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Areas Social action Culture and Historical Heritage Catalogue of activities heralds arrival of Christmas on Formentera

Catalogue of activities heralds arrival of Christmas on Formentera

Redux mercat nadalThe Formentera Council's Office of Culture and Festivities wishes to announce its activities programme for the 2017-2018 Christmas season. The list is studded with kids' activities, family-friendly shows and other programming that, according to department chief Susana Labrador, aims to foster a “special, Christmas atmosphere”.

The fun starts Friday, December 1, as a yearly fixture, the Mercat Nadalenc, or Christmas Market, returns to plaça de la Constitució. Right after vendors hang out their shingles at 5.30pm, the primary school students of la Mola and Sant Francesc's Col·legi Mestre Lluís Andreu will treat Formentera revellers to an evening of carols. As the days go on, the plaza will play host to the musical guests of the season.

The island's youngsters, for their part, are promised winter holidays with plenty of arts and crafts workshops and stage productions. Christmas posters already up around town include the complete schedule. Diverespai is also back in town from December 16 to 20, meaning blow-up castles and countless other activities for children.

Kids activities
Now in its eleventh year, when Formentera's Children's Theatre Festival (Mostra d'Espectacles Infantils) happens on December 28 and, in the new year, January 16 and 18, it promises a diverse blend of Christmas entertainment for the island's youngest. It all starts with Viatge a la Font de la Xocolata, a stage production by Produccions de Ferro that mixes theatre, puppetry, masks and other visual elements to convey a message that is positive, optimistic, constructive and full of feeling. For all audiences.

Tuesday, January 16, the Sant Ferran library will host Canta'm el món, a fantastic storytelling affair presented by Eivissa's own Clownidoscopio.

Clownidoscopio will be back at Biblioteca Marià Villangómez on Thursday, January 18 to round out the festival bill, this time with Yoav&Ahmed, una amistat més enllà dels murs.

Youth centre
This holiday season, plenty of activities await Formentera teen-agers, as well. The Casal de Joves is urging local youth to come help create the drop-in centre's Christmas mural, learn how to make a Spanish holiday favourite, turrón, enjoy a warm cup of cocoa and, on Saturday, December 30, spend an evening with the kids of the Casal at the Christmas market.

Live nativity scene and Father Christmas
At 5.00pm on December 16, the island's cinema will be the site of a live-action nativity scene presented by the Verge Miraculosa school's student body. Then on December 21, Formentera kids are urged to come meet Saint Nick at a 5.30pm party in the Sant Ferran festival tent.

Tradition
As ever, traditional song in the form of caramelles will fill the Sant Ferran church on the afternoon of December 24, the Sant Francesc church the following day, and once again in la Mola's church on the evening of the 26th for a holiday celebration known as mitjana festa.

Group exhibition
From December 18 to January 9, the municipal art gallery welcomes some of Formentera's most standout artists for a group Christmas show. The exhibition will open Monday to Saturday from 11.00am to 2.00pm and 6.00pm to 8.00pm.

Evening of concerts
One of this holiday season's headline events will take place December 16 when Cris Juanico i els Ai, Ai, Ai take over the tent set up on the Sant Ferran square. The show starts at 11.00pm.

Main events
On Saturday, December 23, a local outfit known as the “Three Kings' Association” will take command of the evening's programming in the town's festival tent. There will be entertainment, a barbecue and good tunes. Concerts will get started at 10.30pm with local legends Spioks first and a Valencian band, Nius de nit, afterward. The evening will be closed out by DJ sets.

The last night of the year, breakout cover band Tremendos will help us bid farewell to 2017 and usher in 2018 from our holiday command central in Sant Ferran.

Award for best window display
For the eleventh year running, the Eivissa-Formentera Chamber of Commerce and the Formentera Council have set out to promote a fun and festive Yuletide season by organising a contest of holiday window displays. Winners will be announced Friday, December 1.

Cavalcade of the Kings
The holiday season isn't over until the Three Kings of the East pay their yearly visit. That will happen, in the la Savina port, at 4.30pm on Thursday, January 5. From there the cavalcade begins in earnest, accompanying circus show in tow. At 5.30pm the procession will pull into Sant Francesc's plaça de la Constitució, winding through the streets of Sant Ferran at 6.30pm and heading for the hills (of la Mola) at 7.30pm.

Happy holidays to all!

Xarxa de Biblioteques

Institut d'Estudis Baleàrics

Enciclopèdia d'Eivissa i Formentera