The magic of Christmas overlooking the lake is coming with a rich calendar of events from 24 November to 7 January 2024 in the municipalities of Bardolino, Lazise, and Garda. Markets, attractions, music and flavours for all tastes and ages. Ice skating rinks in all three locations, diversified proposals for each day according to three peculiar Christmas programmes. From “Christmas among the Olives” in Garda with the Tea Concerts and New Year’s Eve in Music, to the exhibition of cribs from the world and the Christmas Village in Bardolino to Pacengo Winterland and the Befana’s Cuccagna in Lazise. A symbolic trait d’union, the third edition of the Santa Lake Run, the Babbo Lake (Father Christmas) charity run with a double start, from Lazise and Garda, and the arrival of all participants dressed as Santa Claus in Bardolino. MORE information in this other reportage.
The first Christmas calendar to kick off will be that of the Municipality of Garda, from Friday 24 November until 7 January 2024. Among the novelties will be the ice skating rink in Piazza Catullo, set up for the entire period, and the New Year’s Eve celebrations with entertainment in Piazza del Municipio already from 3 p.m. with Malumida, followed by Tex Band country rock and Dj Corrado. The midnight fireworks display will close the last day of the year. The concerts in the Town Hall Square will be back with artists Luca Olivieri, Virna Marangoni, Movie Trio, Note dal Vivo, Fusco Gang, and a Gospel concert with The Gospel Times scheduled for 30 December at 3 p.m. At Palazzo Pincini Carlotti, the “Tea Concerts – music and History” will come to life: painting and photographic exhibitions, musical events at the piano with international Christmas songs, opera and operetta arias accompanied by tea tastings, and guided tours of the palace. For the little ones, don’t miss the Father Christmas House(open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and on holidays with children’s activities), the majestic and sparkling Christmas Tree, and the Charity House, which houses various voluntary associations.
The magic of Christmas is back in the medieval village of Lazise. A walk through the walls, the castle, the gates and alleyways will immerse visitors in a unique atmosphere. The celebrations will begin on Saturday 25 November and continue until 7 January 2024. On all these days the largest ice skating rink on Lake Garda (600 metres) will be set up, as well as the traditional Christmas market and the horse-drawn carriage with Father Christmas. The main novelty will be Pacengo Winterland in the square in front of the Port of Pacengo. An entire area dedicated to Christmas with a second ice skating rink, a market, and games for children with entertainment, puppets, and street artists. A visit to the Porto Vecchio in the small church of San Nicolò is a must, where you can admire the artistic nativity scene and, another novelty, the underwater nativity scene. The traditional Christmas market returns between Piazza Vittorio Emanuele and Lungolago Marconi with more than a hundred exhibitors.
From 1 December to 7 January 2024, the lakefront and the historic centre of Bardolino will wear Christmas colours to welcome thousands of visitors. Parco Carrara Bottagisio will be transformed into the all-day Christmas Village with cascades of lights and an ice skating rink. The 30-metre high Ferris wheel, the toy train, Santa’s carriage, 3D sleigh and horse carousel will be in operation. The great classics of the period return with Christmas markets, Nativity scenes from the World in the Church of San Severo (free admission until 21 January), underwater nativities at the ports of Bardolino and Cisano, and the Christmas Festival at the Corallo Theatre. New Year celebrations on 1 January with diving and the Grand New Year Concert.
