Christmas Lights in Málaga: Lighting Dates in the Province

Large municipalities in the province of Málaga are finalizing preparations to light up Christmas with tens of millions of bulbs, reinvigorating local shops and neighborhood stores that, in a few weeks, will see a third of the quarter's revenue at stake. The effort made by the Malaga councils gets its first reward, but these decorations also involve whole families in fun and festive activities. This social incentive, in the era of social networks and individualism, is also emphasized by some local delegations of Festivals and Popular Traditions. Larios Street will once again become the provincial example of what light and sound shows represent during Christmas. It sets an example throughout Spain, as evidenced by the efforts of cities like Vigo to reach the visitor quota of the Costa del Sol at the end of the year. The Málaga City Council doubled its efforts last Friday so that a week before the lighting, all the decorations on one of Spain’s most important commercial arteries took shape. Representatives from the historical center association of the capital are confident that millions of visitors will once again flock to a commercial space that is even noted in major Central European cities, as shown by the contacts they usually receive. The schedule to enjoy the lighting in the capital has already been announced. On Friday, November 28, at 6:30 PM, all mobile phones will be ready to capture from any point on Larios Street one of the most awaited moments of the year. Coinciding with Black Friday, not only will the lighting be activated in this part of the city. About 500 streets are expected to be decorated. This year Málaga is unveiling a new design, after three years with arches and "celestial angels." The name of the new setting is Natividad de Luz. Iluminaciones Ximénez will combine its scenography this time with a staging that is part of the Imagine show performed in Sohrlin. The actors of this innovation will be in charge of pressing the lighting button. Following this, musical pieces such as Imagine 'Será tu Voz' (Merlín Producciones and Sohrlin Andalucía), 'Toy Symphony' (L. Mozart), or 'Los Peces en el Río' (David Bisbal) will play. The lights cover more than 300 meters of Larios, where about 350,000 LED lights are used, distributed in 16 stars or rosettes of five meters, held by 32 decorated side columns, and 32 streaks or bursts. Like most of the municipalities in Málaga, the lighting will remain installed until January 5 and there will be, in the case of Larios Street, the usual three daily passes (6:30 PM, 8:30 PM, and 10:00 PM), except on December 24 and January 31, when the lights will be on but without music. But two weeks before Málaga turns on its lights, even before Vigo or Puente Genil, the Torrox City Council pressed the button to show the whole country that it not only boasts of having the best climate in Europe. It can also be proud of energizing commerce during these holidays much earlier than the rest of the municipalities with more than 20,000 inhabitants. It was on Friday, November 14, when the switches were turned on to light up more than a million lights, distributed in "more than 20 kilometers of streets and squares illuminated," as stated by the mayor, Óscar Medina. "Torrox is the first major tourist city in Spain to turn on the Christmas lights," he said. "They generate well-being and happiness; strengthen emotional ties; symbolize the light and warmth of God, and we remember our loved ones who are no longer with us," he added. With a 24-hour difference, the term of Torrox advanced to Vigo, while in 2024 only Puente Genil would light it at the same time. On the other end of the Costa del Sol, for example, Estepona will turn on its lights at the same time as the capital of Málaga, on Friday, November 28. The City Council announced a few days ago that just one day later, the Christmas Park will be inaugurated in the outdoor area of the Felipe VI Auditorium. "It will feature an ice rink, Santa Claus's house, a merry-go-round, bumper cars, inflatable castles, and a dining area. This space will be open from November 29 to January 4," added the mayor, José María Urbano, on his social media profiles. The same date, Friday 28, has also been chosen to turn on the lights in San Pedro Alcántara. The Marbella City Council has opted for two different dates. In the San Pedro nucleus, activities will start at six-thirty with the Moon Fairies parade, starting from the Church Square. It will tour Revilla, Lagasca, Jerez, Marqués del Duero Avenue, Córdoba, Pepe Osorio, Oriental Avenue, Revilla, and Marqués del Duero Avenue. Additionally, a Christmas flashmob will take place with the participation of the neighborhood associations El Cruce (teacher Paqui Márquez and Daniel and Anaís) and Arcos Blancos (Janet González) and Newgymaerosport (Javier Pajares). At eight in the evening, on Marqués del Duero Avenue, the Christmas lighting will be inaugurated. Subsequently, attendees can enjoy a free concert by the artist Pitingo. Just one day later, in the main core of Marbella, Christmas will arrive on Saturday, November 29. It was usually the same day as San Pedro Alcántara. The day will also start with the same parade as the day before, starting at the Plaza del Santo Cristo. It will go through Ancha, Peral, Huerta Chica, Chorrón, Portada, Arte, Salinas, Trinidad, Church Square, Carmen, General Chinchilla Square, Los Naranjos Square, Nueva, Gloria, Valdés, Padre Echamendi, Africa Square, Fortaleza, Pedraza, Victory Square, Huerta Chica, Ricardo Soriano (until the intersection with Valentuñana) and return to Ramón y Cajal. Dance academies such as "Mi Lema," "Alda Urbano," "Danza Marbella," "María La Flamenca," "New Dance," "Gema Piña," and "Muévete" are expected to participate. At eight in the evening, at the height of Ramón y Cajal Avenue, the Christmas lights will be inaugurated. Subsequently, the musical show the flamenco zambomba Vienen de Jerez will take center stage. It will feature a cast formed by Capullo de Jerez, Diego Carrasco, Maloko Soto, Ané Carrasco, and Rafael Soto. Mijas, Fuengirola, Rincón de la Victoria, Torremolinos, Nerja, or Vélez-Málaga are also preparing to start the festivities. In the Benalmádena area, the day of Friday 28 is also marked in red. In Benalmádenapueblo, the party will start at six in the evening next to the Christmas tree in the Plaza de las Tres Culturas, preceded by a children's parade that will depart at five from the Manuel Altolaguirre library and will tour the historic center. At eight in the evening, the lighting will be turned on in Arroyo de la Miel, in front of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, also accompanied by a children's parade that will start its route an hour earlier, at seven, from the House of Culture. The day will feature live music, stilt walkers, acrobats, jugglers, dancers, and a spectacular confetti rain that will flood the streets with a festive atmosphere to welcome a Christmas that, as the councilor delegate of Festivals and Popular Traditions, Yolanda Peña, advances.