Madrid has already lit up its streets for the Christmas season, but it is not alone in attracting visitors with its lights. After the famous lighting of Vigo, which accumulates 12 million LED points in its decoration, Alcalá de Henares is the second Spanish city with more Christmas lights per capita.
It can be enjoyed from next Saturday, November 29, when the official lighting will take place at 20:00 hours. It will be framed in a festive day with a free concert prior to the Raya Real, a parade, a Christmas proclamation and a popular chocolate.
Located just 40 minutes from Madrid, Alcalá de Henares has a total of 4.8 million LED points, according to El Periódico de España. Although Madrid and Vigo surpass it with 13 and 12 million, respectively, this is a high figure for a population of 200,700 people, making it the second in terms of density of lights per inhabitant.
The brightness of more than 600 decorations
This year, the city’s lighting will have more than 600 decorative elements, as explained by the City Council during the presentation of the Christmas program. They will reach all neighborhoods and the welcome and greetings signs will be expanded from 3 or 4 locations to 11.
And, beyond the quantity, the highlight will be the brightness and strength of the Christmas motifs, thanks to the use of numerous LED spots. “Most of them will be new, never before seen or used in Alcalá. They will be of low-consumption LED technology to reaffirm the commitment to energy efficiency and sustainability,” announced from the consistory.
Carols, parades and free chocolate
Christmas in Alcalá de Henares will begin next Saturday, November 29 in the Plaza de Cervantes. At 6:00 p.m., the Sevillian group La Raya Real will offer a free concert of flamenco carols. It will be followed by the parade of the comparsa de gigantes y cabezudos at 19:30, which will start from Calle Libreros.
At 20:00 hours, this same group will be responsible for giving the Christmas proclamation, which will also commemorate its 500th anniversary. And, right after that, the 4.8 million LED lights will be switched on throughout the city.
Nativity scenes, street market and more music
In addition to the lighting, there will be many more Christmas activities in Alcalá de Henares, such as the Great Monumental Nativity Scene. It is organized by the Asociación Complutense de Belenistas and can be visited from November 30 at the Antigua Fábrica de Gal. And from December 3 to January 7, several Christmas dioramas organized by the artisans of this same association will be exhibited in different neighborhoods of the city.
During these dates, there will also be the traditional Christmas market in the Plaza de Cervantes, which will feature 32 craft stalls, beads, jewelry, sweets and treats. There will also be an ice rink, a Ferris wheel, a merry-go-round, Santa Claus Train and ecological attractions.
Finally, music will have a great prominence through the “Ciudad de Alcalá” carol contest and the “Santa Lucía Folk” festival. For its part, the Paco de Lucía Auditorium will host a variety of Christmas galas, such as orchestra concerts, the awards ceremony of the Nativity Scene Contest or the performance of the “tuna” of Alcalá de Henares, among others.