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Until January 5 Christmas, New Year and Three Kings 2024-25 in Caravaca de la Cruz
Concerts, shows, Santa, New Year and of course the Three Kings parade in Caravaca
The Christmas celebrations in Caravaca de la Cruz, the capital of the north-west of the Region of Murcia, are something of a nostalgic throwback to the “true” Christmases of days gone by in Spain, relatively untouched by the mass tourism and development which has influenced Mediterranean and Mar Menor coastal areas.
The municipal nativity scene is on display at the church of San José until 5th January between 11.00 and 13.30 and from 17.30 to 20.30 (closed during the afternoon on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve and all day on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day).
The schedule for the 2024-25 festive season includes the following:
Friday December 13
20.00: A Christmas fiesta to open the festive season in the Plaza del Arco.
20.00: Dance gala at the Teatro Thuillier.
Saturday December 14
12.00 to 14.00 and 16.00 to 19.00: Bouncy castles in Ciudad Jardín.
11.30: Guided tour of the “El Siglo de Tegeo” art exhibition at the former church of the Compañía de Jesús. Bookings via the tourist office.
Wednesday December 18
16.30: Carol concert by the La Consolación primary school at the Teatro Thuillier.
18.00: An inclusive carol concert at the Teatro Thuillier.
Thursday December 19
19.30: Christmas concert by the Conservatorio orchestra at the Basílica de la Vera Cruz. Admission free of charge.
December 19 to January 5
Christmas market in Paseo de la Corredera opening morning and evening (11.00 to 13.30 and 17.00 to 21.00). Closed in the afternoons of 24th and 31st December and all day on 25th December and 1st January.
December 20 to 22
Santa’s grotto opens in the Paseo de la Corredera, 20th December 17.30 to 20.30, 21st and 22nd December 11.00 to 13.30 and 17.30 to 20.30.
Friday December 20
19.00: Christmas concert by the Conservatorio orchestra at the Basílica de la Vera Cruz. Admission free of charge.
Saturday December 21
19.30: “La Ratita Presumida”, The Vain Little Mouse, at the Teatro Thuillier. Click here for further details.
Sunday December 22
13.00: Citra Trio perform in concert at the Ethnic Music Museum in the village of Barranda. Click here for further details.
20.00: Christmas concert by the Arsis choir in the stunning church of El Salvador.
December 23 and 29
11.00 to 13.00: Christmas elves populate the shops of the town centre in Caravaca!
Monday December 23
18.30: Father Christmas begins his grand parade through Caravaca, starting in the Plaza del Arco and continuing along Gran Vía, Avenida Maruja Garrido and Paseo de la Corredera.
Tuesday December 24
Midnight: Choral Midnight Mass in the Basilica de la Vera Cruz.
Wednesday December 25, Christmas Day
12.00 midday: Christmas Mass in the Basilica de la Vera Cruz.
Thursday December 26
11.00: Children’s workshop in the Plaza Iglesia of Barranda.
18.00: Official opening of the “Jardín de la Fantasía” in Parque Pedro García-Esteller, with fireworks and a magic show.
19.30: Christmas concert by the World Youth Choir of the parish of San Francisco in the Basilica de la Vera Cruz.
Friday December 27
17.00 to 20.00: The “Jardín de la Fantasía” is open in Parque Pedro García-Esteller.
Saturday December 28
An all-day Fiesta de los Inocentes, equivalent to April Fools’ Day, in the old city centre.
17.30: Christmas bingo in the Plaza del Arco.
17.00 to 20.00: The “Jardín de la Fantasía” is open in Parque Pedro García-Esteller.
20.00: Christmas concert at the Teatro Thuillier, tickets 10 euros with proceeds donated to the Asociación Betania.
Sunday December 29
17.00 to 20.00: The “Jardín de la Fantasía” is open in Parque Pedro García-Esteller.
