Toledo is preparing for what the City Council defines as "the most beautiful Christmas in the world." This year's festive campaign has a total budget of €774,664, with over €360,000 allocated for lighting. The Councillor for Festivities, José Vicente García-Toledano, presented a program "more ambitious than ever," aiming to surpass the three million visitors recorded last year.
One of the main highlights is the new nativity scene installed in Zocodover Square, created in collaboration with Puy du Fou. The councillor explained that it is "a magnificent nativity scene that will adorn the square and delight the people of Toledo and visitors," stressing that "a cultural change was necessary" after many years with the same installation.
Toledo's Christmas will also grow in its light display. The lighting has been expanded in the Azucaica district, which now features a large Christmas bear, as well as on Reyes Católicos Street and Avenida de Barber, responding to residents' requests. The Christmas route is completed with a "Follow the Star of Toledo" photo booth at the Puerta del Vado and the Parque de las Hadas in Recaredo, which "will shine brighter than ever," as noted by the councillor.
The four Christmas markets—Ayuntamiento, Zocodover, San Martín Bridge, and Alcántara Bridge—have a renewed look. García-Toledano thanked the Councillor for Economic Promotion, Juan Marín, for his work in "filling the bridges with stalls and achieving a majestic decoration." As a special novelty, on January 3rd, the city will celebrate its first Christmas herald, which will depart from Zocodover towards the Ayuntamiento and will be composed by the company ETE and the Banda del Cautivo.
The musical programming will be one of the pillars of this Christmas, featuring the first Dial Único (with all tickets already sold), and artists like Pastora Soler, Marta Santos, Nil Moliner, and Funambulista. The traditional Christmas Circus will return to the Polígono district. In the children's section, the Christmas fair returns with renewed strength and introduces a show starring the Grinch, who will "arrive annoyed," and children will have to convince him that "Christmas is magical and Toledo is unforgettable."
The city will light up its Christmas this Friday, kicking off a month of activities, shows, and light with the goal of establishing itself as one of the country's most prominent Christmas destinations. The classic ice rink will not be missing, which "looks better than ever" and, according to the councillor, is making a great effort to maintain the ice in optimal conditions and offer "a unique moment in a magical place."
This year, over 1,100,000 LED points have been installed, around 100,000 more than last year, distributed across 193 arches and 393 motifs, including 3D elements, streetlights, streets, and glowing ceilings. One of the major bets is the new illumination show at Alcántara Bridge, which will operate every half hour and joins the renewed show of the Zocodover Sphere.
