Tudela celebrates its festivals with passion and tradition: just as Holy Week transforms the city into a stage of devotion and emotion, Christmas also establishes itself on the calendar as one of the most important dates.
When December arrives, Tudela transforms into a true Christmas wonderland: its streets and squares are filled with lights, music, markets, and activities for all ages. The city blends deeply rooted traditions with modern entertainment, offering experiences for children, teenagers, and adults alike. From Santa’s arrival to the Three Kings’ Parade, Tudela celebrates Christmas with enthusiasm, creativity, and a participatory atmosphere that makes every corner feel alive and festive.
Tudela Christmas Program 2025
Check out the complete Christmas program for Tudela 2025 and don’t miss a single event, from markets and nativity scenes to concerts, theater, and family activities. Tudela Christmas Program 2025 (PDF).
Christmas Market and Nativity Scenes in Tudela
Christmas in Tudela is experienced with all the senses, and one of its most anticipated moments is the Christmas market, which fills the Plaza Vieja with life, lights, and a festive atmosphere. At its stalls, you can find handcrafted goods, toys, gifts, and traditional seasonal sweets, with a special focus on nougat, marzipan, and comforting hot chocolate—perfect to enjoy while strolling amidst music, lights, and smiles.
The market is usually held about two weeks before Christmas, allowing locals and visitors to calmly plan their Christmas shopping and prepare gifts in advance.
But the Christmas market is more than just a shopping space: it also features theater, dance, and music performances, as well as creative workshops for children and families. All of this transforms the Plaza Vieja into a meeting point where Christmas isn’t just about shopping, but is felt and experienced as a community.
Nativity scenes of Tudela
Nativity scenes are an essential part of Christmas in Tudela, offering scenes of tradition, art, and devotion displayed throughout the city. The following are particularly noteworthy:
- Municipal Nativity Scene: Located in the kiosk of Plaza Nueva, this nativity scene features large figures and beautiful compositions, donated by the Tudela resident José Catalán, which each year bring a unique atmosphere to the main square.
- Nativity scene at the Chacha kiosk in Plaza San Jaime: A nativity scene by the artist Mayo Lebrija, loaned by the Association of Nativity Scene Makers of Tudela.
- Nativity scenes in parishes and schools: many churches and educational centers in Tudela set up their own nativity scenes, integrating traditional scenes with elements of daily life in the Ribera region.
- Nativity scenes and holograms in the Lourdes neighborhood: an innovative proposal from the Association of Nativity Scene Makers of Tudela, which combines traditional techniques with modern visual resources to attract audiences of all ages.
These nativity scenes, along with the market and the activities that surround them, make Tudela a complete Christmas destination, where tradition, art and community come together to offer a heartwarming experience for both those who live here and those who visit the city during these special times.
Children’s activities and family workshops
Christmas in Tudela is celebrated with great enthusiasm by families. Children can deliver their letters to the Three Kings in the mailbox located next to the town hall. They can also participate in creative workshops at the Muñoz Sola Museum, designed for different age groups, where they learn crafts and artistic techniques related to Christmas.
The more adventurous can enjoy Animalastros (a children’s carnival), children’s bull runs, and games in the streets of Herrerías and Yanguas y Miranda, while school celebrations offer hot chocolate, dances with elves, and parades through the schoolyards. The “La Cometa” play center opens its doors on several mornings and afternoons in December, offering games, entertainment, and workshops, making it a fun space for young children and their families.
In addition, workshops like “Decorate for Christmas” are held, where children and adults can personalize their decorations and learn artistic techniques while sharing the experience in a fun way. All of this fills the city with joy, creativity, and collective participation.
Music, theater and shows
Music and the performing arts take center stage at Christmas in Tudela, transforming the city into an open-air stage where sound, dance, and magic intertwine. During this time, streets, squares, and theaters are filled with carols, choirs, and concerts, inviting the whole family to immerse themselves in the Christmas spirit.
The Gaztambide Theatre has become a key cultural hub, with a diverse program that includes children’s musicals, magic shows, plays, and opera. This variety allows both children and adults to find quality entertainment, enjoying Christmas from different artistic perspectives.
In addition, the outdoor performances are combined with parades, carol singing, and neighborhood shows, where music and dance invite residents and visitors to actively participate. Local groups and school choirs also join in, offering traveling concerts that transform every stroll through the city center into a truly festive musical encounter. Each performance fosters a sense of community and joy, reinforcing Christmas traditions and making Tudela feel alive throughout December.
Taken together, the music, theater, and shows not only entertain, but also reflect the city’s cultural identity, offering experiences for all audiences and making Christmas in Tudela an unforgettable celebration.
Santa Claus and Olentzero
Meetings with Santa Claus take place every December 24th in the morning and are one of the most anticipated moments of Christmas in Tudela. In addition to the traditional letter-giving, Santa Claus takes a route through the city streets that varies each year, combining fun, music, and surprises for children. The walk culminates in the Plaza de los Fueros, where children greet their favorite character in a festive atmosphere filled with excitement and joy.