12.00: Charity concert by the Arsis choir in the church of La Concepción de Los Royos.
Monday December 30
11.00: Children’s workshop in the Plaza de la Constitución in the village of Archivel.
11.00 to 14.00: Children’s New Year party in the Plaza del Arco.
17.00 to 20.00: The “Jardín de la Fantasía” is open in Parque Pedro García-Esteller.
Wednesday January 1
17.00 to 20.00: The “Jardín de la Fantasía” is open in Parque Pedro García-Esteller.
Thursday January 2
17.00 to 20.00: The “Jardín de la Fantasía” is open in Parque Pedro García-Esteller.
Friday January 3
17.00 to 20.00: The “Jardín de la Fantasía” is open in Parque Pedro García-Esteller.
Saturday January 4
17.00 to 20.00: The “Jardín de la Fantasía” is open in Parque Pedro García-Esteller.
17.30 to 20.00: Christmas elves populate the shops of the town centre in Caravaca!
Sunday January 5
11.00 to 14.00: The Three Kings arrive in Caravaca and set up camp in the Plaza del Arco.
11.00: Belying their magical powers, Their Majesties also visit the villages of Archivel and Navares.
18.00: The Grand Parade of the Three Kings in the centre of Caravaca, beginning in Avenida de la Constitución.
Address
Calle De Las Monjas, 19, 30400 CARAVACA DE LA CRUZTel: 968 702424 / 968 701003
Oficina de Turismo de Caravaca de la Cruz
More information about the places of interest which can be visited in the municipality of Caravaca de la Cruz, along with what's on and local news can be found in the Caravaca Today.
Caravaca de la Cruz, in the north-west of the Region of Murcia, is one of only 5 Holy Cities in the Roman Catholic world, a centre of pilgrimage, along with Rome, Jerusalem, Santiago de Compostela and Santo Toribio de Liebana, and is home to the Cross of Caravaca, the Vera Cruz.
The status of Holy City was bestowed by Pope John Paul II in 1998, granting the City a Permanent Jubilee year every 7 years for perpetuity, the first one held in 2003 and the next in 2024.
The strategic and natural advantages of Caravaca de la Cruz have attracted the attention of settlers for more than 800,000 years, the Cueva Negra yielding remains of Homo Heidelbergensis, forbears of the Neanderthals and the municipality also houses important archaeological remains from the Argaric, Iberian and Roman cultures. many of these can be seen in the Municipal Archaeological Museum.
As a border town caught between the Catholic forces of Castille and the last remaining Moorish stronghold in Spain, Granada, Caravaca had a turbulent medieval history, but it was during this period that the legend of the Cross of Caravaca was born, bringing the religious orders which shaped the structure of Caravaca today, with its impressive hilltop castle and eclectic collection of churches and monasteries, religious tourism today being a backbone of the town´s economy.
Caravaca de la Cruz is a municipality with important natural resources, including extensive forests, part of which have protected status due to their wealth of flora and fauna, and due to the abundant water supplies is also a major area for canned fruit production, apricots in particular being an important crop.
Caravaca is renown for its important May Fiestas, held in honour of the Vera Cruz, which also incorporate the Moors and Christians celebrations and the Running of the Wine Horses.
Caravaca de la Cruz is also the home of Europe´s largest collection of ethnic instruments at Barranda, the Museo de Música Étnica Barranda and is the location of the Barranda festival de Cuadrillas, which celebrates the Region's ethnic music traditions.
The municipality is home to around 26,000 inhabitants and sahres boundaries with Moratalla, Cehegín, Lorca, Puebla de Don Fadrique in the province of Granada and Vélez-Blanco in the province of Almería.
Opening times:
Weekdays: 10.00 to 14.00 and 16.30 to 19.30
Saturdays: 10.30 to 14.00 and 16.30 to 19.30
Sundays and public holidays: 10.30 to 14.00
Click for map, Caravaca de la Cruz Tourist Office
