Grado at Christmas time is very popular with those who want to experience the festivities in a unique atmosphere! The 'Island of the Sun' itself is already wonderful: it has a large pedestrian area and an old town centre with lots of shops, bars and a characteristic Y harbour. During the Christmas period, however, the small fishing village is transformed into the 'Island of Christmas', thanks to the lights, atmosphere and numerous events that the municipality organises every year.
The most eagerly awaited initiative is certainly the Exhibition of Cribs, which has become a tradition shared with Aquileia and Terzo di Aquileia. More than 100 interpretations of the Nativity, from December to January, can be seen among the calli and campielli of the island's historic centre and along the streets of Fossalon and Boscat. Not to be missed, then, is the floating nativity scene with its casone, set up in the Mandracchio harbour. Every weekend, the Municipality of Grado organises guided tours of the cribs and the town, accompanied by pipers.There are also many events, music and entertainment with various shows organised by the municipal administration, all with a Christmas theme.
Lastly, there is a very characteristic event at the Mandracchio harbour: every year, starting at 5 p.m. on 5 January, the terrifying Varvuole (i.e. sea witches) arrive at the harbour to ward off negativity and contribute, with their strength and energy, to getting the New Year off to a positive start.
Discover hotels, restaurants, bars, shops and services open during the Christmas period HERE.
THURSDAY 8 DECEMBER
3.00 p.m. at the Cristallo Cinema - blessing of the "Cribs in Grado" exhibition
3.30 p.m in Campo Patriarca Elia - entertainment for children at the Christmas Village
5.00 p.m. in Campo Patriarca Elia - lighting of the Christmas tree
FRIDAY, 9 DECEMBER
3.00 p.m in Campo Patriarca Elia - children's entertainment with Magician Flip
5.00 p.m at Boscat Church - organ concert with Valerio Simonini
SATURDAY, 10 DECEMBER
3.30 p.m meeting and departure from Piazza Biagio Marin - free guided tour of the town's nativity scenes, with the accompaniment of pipers
5.00 p.m. in Piazza Rialto in Fossalon - lighting of the tree, children's entertainment and chestnut tasting
9.00 p.m. at the Biagio Marin auditorium - musical performance "Voices of Christmas"; free admission
SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER
3.30 p.m. at Campo Patriarca Elia - Rudy Fantin & the Nuvoices Project (gospel and popular songs)
3.30 p.m. meeting and departure from Piazza Biagio Marin - free guided tour of the town's nativity scenes, accompanied by pipers
FRIDAY 16 DECEMBER
4.00 p.m. to 11.00 p.m. in Piazza Biagio Marin - Chestnut Festival (food and wine stalls with musical accompaniment)
SATURDAY 17 DECEMBER
10.00 a.m. to 11 p.m. in Piazza Biagio Marin - Chestnut Festival (food and wine stalls with musical accompaniment)
3.30 p.m. meeting and departure from Piazza Biagio Marin - free guided tour of the town's cribs, with the accompaniment of pipers
SUNDAY 18 DECEMBER
10.00 a.m. to 11 p.m. in Piazza Biagio Marin - Chestnut Festival (food and wine stalls with musical accompaniment)
3.30 p.m. meeting and departure from Piazza Biagio Marin - free guided tour of the town's cribs, accompanied by pipers
5.00 p.m. at the Fossalon Church - cello concert with maestro R. Soldatini
WEDNESDAY, 21 DECEMBER
3.00 p.m. in Campo Patriarca Elia - entertainment for children at the Christmas Village
THURSDAY, 22ND DECEMBER
5.00 p.m. at the Church of Boscat - organ concert with Valerio Simonini
FRIDAY, 23 DECEMBER
8.45 p.m. at the Biagio Marin Auditorium - Christmas concert performed by the City of Grado Civic Band
SATURDAY, 24 DECEMBER
5.00 p.m. at Porto Mandracchio - Santa Claus arrives in batela (organised by SOGIT and Grado Voga).
Follows, in Campo Patriarca Elia, entertainment for children.
