Find your Christmas in Ourense

This Christmas, go and discover Ourense. The city has been filled with lights, colour and great enthusiasm to celebrate these special dates, with many proposals to enjoy as a family.

With its illuminated streets, the sound of the traditional carols and the steam from the hot springs filling the city with heat, Ourense is a perfect destination to enjoy an unforgettable Christmas with your family, with plenty of activities for all ages to discover Galicia’s  Thermal Capital.

A Christmas tradition in Ourense is to visit the beautiful Nativity Scene by Baltar, at St. Cosmas’ Square. An authentic gem of Galician art, this set brings together more than a hundred clay figures by sculptor Arturo Baltar, in a composition that goes far beyond the classical representation of the birth of Jesus, including many scenes from the Ourense of yesteryear: works in the fields, the tavern, the children playing in the square. Until January 8th, it expands schedules and, in addition, the visit is free (from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm and from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm). However, remember that the city’s Nativity tradition does not end here: in these dates the municipal contest of nativity scenes is held, a very popular tradition with more than two decades of history, with dozens of scenes open to the public for visits.

The walk to St. Cosmas’ Square, at the end of the Historic Quarter, is an ideal opportunity to enjoy Christmas lights or even get the perfect selfie in one of the Christmas stages that you will find in the streets of Ourense: Santa Claus with his reindeers next to the thermal pool of As Burgas or the camels of the Three Wise Men taking a break at the Father Feijóo Gardens, next to the Municipal Tourist Office. In addition, you will have the opportunity to see the street theatre show “Looking for Christmas”, a fun play in which three characters travel through the main landmarks of Ourense (by way of a curious guided tour) looking for the perfect place for the star of Bethelem. The smell of roasted chestnuts from the street stalls or the taste of hot chocolate, a delicious Christmas tradition in Ourense, will end up infecting you with the festive spirit of a city that shines with its own light at this time.

Christmas floods Ourense with lights, magic and colour. Don’t miss the spectacular videomapping at the Main Square, with beautiful animations screened on the facade of the City Hall that will make your imagination fly. On December 22th and 29th and on January 4th at 8 and 9 p.m.

Theatre and music cover the agenda of events for these days, starting with the new edition of the MOTI, the Children’s Theatre Festival of Ourense, which will begin on December 26th. Starting on the 17th, St. Euphemia’s Church will become the stage for the Christmas carol contest, already in its 23rd edition, with performances spread over almost two weeks. Other urban stages will hold the Christmas concerts of Emilio Rúa, María do Ceo or Priscilla, among others..

All the information about the programmed activities can be found in our What’s On section.