With the lighting of their facades and the opening of their themed markets, the Christmas campaign is already underway in many cities. The phrase that many associate with this time of year, "It's already Christmas at El Corte Inglés ," comes to life once again with events open to the public, cultural offerings, and carefully curated decorations in the stores.
This year's program combines tradition and innovation: with gift and candy stalls, street performances, handcrafted nativity scenes , activities for children, and a culinary offering that blends classic and trendy dishes. All of this is presented with energy-efficient LED lighting as a key element of sustainability.
Lightings and events that mark the beginning
In Alicante, the start of the event had a particularly moving component: the children from the Pediatric Oncology unit pressed the button to switch on the lights on Churruca Street at 19:00 p.m. The ceremony, accompanied by the Musiquetos choir from the Maristas School, directed by Álex Huertas , culminated in the illumination of a facade tapestry of more than 1.500 m² with around 200.000 LED lights and canopies adorned with some 300 garlands and more than half a million points of light.
León also joined in the festivities, where Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa played a starring role in the lighting ceremony: executive director Natichu Alvarado , accompanied by first-team players, activated the lights from a platform. Live music was provided by saxophonist Luis Cantero —playing Christmas pieces and the popular 'La Morocha'—and the event concluded with a sweet treat of hot chocolate from Santocildes and Gaza milk.
Granada inaugurated its Christmas lights in the Arabial and Genil shopping centers with flamenco and gospel music ("Así Canta Graná" with Iván Centenillo and Gospel Sounds Granada), as well as a tasting of traditional sweets. The lighting of the facades and cascading lights on the canopies is entirely LED; the Arabial center debuted a new display that covers two-thirds of its facade.
In Jerez, all the facades were illuminated with LED bulbs, both inside and out, in line with the city's commitment to energy efficiency. The choir of the Hermandad de las Viñas performed, and a new edition of the "Paint Christmas" Children's Competition, in collaboration with the City Council, was announced .
The center of Málaga celebrated its opening with the lighting of its facade , the inauguration of the market, and the release of a Christmas greeting video. The center is establishing itself as a popular meeting place for outings with children, couples, or friends, offering a distinctly festive atmosphere.
Markets throughout Spain: what to see and in which cities
The wooden stalls offer decorations for the tree and home , crafts, nativity scenes, books, vinyl records, and toys (including Disney-themed items). In many markets, the general opening hours are from 12:00 to 22:00 , with food service until 23:00 , though local hours may vary depending on the location.
- Valladolid (Paseo de Zorrilla): lit with artistic performance and Traditional Nativity Scene of the Castellana Nativity Scene Association. Match schedule (12:00-14:00 and 17:00-22:00); December 24th and 31st, day uninterrupted from 12:00 to 20:00; closed December 7, 8 and 25 and January 1. Special hot chocolate and performances scheduled throughout the campaign.
- Albacete: The market is back with more food trucks (The Donut Lord, local offerings like El Sueño del Quesero or focaccias from Vamos de Pan; plus EÑE and CAÑA from the Cañitas Maite team). Openings in Sundays during the campaign (except December 7 and 25 and January 1 and 6). This is in addition rink and the Christmas train next to Av. de España.
- Madrid (Castellana): stalls selling decorations, flowers and culture, with Belén Designed by Miguel Vargas Rojas and figures from Olot workshops; a blend of tradition and contemporary touches.
- Murcia: decorations and sweets (Caramelized peanuts, 1880, Valor Chocolates, Vicens, La Tienda del Dulce and artisan ice creams from Fishbowl). In gastronomy, the following stand out FBI Burger (award-winning for its cheeseburger) and Mondo Napoli Pizza in food truck format.
- Cartagena: Gourmet menu featuring hamburgers, pizzas, croquettes, and churros; artisanal sweets, nougat, and caramelized nuts. Special attraction: Nativity scene-diorama from the Belenista Association (approx. 3 m wide), set in a Cartagena of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Mesa y López): traditional market with exclusive decorationsGifts and typical sweets throughout the campaign.
