Christmas agenda
Magic days
CHRISTMAS LIGHTING
On 1st December, the San Sebastián Christmas lights will be switched on. You can't miss the huge tree at the Palacio de Miramar, the ball on the Paseo de La Concha or the illuminated boxes on the Urumea river. The Christmas lights will be switched on at the Paseo de Francia, next to the CHRISTMAS MARKET, which will be open until the festive season ends. A place with real Christmas flavour, filled with gift ideas in the 40 stalls set up on the banks of the Urumea river, including a sled track, a big wheel, performances and fireworks.
OLENTZERO and MARI DOMINGI
Olentzero arrives on Christmas Eve, accompanied by Mari Domingi, to hand out presents to all the children.
- Location: Tent with workshops in the Plaza de la Constitución. (+ INFO)
Christmas Eve Dinner
Christmas lunch
Special New Year’s Eve dinners and galas
New Year’s Day lunch
CABALGATA DE REYES (THREE KINGS PARADE)
Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar –the Three Wise Men of the East– collect the letters written by children requesting a toy or gift that they bring on the night of 5 January.
- Location: Zurriola Beach (2:30), Town Hall (3:30 - 5:30), Boulevard (6:00) (+ INFO)
Christmas is in the air
PLAZA DE GIPUZKOA NATIVITY SCENE
Generations of San Sebastián locals have grown up with this Christmas classic. Open-air nativity with different scenes. Asociación Belenista de Gipuzkoa Also: Beharko nativity (Intxaurrondo) Loiola nativity (Atari Eder gardens)
- Location: Plaza de Gipuzkoa (+ INFO)
CHARITY GASTROPOTE
In collaboration with NGO Sport Mundi, Charity Gastropote.
- Location:San Martín Market(+ INFO)
- Time: 19:00-22:00
SAN SILVESTRE RACE
The most fun-filled, thrilling race of the year (8.2 km).
- Location: From Av. Zarautz a Amara Zaharra (+ INFO)
- Time: 4:00 p.m.
Christmas shopping: sotres and markets
The city’s stores go all out this holiday season to lay out the red carpet for customers: stores will offer customers free parking to make Christmas shopping even easier.
GREAT CHRISTMAS MARKET OF SAN SEBASTIAN
40 huts with Christmas items and decorations, culinary products, toys, artisan work, items by local designers...And a sleigh track and photo booth with a Christmas Ball. A tent will be set up with mime and theatre shows, as well as different workshops.
- Location: Paseo de Urumea (+ INFO)
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING at SAN SEBASTIAN SHOPS
Have fun shopping at over a hundred stores that are taking part in the city's Christmas campaign, and where a red carpet and Christmas decorations await you.
- Location:The city (+ INFO)
CHRISTMAS WINDOW DISPLAY COMPETITION
An opportunity to take a stroll through the city and check out the most original Christmas decorations. Categories: Most Sustainable, Most Innovative and Most Popular Window Display.
- Location: over 100 SShops associated stores (+ INFO)
Artisan and Pastry Product Market at Buen Pastor
35 stands with artisan products: fashion accessories, jewellery, textiles, toys, decoration... and 5 stands with 15 brands from master local pastry chefs.
- Location: Buen Pastor. (+ INFO)
Basque traditions, culture and folklore
Sagardo Apurua - CASERÍO SIDRERÍA
Recreation of a traditional cider house with tastings of the new harvest, live cooking stations, market, games, rural sports, bertsolaris, wine-tasting...
- Location: Boulevard (city centre) (+ INFO)
- Time: from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. /5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
SANTO TOMÁS FAIR
Donostia-San Sebastián turns into a rural market that showcases a local favourite: txistorra (cured sausage). Numerous stalls are set up where shoppers can purchase a wide variety of food products, crafts, etc.
- Location: Across the city
Plans near Donostia
SANTA LUCÍA FAIR
Traditional cattle fair and extraordinary markets, exhibition of agricultural machinery, wine fair of rioja alavesa, bertsos festival, drag of stone, rural sport, Basque pilot...
- Location: Urretxu-Zumarraga (+ INFO)
- Time: from 8:00 a.m. to 14:00 p.m.
SPECIAL CHRISTMAS MARKET
- Location: Plaza del Triángulo de Tolosa (+ INFO)
- Time: 09:00-14:00
SPECIAL CHRISTMAS MARKET
A special Christmas edition of a market celebrated every Wednesday since 1512.
- Location: Plaza Nagusia. Ordizia (+ INFO)
- Time:from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.