10.00 p.m. at the Basilica of St Euphemia - Christmas Mass
MONDAY 26 DECEMBER
10.00 a.m. meeting and departure at Campo Patriarca Elia - Panettone March (6/12 km non-competitive; registration from 8.30 a.m., info and pre-registration +39 340 4916838)
3.30 p.m. meeting and departure from Piazza Biagio Marin - free guided tour of the city's nativity scenes, accompanied by pipers
4.00 p.m. at the Basilica of St. Euphemia - St. Stephen's Day Concert
TUESDAY, 27 DECEMBER
11.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Campo Patriarca Elia - Assaggi di laguna (wine and food event in collaboration with Movimento Turismo del Vino FVG; wine tasting, free tasting of local dishes, musical accompaniment)
3.00 p.m. in Campo Patriarca Elia - fire jugglers, waders and jesters
WEDNESDAY 28 DECEMBER
11.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Campo Patriarca Elia - Assaggi di laguna (wine and food event in collaboration with Movimento Turismo del Vino FVG; wine tasting, free tastings of local dishes, musical accompaniment)
5.00 p.m. in Campo Patriarca Elia - DOMACE comedy show
THURSDAY 29 DECEMBER
11.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., in Campo Patriarca Elia - Assaggi di laguna (food and wine event in collaboration with Movimento Turismo del Vino FVG; wine tasting, free samples of local dishes, musical accompaniment)
5.00 p.m. in Campo Patriarca Elia - "Vose de l'isola" concert
FRIDAY 30 DECEMBER
6.00 p.m. in Campo Patriarca Elia - Aperitifs...waiting for New Year (deejay set with Franz Deejay)
SATURDAY 31 DECEMBER
10.30 p.m in Piazza Biagio Marin - New Year's Eve party (live show with I Rock in Progress DJ set with Franz Deejay)
00.30 a.m in Porto Mandracchio - fireworks display
SUNDAY 1 JANUARY
3.00 p.m. in Campo Patriarca Elia - children's entertainment at the Christmas Village
4.00 p.m. in Biagio Marin Square - New Year's Eve Concert (soloists from the Accademia Secolo XXI orchestra will perform a repertoire of famous traditional Viennese music)
MONDAY 2 JANUARY
3.30 p.m. meeting and departure from Piazza Biagio Marin - free guided tour of the town's nativity scenes, accompanied by pipers
5.00 p.m. in Piazza Biagio Marin - Exes cover band (Italian and international music)
TUESDAY 3 JANUARY
5.00 p.m. in Biagio Marin Square - Cellar Door Trio
WEDNESDAY, 4 JANUARY
3.00 p.m. in Campo Patriarca Elia - Fire jugglers, stilt-walkers and jesters
THURSDAY 5 JANUARY
5.00 p.m. in Mandracchio harbour - The Varvuole, the witches of the sea, arrive (re-enactment of a Grado legend by "La Signora delle Fiabe", "Avenal", "Banda civica città di Grado", "Grado Teatro", "Grado Voga". Programme:
4.30 pm Departure with the "Zef" from Campo Patriarca Elia
5.30 pm Arrival of the Varvuole in the harbour
6.30 pm Final performance in Piazza Biagio Marin
FRIDAY 6 JANUARY
3.30 p.m. Meeting and departure from Piazza Biagio Marin - free guided tour of the town's nativity scenes, accompanied by pipers
5.00 p.m. at Fossalon - The Befana arrives in Fossalon
CHRISTMAS CRIBS in GRADO from 7 December to 15 January; free admission
Christmas LUNA PARK in Largo San Grisogono from 8 December to 8 January
THE "BOTTEGA DI BABBO NATALE" at the SOGIT premises on 15 and 23 December
LIBRARY AT CHRISTMAS:
9 DECEMBER 2022 4.00 p.m. - BORN TO READ Christmas comes and everything is whitewashed I look at the snow and I'm dazzled. STORIES FOR THE LITTLE ONES WAITING FOR CHRISTMAS
DECEMBER 10TH 2022 10.00 A.M. - PLAY WITH US... MONOPOLY for children aged 6 to 12
14TH DECEMBER 2022 4.00 P.M. - CHRISTMAS THREADS AND TWISTS. BRAIDED LINES for children aged 6 to 12 years
15 DECEMBER 2022 10 A.M. - PLAY WITH US... KAMISHIBAI for children from 6 to 12 years old
DECEMBER 16, 2022 4.00 p.m. - BORN TO READ Christmas is coming and everything is whitewashed I look at the snow and I'm dazzled. STORIES FOR THE LITTLE ONES WAITING FOR CHRISTMAS
DECEMBER 17TH 2022 10.00 A.M. - PLAY WITH US... SCARABEO for children aged 6 to 12
3 JANUARY 2023 4 PM - PLAY WITH US... KAMISHIBAI for children from 6 to 12 years old
7 JANUARY 2023 AT 10 A.M. - PLAY WITH US... MONOPOLI for children from 6 to 12 years old
From 1 December 2022 to 8 January 2023 all blue parking spaces (with the exception of the 'Sacca dei Moreri' camper van area) will be FREE OF CHARGE.
All events, unless otherwise indicated, will be free of charge, subject to availability. The programme may be subject to change; we invite you to follow the web and social channels of the Municipality of Grado.