00 and 19.30: K-pop Warriors at the Auditorio El Batel.
18.30: The Royal Pages of the Three Kings parade through the streets announcing the imminent arrival of Their Majesties.
19.30 to 21.00: The Royal Postman sets up his base in the Plaza del Icue to receive letters from children asking for gifts.
Saturday January 3
11.00 to 13.30 and 17.00 to 20.30: The Royal Postman in the Plaza del Icue.
13.00: La Calle in concert on the promenade in the port alongside a gastro market, a children’s area and other activities.
19.00: Adiós Noviembre in concert, indie pop in the Plaza de España.
20.00: The adoration of the Magi, a traditional event on the façade of the church of Santa María.
20.30: NEW YEAR CONCERT by the Region of Murcia Symphony Orchestra (OSRM) at the Auditorio El Batel – click here for further details including ticketing.
Sunday January 4
11.00 to 13.30 and 17.00 to 20.30: The Royal Postman in the Plaza del Icue.
13.00: Josema Alcaraz in concert on the promenade in the port alongside a gastro market, a children’s area and other activities.
17.00: The Cadena Cope radio station provides a giant Roscón de Reyes cake in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento – all are invited to come along!
Monday January 5
12.30: The Three Kings are officially welcomed as they arrive by boat in the port and make their way to the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
13.30: Cota Cero (Hombretuerca) in concert on the promenade in the port alongside a gastro market, a children’s area and other activities.
18.00: THE GRAND PARADE OF THE THREE KINGS in the streets of Cartagena, distributing sweets, presents and magic as they make their way along Alameda de San Antón, Plaza de España, Paseo Alfonso XIII, Juan Fernández, Plaza Juan XXIII, Calle del Carmen, Calle Tolosa Latour, Jabonerías, Plaza del Icue, Puertas de Murcia, Plaza de San Sebastián and Calle Mayor until they reach the Town Hall.
The evening ends with a magnificent firework display!
For more upcoming events in the Region of Murcia go to the What’s on section of Murcia Today.
