Christmas and New Year's Eve in Ferrara

Christmas time in Ferrara is the most beautiful family gift

Christmas is approaching and Ferrara is preparing to enter the Christmas and post-Christmas atmosphere with several news. This year the city will have a special attraction and a particularly varied offer of culture, music, entertainment and events in a breathtaking setting, enhanced by games of lights and sparkling installations.

Here is a first list of events that will take place in the coming weeks:


Gift Day - Theme Christmas Market
From Sunday 17 November 2024 to Monday 6 January 2025
Numerous stalls selling typical and gastronomic products, books, handicrafts and Christmas gifts. The side in front of Palazzo San Crispino will be characterized by the Christmas Village of the master craftsmen of Cna with high quality products both of typical foods and of artifacts bearing the value of artisanal transformation from idea to creation.. In continuity with the Village, the side towards the square of the Cathedral will host the historic market of the Consortium "Gift Festival" Confesercenti that, for years, cheers adults and children with the offers of traders present with gift ideas, sweets for the Christmas holidays and the classic objects to adorn Christmas trees and cribs of our homes. In the complex are 34 Christmas houses.


Ferrara Winter Park
From Monday 23 November 2024 until Monday 6 January 2025
Parco Coletta - Ferrara Winter Park is synonymous with fun and happiness for young and old. Attractions for the whole family, shows for children, food and drink area, lights and lots of fun make it one of the must-see events of the city festivities!
Ice rink hours: weekends and holidays from 10.30 am to midnight | working days from 3 pm to 10 pm
The rink will remain open until 2 February.


Marching Band ‘Heart of Italy’ Pipe Band
Saturday 7 December 5 pm
Centro Storico - The engaging travelling show of a band of bagpipes and drums among the palaces, squares and streets of Ferrara's historic centre. The band will animate the city with its rich repertoire of traditional and contemporary Scottish songs, together with others of its own composition and with a Christmas theme. A performance of great sound and visual impact, evocative and poetic, that will make the experience unforgettable!


Lightening of the tree
Sunday 8 of December
Lighting of the tree in Piazza Trento and Trieste decorated with 8 km of stisce led, with simultaneous gospel concert.


Gospel Choir Academy in ‘The Joy of Christmas’
Sunday 8 December at 5.00 pm
Piazza Cattedrale and Piazza Trento e Trieste - Always a magical moment, that of the lighting of the Christmas tree in Piazza della Cattedrale in Ferrara, crowned by a concert, in the adjacent Piazza Trento e Trieste, of the Ferrara Gospel Choir Academy. An exciting concert, during which the voices of the choir members will fill the air with songs full of energy and spirituality, creating a festive and engaging atmosphere. An unmissable opportunity to experience the magic of Christmas with music that touches the heart, in one of the city's most evocative locations.


Bands in the City, Open-air Symphony 
Sunday 15 December at 4.00 pm
Historic Centre - A unique event that will make the festively decorated centre of Ferrara resound with an open-air symphony. The Ferrara, Cona and Voghenza marching bands, starting from three different points in the city, will perform Christmas songs through the streets of the historic centre. They will then come together for a wonderful finale near the Christmas tree in Piazza Cattedrale.


Santa's Big Village 
Saturday 21 December from 2.30 pm to 6.30 pm
In the enchanted atmosphere of Piazza Castello in Ferrara, a real Christmas itinerary comes to life in which to relive the Magic of Christmas with Santa's Big House, Mother Christmas's Tombola, the old-fashioned Games Factory, the ‘enigma’, ‘origami’ and ‘animated stories’ areas, and the animation of travelling musicians. An event for the whole family where young and old can experience a unique mix of fun and Christmas tradition.


Jelly & Jam - Swing and Italian Songs
Sunday 22 December at 5 pm
Piazza Cattedrale - A concert of swing and Italian music under the Christmas tree! The fast-paced rhythm of swing and the singability of Italian songs are the elements that the members of the group enhance and rework to present something energetic, fun and of quality. A mixture of two different realities that despite their distance have had the opportunity to get to know each other, court each other and in some cases unite. It is precisely this union that the ‘Jelly & Jam’ project wants to represent in all its beauty, sweetness and above all energy.


The Nativity on the Water - Christmas Sub
Sunday 24 December from 6 pm
The Nativity will be celebrated with an evocative torchlight procession of divers who will deposit the Baby Jesus in the crèche set up in the waters of the Castle. The ceremony, accompanied by Christmas music and a light show, will kick off the Christmas Eve celebrations.


Souvenir de Noel in Concert
Monday 30 December at 9 pm
Sala Estense - (free admission) in a truly festive moment with Christmas reinterpretations of American vocal standards from the 1950s - swing, latin bossa and blues - rearranged in unusual and very special versions. From Jingle Bell cha cha to White Christmas latin lounge or Santa Claus Is coming to town bossa nova and much more. 


Fire of the Estense Castle
Tuesday 31 of December
At the stroke of midnight the city of Ferrara will celebrate the New Year with its inimitable fireworks display. The Incendio del Castello Estense, with its fireworks combined with the background of exciting music, will kick off your year in a unique and incomparable way! 20 minutes in which international music classics are combined with illuminating effects, firefalls, light games and coloured smoke. While waiting for the Castle fire - from 10.30 p.m. musical entertainment to dance all together.


Gran Gala at the Theatre
Tuesday 31 of December at 8.00 pm
Gala dinner with a view of the imposing Estense Castle at the Ridotto of the Teatro Comunale.


The Befana arrives in the Municipal Square
Saturday 06 January 2025
Piazza Municipale - As tradition goes, at the end of the afternoon there will be the burning of the Befana, the large puppet of the Befana will be burnt to sweep away bad thoughts and file away the year just ended.