If there's a time of year that invites gift giving, it's Christmas. The most famous of all the Christmas fairs is the Santa Llúcia Fair, which traditionally specialises in festive products and takes place on 13 December. Christmas markets are held all over Europe, and those in central European countries are especially popular.
Changing habits and customs mean that nowadays these fairs and markets offer all kinds of gifts, beyond the typical festive decorations and Christmas products.
Encamp – Santa Llúcia Fair
From 4 to 6 December, Sant Miquel Square in Encamp fills with Christmas spirit for the traditional Santa Llúcia Fair. Three days of live music, a family magic show, face painting and live portraits. And to sweeten your visit, there’s candyfloss, popcorn, hot chocolate, churros and mulled wine.
Open on Friday from 5 pm to 7 pm, and on Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm and from 4 pm to 7 pm.
Ordino – Christmas Fair
From 4-8 December, Ordino's historic centre plays host to an alpine-style market with wooden huts, crafts and local cuisine. The Plaça Major, presided over by a large Christmas tree, is the main meeting point; the Plaça de la Closa houses the food stalls, with cheeses and cold cuts from the Pyrenees, wines, cava, wafers, nougat, hot chocolate, mulled wine and waffles; and along Carrer Major you'll find Christmas decorations and wool accessories.
The fair is topped off with the turning on of the lights, carol singing, treasure hunts to find the Tió (Christmas Log), storytelling and workshops, and a visit to the Casa d'Areny-Plandolit Museum, with free entry during these days, and the Miniature Museum. On 8 December, don't miss the performance of L'Ossa d'Ordino, declared Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
Sant Julià de Lòria – Santa Llúcia Fair
Sant Julià de Lòria celebrates the 42nd edition of its traditional Santa Llúcia Fair, an essential event with stalls selling Christmas products, food, flowers and crafts, as well as workshops, fine dining and live music in the town centre. The dates and programme of activities will be published here soon.