That same afternoon, the Olentzero tradition arrives, celebrated in Tudela for over 50 years and still drawing thousands of people. Parades wind through the Old Town, accompanied by Christmas carols, bagpipers, and musical entertainment, creating a spectacle that blends tradition, folklore, and community participation. This event not only keeps Navarrese culture alive but also teaches children about the richness of local customs, making it a must-see for families and visitors alike.
The Saint Sylvester
The San Silvestre Tudelana is one of the most deeply rooted sporting and festive events in Tudela’s Christmas celebrations and is held every December 31st in the afternoon, transforming the city streets into a great spectacle of popular sport and festive atmosphere.
With a history spanning several decades—more than 40 editions—this race is not only an athletic event, but also an urban festival in which people of all ages and levels participate, from regular runners to families, costumed groups, and young people who want to say goodbye to the year in a different way.
The popular race has become a massive event with thousands of participants each year. In its most recent edition, the 44th San Silvestre Tudelana brought together more than 3,000 runners of all categories, solidifying its position as one of the most celebrated Christmas sporting events in the Ribera region.
In the 2025 edition, the race debuted a new 4200-meter course, starting and finishing in the Plaza de los Fueros. This route avoids dangerous intersections and allows more participants to gather safely in the heart of the city. The course winds through iconic streets such as Gaztambide-Carrera, Avenida de Zaragoza, Paseo de Pamplona, and the historic city center, offering runners a unique visual experience just before the end of the year.
In addition to the main race, the San Silvestre Tudelana usually includes categories for people with disabilities and school races, making it an inclusive and family-friendly event, suitable for all ages. It also maintains the festive atmosphere typical of this type of race, with special prizes such as the popular ham prize for groups in costume, which encourages teamwork and a celebratory mood.
Although the race has a competitive element for many participants, for most it’s a fun and healthy way to say goodbye to the year, combining sport, costumes, joy, and community. It’s common to see families, friends, and groups arriving from different parts of Navarre and surrounding areas to take part in this event that combines the excitement of running with the camaraderie of an outdoor Christmas celebration.
In short, the San Silvestre Tudelana is a classic of the Christmas calendar that closes the year with energy, laughter and collective spirit, and that attracts participants of all ages while helping to liven up the streets of Tudela in an afternoon that mixes sport and celebration.
Three Kings Parade
The end of Christmas in Tudela culminates with one of the most popular, eagerly awaited, and exciting events on the festive calendar: the Three Kings Parade. This celebration, which takes place on the afternoon of January 5th, brings together thousands of people each year who fill the city streets to bid farewell to the holidays with joy, music, fantasy, and color.
The day of January 5th begins early with the arrival of Their Majesties the Three Wise Men from the East in the morning. Traditionally, Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar enter Tudela on camels accompanied by a retinue, traveling through the streets of the Old Town to the Plaza Vieja (Old Square) where the adoration of the Baby Jesus takes place next to the living Nativity scene, accompanied by Christmas carols and music that fill families and children with emotion.
In the afternoon, as the sun sets, the city comes alive with its grand parade of light and fantasy. The Three Kings Parade has evolved over the years, establishing itself as one of the most anticipated events of Christmas in Tudela. Unlike in the past, when the floats were more modest, the event has recently become more professional and expansive, featuring themes, artistic groups, bands, dancers, and processions organized by all kinds of organizations, filling it with dynamism and splendor.
In recent years, the parade has featured over 600 participants from nearly 30 groups, almost triple the number from previous years, reflecting the event’s growing popularity and social appeal. The parade is structured in several sections: from traditional Christmas scenes with stars and angels to elaborate visual themes such as fantasy or circus worlds, adding variety, imagination, and color to the route.
The route usually begins in areas like Avenida de Zaragoza, Gaztambide-Carrera, and Almajares, and culminates in Plaza de los Fueros, where thousands of residents eagerly await the arrival of Their Majesties. There, after the floats have passed, the parade typically concludes with fireworks, music, and a heartfelt welcome for the children, a moment when the magic of the Three Kings feels closest before Epiphany.
This parade is not only a visual and playful spectacle, but also a symbol of coexistence and tradition in Tudela, where entire generations come together to share the excitement, dreams and the end of a festive season full of activities, lights and Christmas spirit.
Solidarity and social participation
Christmas in Tudela combines leisure with social commitment. During this time, charity festivals are held to benefit the Spanish Association Against Cancer, awards are presented to ecological initiatives such as the Olentzero Prize, and solidarity activities are carried out with animal shelters. Multicultural events are also celebrated, such as International Migrants Day, with music, food, and workshops, showcasing the inclusive and participatory nature of the city.
A Christmas for all tastes
Christmas in Tudela is much more than lights and gifts. It’s culture, tradition, fun, and community involvement. Every corner of the city offers different experiences: markets, nativity scenes, and workshops for children; music, theater, and concerts for all ages; sports and tournaments for young people; and community events and charitable activities for everyone.
From December until Three Kings’ Day, Tudela transforms into a city that breathes Christmas, where every corner invites you to enjoy, learn, and share. It’s an opportunity to experience intense, participatory, and emotional festivities.
