Things to do in December in the Marina Alta: markets, Christmas, and family plans

It’s that month when the sea remains a deep, intense blue — but much more intimate — squares glow with warm lights, and towns are filled with the scent of firewood, sweets, and celebration.

If you’re looking to explore the region with a plan completely different from summer, one that’s human, close-to-home, and full of Christmas excitement, then December is your month. From Riu Rau Rentals, we invite you to live it from the inside — connecting with local culture, shared stories, art in motion, and the family spirit that defines this season, always surrounded by sea and mountains, tradition and calm.

Music & Concerts

In December, the Marina Alta fills once again with charming recitals, Christmas concerts held inside historic spaces, charity events, and performances by young musical talents trained in local conservatories and schools.

You’ll be able to enjoy piano, chamber ensembles, choirs, Puccini tribute opera, music bands, and seasonal performances that resonate with the cultural magic of the region.

Calp

Christmas concert

📅 Sunday 14 · 8:30 p.m.

📅 Sunday 21 · 8:30 p.m.

📍 Nuestra Señora de las Nieves Parish Church

Swan Lake – Classical ballet

📅 Thursday 11 · 7:00 p.m.

📍 Jaume Pastor i Fluixà Cultural Center

💰 €35

Benissa

Christmas Concert – Benissenca Choir

📅 Saturday 13 · 7:00 p.m.

📍 Taller d’Ivars Art Center

💰 €10 · 🎟️ Advance tickets and at the box office

Tosca Ensemble

📅 Saturday 27 · 8:00 p.m.

📍 Convent

🎟️ Free

Dénia

Dénia International Piano Festival

📅 Thursday 4 · 8:00 p.m.

📍 Teatre Auditori

💰 €20 (box office opens 2 hours before)

‘Zambomba flamenca solidaria’

📅 Friday 19 · 8:00 p.m.

📍 Teatre Auditori

💰 €5 · 🌺 By No ni na (Casa de Andalucía)

Christmas Concert

📅 Saturday 13 · 8:00 p.m.

📍 Centre Social

🎟️ Free (until full capacity is reached)

🎤 By the Orfeó de Dénia

Gata de Gorgos

Christmas Concert

📅 Saturday, December 20 · 7:30 p.m.

📍 Casal de la Música

🎷 Performed by the Youth Band and the Unió Musical Gata

Piano Recital

📅 Tuesday, December 9 · 8:00 p.m.

📍 CODA Music School

Trumpet and trombone recital

📅 Thursday, December 11 · 7:00 p.m.

📍 Municipal Music School

Violin and cello recital

📅 Friday, December 12 · 8:00 p.m.

📍 CODA Music School

Guitar recital

📅 Wednesday 17 · 8:00 p.m.

📍 CODA Music School

Children’s Christmas recital (ages 4–7)

📅 Thursday 18 · 6:00 p.m.

📍 Integrat Social Center

Percussion recital

📅 Friday 19 · 8:00 p.m.

📍 CODA Music School

Christmas Concert

📅 Sunday 21 · 8:00 p.m.

📍 Sant Miquel Arcàngel Church

🎙️ Performed by the Youth Choir, CODA Gospel, and CODA Band

Saxophone and clarinet recital

📅 Monday 22 · 8:00 p.m.

📍 Centre Social Integrat

Xàbia

Opera and piano recital – Tribute to Puccini

📅 Saturday 13 · 8:30 p.m.

📍 Església de Sant Bartomeu

🎟️ Free

🎤 With Laura Cruz & Victoria Marco

Christmas concert

📅 Sunday 21 · 11:00 a.m.

📍 Convento de las Agustinas

🎟️ Free

🎤 By Ars Nova and Petit Ars

Passejades Nadalenques – Young music from CAM Xàbia

📅 Sunday 21 · 12:30 p.m.

📍 Historic Xàbia

🎶 By the CAM Xàbia Youth Band and Orchestra

‘Ha arribat el Nadal’ – Album presentation

📅 Sunday 21 · 8:00 p.m.

📍 Church of Sant Bartomeu

💿 By the El Portitxol Dance Group

Teulada – Moraira

Christmas Concert

📅 Sunday 14 · 5:00 p.m.

📍 Moraira Church Square

🎤 Organized by the Teulada Moraira Lions Club

Christmas Choir Concert

📅 Friday 19 · 8:00 p.m.

📍 St. Catherine Martyr Church

🎤 With the Teuladina Choir and choirs from the Mestre Berenguer Conservatory

Christmas Concert

📅 Saturday 20 · 9:00 p.m.

