Since the end of September, Iluminaciones Ximénez employees have been working on the preparations for placing decorations and lighting in the historic center and the various neighborhoods of Malaga, for Christmas in Spain. In Calle Larios, the heart of the Christmas festivities in the capital, the arches for the construction of the light show, which dazzle thousands of residents and tourists every year, have already been installed. Christmas in Málaga is a fact!
If the plans go the same as previous editions, there will still be at least a month and a half to go before the actually turning on the lights. The first light show is traditionally scheduled for the last Friday of November – last year ‘the unveiling’ took place on Friday the 27th.
The health crisis called Corona is throwing its last punches; this edition they might also choose to keep the exact reveal time secret, in order to avoid the classic crowds of people caused by the first light show of the year. If the unveiling takes place on Friday, November 25, the celebration would also coincide with ‘Black Friday’ this year. Which will frustrate the city’s efforts of keeping people safe.
While security forces and volunteers kept the crowd moving last year, hundreds of Malagasy residents still gathered in the center to see the spectacular light show titled ‘The Christmas Forest’.
The city council’s budget for Christmas lights has been increased by just over 200,000 euros this year, Mayor Francisco de la Torre announced, bringing the total bill to more than 1,200,000 euros. In 2020, the cost was 988,000 euros. Of this, the assembly of Calle Larios took the most (798,000 euros), while 190,000 euros were invested in the rest of the streets in the center and the surrounding neighborhoods.
Although restrictions have been lifted, it remains to be seen whether the musical show that heralds the festivities in the capital will take place again, and whether the central shopping street will once again be the “main stage” for visitors. In the years leading up to the pandemic, many towns in the province and in Andalusia chartered buses to allow their residents to visit the lights. The result is a huge crowd that the municipality will want to avoid this edition. But the light show be there for sure!
Location: Calle Larios, Malaga
Dates: daily from the end of November until at least the 6th of January
