Christmas around Bologna

Across the entire Metropolitan City of Bologna, the magic comes alive! Sparkling lights, trees, and decorations return to brighten the area, marking the arrival of the Christmas season. From artisan markets to Gospel choirs, from parades of the "Motobabbi" to Christmas concerts, the metropolitan area offers a rich program of events for all tastes.

• Markets, fairs and street food

Get ready for Christmas shopping and for enchanting strolls among stalls, unique gift ideas and typical products.

Many towns launch event programmes that last throughout the festive season. In Castel San Pietro Terme, Castèlanadèl from 29 November to 6 January 2026 offers a rich programme for adults and children, including the Christmas markets in Via Matteotti (Sunday 7, 14, 21 December, 10:00–19:00), ideal for gift ideas and local products, as well as numerous nativity scenes on display in the town. In Imola, from 6 December to 21 December, "Imola at Christmas" returns with traditional markets enlivening Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 to 19:00. In Medicina, from 8 December to 15 January 2026, Via Oberdan turns into the Christmas Garden (free entry) and hosts the popular ice skating rink (admission fee; open 14:30–24:00 on weekdays, 10:00–24:00 on holidays). Molinella hosts the Bon Nadèl (Christmas Village) on 6, 7, 8, 14 and 21 December and on 6 January. Meanwhile, San Giovanni in Persiceto, from late November to 6 January, awaits you with a calendar full of Christmas events.

Other municipalities, instead, organise special days to wait for Christmas together. The Monteacuto delle Alpi markets (Lizzano in Belvedere) take place on 6, 7 and 8 December (10:00–18:00) at the parish house, offering crafts, mulled wine and sweets; on the same dates, from 10:00, markets with typical products can also be found in the hamlet of La Ca’ (Lizzano in Belvedere). In Granarolo dell'Emilia, the Christmas markets liven up Piazza del Popolo on 6, 7 and 8 December (15:00–20:00). In Crevalcore, the Christmas market in Piazza Malpighi is scheduled for 6, 7 and 8 December with traditional foods and local crafts. In Castel Maggiore, the reuse market is part of Natale Maggiore and takes place in Piazza Pace on 6, 7 and 8 December with a market, food, and the arrival of Santa Claus. In Alto Reno Terme, the craft markets and Christmas lights animate Porretta Terme from 6 to 24 December (weekends and holidays, 10:00–19:00). In Zola Predosa, the Christmas market takes place at Villa Garagnani from 6 to 8 December, and the following weekend (13–14 December, 10:00–18:30) moves to the Ilaria Alpi Sociocultural Centre in Ponte Ronca. On Saturday 20 December, Santa Claus will be waiting for all children at the S. Molinari Sociocultural Centre in Madonna Prati.

On Sunday 7 December, Loiano comes alive with Waiting for Christmas (9:00–18:00). On Monday 8 December, in Marzabotto the event Let's Light Up Christmas takes place with tree lighting and markets; on the same day, Ca' del Costa (Monghidoro) hosts the Winter Festival (from 14:30) with roasted chestnuts and a market, and in Borgo Tossignano (from 10:00) there is a market with entertainment and Santa Claus.

On Saturday 13 December, in Grizzana Morandi the Alto Appennino Market takes place at Mulino Cati (10:00–14:00) with tastings and local crafts. On Sunday 14 December, the day is full: in Mordano (10:00–20:00) the event Christmas with Your Loved Ones... takes place, with markets, workshops for children in the Bubano Sforza Tower, and the arrival of Santa Claus; in Sasso Marconi, the event Christmas Road hosts Christmas stands and street food (10:00–18:00) and the village of Colle Ameno hosts markets from 11 to 14 December. In Bentivoglio, Villa Smeraldi hosts the Open Day of Taste – Christmas Atmospheres (from 10:00). In San Giorgio di Piano, the town centre comes alive with markets from 14 to 26 December.

Finally, on Sunday 21 December in Castel Guelfo di Bologna (from 14:00) the event Colours and Flavours of Christmas takes place, featuring the arrival of Santa Claus; in Galliera, the Christmas markets in San Venanzio take place; in San Lazzaro di Savena, Christmas lights up with markets on 20 and 21 December (10:00–18:00) in Piazza Bracci and Parco 2 Agosto. On the same day, in Castel del Rio (from 14:00) the event "Waiting for Christmas" takes place in Piazza Repubblica.

• Music, shows and culture

The season is enriched by a wide range of musical and theatrical events.

Gospel concerts enliven the province, such as the Joy Gospel Choro in Alto Reno Terme (Sunday 14 December, from 16:00) and the Intercity Gospel Train Orchestra Concert in Imola (Friday 12 December, 21:00), followed by the Santiago Gospel Choir in Piazza Matteotti (Saturday 13 December, 17:30). The festival Natale Zero Pare, instead, brings concerts, performances and cabaret to Viale Rivalta from 25 to 31 December.

There is no shortage of classical and band music events. In Crevalcore, the Top ClassTrio Music Concert takes place (Monday 8 December, 18:30) along with the traditional Castellani della Valle concert (Friday 12 December in Sammartini and Sunday 21 December at the Parish Church of San Silvestro). Saturday 20 December, the show Savanna Affair is scheduled. Band music resounds in Dozza with the Christmas Concert of the Folkloristic Band (Saturday 20 December, 20:45) and in Calderara di Reno with a concert of folk songs (Sunday 14 December, 17:00) and the end-of-year concert The Last Chord (Saturday 20 December, 20:00). Wednesday 24 December, the band of Zola Predosa begins the itinerant concert from the Town Hall (9:30).

Also in Zola Predosa the festivities are celebrated with the Christmas Concert in the Abbey (Monday 8 December, 18:00), the Street Life Quintet (Saturday 20 December) and the Mozart Orchestra concert (Friday 26 December, 16:00) at the Ca’ la Ghironda Museum. In Castel Maggiore, finally, the evening The Christmas Songs (Saturday 13 December) explores great Christmas hits, and in Castiglione dei Pepoli the Xmas Party closes the events (Sunday 28 December).