📍 Verge dels Desamparats Church

🎶 With the Teuladina Choir and Professional Choir

Christmas Concert

📅 Sunday 14 · 5:00 p.m.

📍 Plaza de la Iglesia de Moraira

🎟️ Free

🎼 Organized by the Teulada Moraira Lions Club

Christmas Concert – Youth Band

📅 Sunday 21 · 11:00 a.m.

📍 Pl. de la Constitución, Teulada

Christmas Concert – Cor La Senieta de Moraira

📅 Sunday 21 · 12:00 pm

📍 Virgen de los Desamparados Church

‘Cant de la Sibil·la’

📅 Tuesday 23 · 8:00 pm

📍 Santa Catalina Mártir Church

Pedreguer

Music at the fair

📅 Monday, December 8

📍 Espai Cultural dance floor

🎼 Performed by the Banda del Centre Artístic Musical

Saxophone student recital

📅 Monday, December 15 · 7:00 p.m.

📍 Casa de Cultura

🎼 Performed by the Conservatori i Escola de Música de Pedreguer

Dance & Ballet

In December, dance glows under a different sky: movement lights up like Christmas tree bulbs and becomes a language filled with technique and emotion. Classical ballet, contemporary flamenco, and cultural performances celebrate the body as art, embracing winter magic and festive Mediterranean charm.

Calp

‘Flamenco Antares’

📅 Thursday, 14 · 8:00 p.m.

📍 Casa de Cultura

🎟️ €15

‘Swan Lake’

📅 Thursday, 11 · 7:00 p.m.

📍 Jaume Pastor i Fluixà Cultural Center

🎟️ €35

Pedreguer

Children’s and Youth Dance Festival

📅 Saturday, 13 · 6:00 p.m.

📍 La Pista Cultural Center

Pedreguer

Children’s and Youth Dance Gathering

📅 Saturday, 13 · 6:00 p.m.

📍 La Pista Cultural Center

Teulada Moraira

Sleeping Beauty

📅 Sunday, 21 · 6:00 p.m.

📍 Auditorium

Theater, Storytelling & Popular Culture

In December, the curtain rises with a special gleam: stories smell of roasted chestnuts and spark Christmas excitement. Performances for adults, showings for kids, magical reading workshops, and reinvented classics turn the Marina Alta’s stages into warm shelters where we celebrate culture from the beating heart of Christmas.

Dénia

Desconcert als 60

📅 Friday 5 · 7:30 p.m.

📍 Public Library

📖 Storytelling for adults by Domingo Chinchilla

L’Atzúbia – Forna

El malalt imaginari

📅 Sunday 14 · 6:00 p.m.

📍 Ausiàs March Cultural Center

💰 €3

🎺 By Butaca Teatre

Tribute to 60 – Desconcert

📅 Sunday 14 · 6:00 p.m.

📍 Ausiàs March Cultural Center

💰 €3

🎟️ Performed by Butaca Teatre

Benissa

Manual for the idle and mourning witches

📅 Friday 19 · 10:00 p.m.

📍 Cultural Hall

🎟️ Free admission (pick up at the concierge desk)

🧙‍♀️ By Esclafit Teatre

Two giant tales by Kummerlin: Travel, travel, and me more

📅 Wednesday 17 · 5:30 p.m.

📍 Les Cases del Batlle

🎟️ Free with invitation

📚 Family storytelling

Xàbia

The magic of reading (workshop for ages 3 to 5)

📅 Wednesday 3 · 5:30 p.m.

📍 Municipal Library

🧒 Workshop for children aged 3 to 5

✍️ Advance registration by email or phone

Give me a story + workshop The tree of memories

📅 Friday 5 · 5:30 p.m.

📍 Duanes de la Mar Library

🌳 Workshop: The Tree of Memories

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Free family activity

Amparito, the Teacher’s Daughter + Pop-up Postcard Workshop

📅 Friday 12 · 5:30 p.m.

📍 Biblioteca Centre Històric

✂️ Workshop: Pop-up postcards

🎟️ Free family activity

The Magic of Reading (Workshop 2)

📅 Wednesday, 17 · 5:30 p.m.

📍 Duanes Library

🧒 Workshop for children ages 3 to 5

✉️ Advance registration by email or phone

Gata de Gorgos

Shrek (family audience)

📅 Friday 19 · 6:00 p.m.

📍 Centre Social Integrat

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For family audiences

🎟️ Free admission

La Vall de Gallinera

Children’s theater + visit from the Royal Pages

📅 Sunday 28 · 6:00 p.m.