- Tenerife: A tour among booths with gift ideas and gastronomic spaces (La Tienda del Dulce, Heladería Por Sabor, Rompiendo Moldes, Dulcería El Aderno, and brands like Nestlé o 1880).
- Malaga: wide selection of booths for decorBooks and vinyl records; sweets from Kinder, Nestlé, Vicens, Lindt, Garrapiñadas, La Pecera and Panadería Salvador; street food offerings with Juanchos BurgerLittle Havana, Cozina and Cañitas Maite, in addition to pizza and Mexican cuisine options.
- Valencia (Painter Sorolla-Columbus): family market to the January 5 with Atelier de la Flor flower shop, decorations, toys (Disney and Ho Ho Ho) and sweets from LindtNestlé, Valor, Garrapiñada and Navarro sugared almonds.
- Badajoz (Conquistadores): gifts, toys, crafts and food trucks (Aguedo, Pecera, Churrero, Boggie Burger, El Rancherito) and carouselAnimated stories from the Magic Roundabout.
- Jaén: booths, Belén and gastronomy with XPECADO and JARTÁ; track of ice and children's attractions to complete the visit.
Food and sweets: classics and new trends
Among the must-sees are the stalls selling chocolates and nougat , featuring brands like Kinder, Nestlé, Lindt, and 1880 , as well as candied almonds, panettone, shortbread, and offerings from La Pecera and Panadería El Salvador. And of course, there's plenty of hot chocolate to enjoy right away.
The food truck scene offers a wide variety of options: from Little Havana to Dak Burger and Dak Dulces, as well as Camperos Mya and Marinelli Focaccia , plus hot dogs, pizzas, and Mexican cuisine with Bao Ba. In cities like Murcia and Málaga, well-known names like FBI Burger and Juanchos Burger are joining the scene, along with Cañitas Maite 's signature style with two concepts: "con CAÑA" (burgers, street food, and desserts) and "con EÑE" (moñetes, empanadillas, and their award-winning croquettes).
Sweet treats like El Señor de las Donas , local confectioneries and specific spaces of Trapa , Vicens or Valor depending on the city are added , allowing you to try typical specialties and new products on the same tour.
Nativity scenes, children's activities and music
The most traditional aspect comes with handcrafted nativity scenes and meticulously crafted displays. In Castellana, the display by Miguel Vargas Rojas features 30-40 cm figures from workshops in Olot; in Valladolid, the Castellana Nativity Scene Association recreates the Nativity scenes in great detail; and in Cartagena, a diorama depicting everyday scenes in a period city stands out. In Málaga, a nativity scene made of four polychrome terracotta fragments (from workshops in Andalusia, Murcia, and Italy) is included, with local touches such as La Biznaga.
For children, in addition to a carousel and Cortylandia's "Magic Roundabout" exhibit, choral performances were planned. In Alicante, the Musiquetos choir performed , and in Albacete, the three groups from the Popular University Choral Workshop (around 80 children and young people ) took part, directed by Siria Sáinz-Pardo , M.ª Dolores Sanz Redondo, and Juan Francisco Sanz Redondo, with accompanying pianists such as Noelia Galindo , Agustín Peiró, and Sanz Redondo himself.
Regarding opening hours, in addition to the general schedule of 12:00 to 22:00 (with restaurants open until 23:00 in many cases), Valladolid maintains its split schedule and special opening days on December 24 and 31 (12:00-20:00); it is closed on December 7, 8, and 25, and January 1. In Albacete, the center is open on selected Sundays during the season, with the exceptions of December 7 and 25, and January 1 and 6.
With participatory lighting displays, themed markets, and an agenda that blends tradition, gastronomy, and family-friendly activities , the centers have launched a campaign that is experienced both on the street and inside the stores; a complete roadmap for those looking for lights, Christmas carols, nativity scenes, online gift shopping , and a sweet treat all in the same stroll.
