Malaga’s Christmas lights have become one of the biggest festive attractions in Spain.
Millions of people travel to see the spectacle on the iconic Calle Larios over the holiday period.
This year, the big switch on occurs on Friday, November 27 at 6.30pm, accompanied by a concert by local singer El Kanka.
The opening coincides with Black Friday, setting the stage for a busy evening in the city centre.
El Kanka will perform near the statue of the Marques de Larios at a concert organised by COPE Malaga.
The city will have 2.8 million LED lights this Christmas, with new decorations at 19 locations and a new projection show at the cathedral.
Calle Larios light shows
The main light and music show will run three times daily at 6.30pm, 8.30pm and 10pm, from November 27 until January 4.
There will be no shows on December 24 or 31. On January 5, when the Three Kings parade takes place, Calle Larios will remain illuminated without the musical performances.
Last year’s ‘Natividad de luz’ design returns, featuring 16 stars with stained-glass-inspired medallions depicting Nativity scenes, supported by 32 columns.
This year, the columns will be dressed with spiralling green garlands, 384 red bows and 512 baubles. Reflective foliage will help decorate the street during daylight, while warm LED lights will bring the additions into the evening show.
The soundtrack includes recordings by David Bisbal, Mariah Carey, La Oreja de Van Gogh and Jose Feliciano, with festive favourites including ‘Jingle Bell Rock’, ‘Sleigh Ride’ and ‘Feliz Navidad’.
New cathedral projection
A new Christmas story, ‘El cielo desciende’, will be projected onto the cathedral’s unfinished tower, known as the Torre Mocha, on its southern side facing Calle Molina Lario.
It launches on Saturday, November 28, with daily screenings at 7pm, 8.30pm and 10pm until January 4, excluding December 24 and 31.
Lasting around eight to 10 minutes, the show follows a girl through a Christmas tale featuring Malaga’s wildlife and landscapes.
Dolphins, turtles and anchovies appear alongside chameleons, foxes and mountain goats, with scenes inspired by the city’s natural surroundings and La Concepcion Botanical Garden.
The story ends with the Nativity, followed by three-dimensional architectural effects and cathedral organ music.
How late will the lights stay on?
The Christmas lights will operate from 6.30pm until midnight on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
On Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and the nights before public holidays, they will stay on until 2am.
On Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, the illuminations will remain on until 6am the following morning.
Beyond Larios, new designs will appear on streets including Granada, Echegaray, Carreteria, Molina Lario and Tomas Heredia, as well as Plaza de la Constitucion, Plaza de la Marina and Paseo del Parque.
Neighbourhood districts will also install their own festive lighting across around 500 streets.
The opening coincides with the final day of campaigning ahead of Spain’s November 29 election. Festivities councillor Teresa Porras said the city had held its switch-on on the last Friday of November for 27 years.