📍 Town Hall building in Benialí

💌 Collection of letters for the Three Kings

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Free activity for children and families

Cinema

Cool December nights taste better with great stories shown on the big screen. Across the Marina Alta, seasonal film cycles, iconic classics, local documentaries, and cinema forums invite us to share seats, conversations, and reflections in a festive, welcoming atmosphere. From timeless cinema to local audiovisual tributes, everything is designed to be enjoyed together.

Benissa

The Two Sides of the Bed

📅 December 6 and 7

📍 Cultural Hall

🕘 Saturday 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

🕖 Sunday 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

🎟️ Local event / regional film screening

My Wings Will Protect You

📅 December 13 and 14

📍 Cultural Hall

🕘 Saturday 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

🕗 Sunday 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Alibis

📅 December 20–21

📍 Cultural Hall

🕘 Saturday 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. · Sunday 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Pedreguer

Amelie

📅 Saturday, December 6 · 7:00 p.m.

📍 Espai Cultural Court

🌍 Part of the 11th Mundial Cinema Risa Film

Welcome Mr. Chance

📅 Sunday, December 7 · 7:00 p.m.

📍 Espai Cultural

🌍 11th World Cinema Laughter Film Festival

Sullivan’s Travels

📅 Monday, December 8 · 7:00 p.m.

📍 Espai Cultural

🎞️ 11th World Cinema Laughter Film Festival

Mr. Nobody vs. Putin

📅 Friday 12 · 7:00 p.m.

📍 Casal Cultural Jaume I

🎬 Documentary action

The Stroller

📅 Sunday 14 · 7:00 p.m.

📍 La Pista Espai Cultural

🎬 Screening as part of the XI Mundial Cinema Risa Film cycle

A Day of Sant Blai 1959

📅 Thursday 18 · 6:30 p.m.

📍 Carrer Mestre Serrano, 30

🎥 Documentary · Online registration · Free

Music and shows in Pedreguer

📅 Thursday 18 · 6:30 p.m.

📍 Carrer Mestre Serrano, 30

🎥 Documentary · Online registration · Free

Rotonda, round trip

📅 Thursday, January 18 · 7:00 p.m.

📍 Municipal Cultural Center

🎬 Post-screening discussion · Cinema a poqueta nit

Dreams of a seducer

📅 Sunday, January 28 · 7:00 p.m.

📍 Pista Espai Cultural

🎞️ XI Mundial Cinema Risa Film

Calp

Life in a Drop

📅 Wednesday, 10 · 7:00 p.m.

📍 Casa de Cultura Jaume Pastor i Fluixà 

Xàbia

El robatori de Benimassot (The Robbery of Benimassot)

📅 Friday 12 · 7:30 p.m.

📍 Municipal Archive

🎟️ Free admission until full capacity is reached

Dénia

Gato negro, gato blanco (Black Cat, White Cat)

📅 Sunday 7 · 7:00 p.m.

📍 Teatre Auditori

💰 €3 · Tickets online or at the box office 1 hour before

Ta Bo, paving the way

📅 Thursday 11 · 7:00 p.m.

📍 Casa de Cultura

🗣️ Includes discussion with protagonists · Mountain Day · Free

What we wanted to be

📅 Sunday 14 · 7:00 p.m.

📍 Teatre Auditori

💰 €3

Past Lives

📅 Sunday 28 · 7:00 p.m.

📍 Teatre Auditori

💰 €3

Born in Gaza

📅 Sunday 21 · 7:00 p.m.

📍 Teatre Auditori

💰 €3

Art & Exhibitions

December is also a month to observe, feel and be moved. Between twinkling lights, Christmas décor and cozy winter squares, the Marina Alta becomes a living open gallery: photography, painting, sculpture and collective art installations travel through museums and cultural halls, celebrating local talent and offering artistic refuge to enjoy calmly during this special season.

Pedreguer

Els colors de les emocions (group exhibition)

📅 November 8–December 12

📍 Municipal Cultural Center

🕛 Opening: November 8 at 12:00 p.m.

15,620 (photography exhibition)

📅 December 5–19

📍 Cultural Center

📷 Laura Carrió Simó

Student exhibition

📅 December 1–19

📍 Jaume I Cultural Center

📚 Students from CEIP l’Alfàs and CEIP El Trinquet

Flors d’ametller (group exhibition)

📅 December 20 – February 8

📍 Municipal Cultural Center

🕛 Opening: December 20 at 12:00 p.m.

Benissa

Painting exhibition (Centre d’Art Taller Ivars)

📅 November 13 to December 5

📍 Centre d’Art Taller Ivars

🎉 Opening: November 13 at 8:00 p.m.

🕒 Hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

🖼️ Collective painting exhibition

Painting exhibition (Lola Llinares)

📅 From December 1 to 31

📍 Centre d’Art Taller Ivars

🕒 Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

🎨 By Lola Llinares

🖼️ Collective painting exhibition

Student exhibition

📅 November 20 to December 19

📍 Casal Cultural Jaume I

🎒 Students: CEIP l’Alfàs and CEIP El Trinquet

🎟️ Free admission

Dénia

Dénia and the sea – works by Jaume Sendra

📅 November 20 to December 13

📍 Casa de Cultura

🎨 Works by Jaume Sendra

🕒 Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. · Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Landscapes of the Marina Alta

📅 From December 4 to January 3

📍 Casa de Cultura

🎉 Opening: January 4 at 7:00 p.m.

🕒 Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. · Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

El hueco, metonymy of absence

📅 From December 5 to January 11

📍 Centre d’Art l’Estació

🎉 Opening: December 5 at 7:00 p.m.

🕒 Hours: Monday to Saturday 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. and 4:00–7:00 p.m. · Sundays and holidays 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Hollywood, the art of painting

📅 December 18 to January 10

📍 Casa de Cultura

🎨 By Paula Puente

🕒 Hours: Monday to Friday 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. · Saturdays 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Teulada Moraira

Desitjos del calendari d’advent

📅 December 1 to 24

📍 Avinguda Santa Catalina (Teulada) and C/ Doctor Calatayud (Moraira)

🎟️ Outdoor exhibition on balconies · Free family activity

Xàbia

Hebrew Bethlehem

📅 December 5 to January 6

📍 Soler Blasco Archaeological and Ethnological Museum

🎭 Organized by the Association of Nativity Scene Makers of Xàbia

In the spirit of engraving

📅 December 5 to January 31

📍 Casa del Cable

🎉 Opening: 12/5

🖼️ Engraving exhibition

Transit

📅 December 5 to January 17

📍 Ca Lambert

🎉 Opening: 12/5

👩‍🎨 Artists: Brisa Sánchez, Lua Ramé, and Silvia Mercé Cervelló

Talks & Presentations

Inspirational conversations. Emerging books. Reflections on the region. Libraries, auditoriums and cultural halls are filled with shared voices, unique perspectives and local identity.

Gata de Gorgos

Shared letters, springtime of beasts

📅 Thursday 4 · 12:00 p.m.

📍 Carme Miquel Library

🎙️ By Miquel Mas Fiol

Walter Benjamin, finished passages

📅 Friday 12 · 7:00 p.m.

📍 Carme Miquel Library

🎙️ Presented by Rafa Gomar and Carles Mulet.

Xàbia

The red thread of destiny

📅 Thursday 4 · 7:00 p.m.

📍 Soler Blasco Museum

🎓 Presented by Chris Betterton-Jones

Golden reflection

📅 Thursday 18 · 7:00 p.m.

📍 Historic Center Library

👩‍🏫 Poetry collection by Adriana Serlik with the participation of Maite Satre

The Valencian naturalist Eduardo Bosc and his commitment to evolutionism

📅 Friday 5 · 7:00 p.m.

📍 Soler Blasco Archaeological and Ethnological Museum

Tabernacle, erotic-romantic triptych

📅 Saturday 11 · 7:00 p.m.

📍 Historic Center Library

Dénia

“Which song do we hear most in the background?”

📅 Thursday 4 · 7:00 p.m.

📍 Casa de Cultura

📚 Book by Luis Miguel Sanmartín

L’aiguadolç, a value for eternity

📅 Friday 5 · 7:30 p.m.

📍 Library

📰 Presentation of issue no. 54 of l’Aiguadolç by IECMA

La fúmiga. It had to happen

📅 Wednesday, October 10 · 8:00 p.m.

📍 Library

✍️ Book by Vicent Contrí with the author in attendance

Buscando el verdadero impulso (Searching for the True Impulse)

📅 Thursday, October 11 · 7:00 p.m.

📍 Cultural Center

🖼️ Poetry collection and illustrations

Koinos: Encounters on cinema, music, and thought

📅 Friday, 12 · 7:00 p.m.

📍 Municipal Library

Aguaits No. 48 + IECMA Calendar 2026

📅 Thursday 18 · 7:00 p.m.

📍 Library

🎓 By Rosa Serer and Joan Ivars

Your light in motherhood

📅 Friday 19 · 7:00 p.m.

📍 Cultural Center

👩‍🏫 Presented by Maite Pingarrón Montes

Pedreguer

Some considerations on the attribution of Antoni Gilabert’s work

📅 Thursday 4 · 7:30 p.m.

📍 Municipal Cultural Center

🎓 Presented by Joan J. Gavara

Pedreguer in the press

📅 Wednesday 17 · 7:00 p.m.

📍 Municipal Cultural Center

📚 Book presentation

Benissa

Calendario dels Brillants 2026

📅 Thursday 11 · 7:30 p.m.

📍 Les Cases del Batlle

🎓 By Joan Josep Cardona

Courses & Workshops

Courses and workshops offer a place to learn, craft and share experiences, tailored for all ages. From reading sessions to hands-on creative artistic workshops, there are perfect activities to enjoy with family and community.

Gata de Gorgos

Reading with TAPIS

📅 December 1–29 · Every Monday · 11:00 a.m.

📍 Carme Miquel Public Library

Reading with Moroccan women

📅 December 2–30 · Every Tuesday · 12:00 p.m.

📍 Carme Miquel Public Library

Story time

📅 December 5–26 · Every Friday · 5:30 p.m.

📍 Carme Miquel Public Library

Block sexism, refresh your algorithm

📅 Friday, December 5 · 7:00 p.m.

📍 Carme Miquel Public Library

🎓 Led by Carmen Ruiz Repullo

Reading club

📅 Friday, December 19 · 7:00 p.m.

📍 Carme Miquel Public Library

📚 Book: Indignas hijas de su patria (Unworthy Daughters of Their Homeland)

Teulada Moraira

Sand sculpture workshop

📅 Tuesday, December 2 · 10:00 a.m.

📍 Platja de l’Ampolla

🕒 Time: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Benissa

The best accessory for your perineum

📅 Tuesday, December 2 · 6:00 p.m.

📍 Center of Excellence

🎓 Led by Judith Avilés

🎟️ Free activity

Xàbia

Reading, values, and creative workshops

📅 December 3 and 17 · 5:30 p.m.

📍 Biblioteca Centre Històric (3/12) · Biblioteca Duanes de la Mar (17/12)

🧒 Ages 3 to 5

📧 Advance registration: biblioteca@ajxabia.org or 965 793 938

Pego

Fanalets workshop

📅 Friday 5 · 6:45 p.m.

📍 Town Hall Square

📧 Advance registration: 678 268 705 / InfoJove Pego

Veles nadalenques workshop with beeswax

📅 Friday 12 · 6:00 p.m.

📍 InfoJove Pego

📧 Advance registration: 678 268 705 / InfoJove Pego

Dénia

Christmas glow art

📅 Saturday, December 13 · 12:00 p.m.

📍 Library

📧 Advance registration: biblioteca@ayto-denia.es / 965 759 819

Children’s games

📅 Saturday, December 20 · 11:30 a.m.

📍 Library

🎓 Led by Cayro

Jesús Pobre

Glow art nadalenc

📅 Tuesday 16 · 5:30 p.m.

📍 Library

La Xara

Glow art nadalenc

📅 Thursday 18 · 5:30 p.m.

📍 Espai Sociocultural

El Poble Nou de Benitatxell

Dolços nadalencs

📅 Saturday 20 · 9:30 a.m.

🎟️ Advance registration: click on the link or call 966 493 546

La Vall de Gallinera

Creació de cartes per als Reis Mags

📅 Saturday 27 · 6:30 p.m.

📍 Benialí Town Hall Building

🎓 Organized by the Festival Committee

Pedreguer

Cinema for boys and girls

📅 December 29 and 30 · 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

📍 Municipal Cultural Center

💰 Price: €20

📧 Registration until December 19

Routes & Visits

Winter doesn’t stop the Marina Alta, it transforms it. December invites us to explore the region with a new perspective: historic walks, visits to unique nativity scenes, decorated cultural spaces, peaceful viewpoints and magical paths full of Christmas spirit. It’s the perfect season to discover charming villages, embrace winter Mediterranean tradition and enjoy cultural and nature-filled family plans.

Gata de Gorgos

International Mountain Day

📅 Sunday, August 14 · 8:30 a.m.

📍 Church square

🎟️ Registration and further information at 606459066.

Pego

Visit to the residence

📅 Thursday, August 11 · 11:00 a.m.

📍 St. Joan de Déu Nursing Home

🎟️ Advance registration required at 678 268 705.

Ethnobotanical walk through Penya del Gat

📅 Sunday, August 14 · 9:30 a.m.

📍 Reservations and more information here

🎟️ Free activity

Pedreguer

Buildings by architect Antoni Gilabert in l’Alcúdia 

📅 Sunday 14 · 8:00 a.m.

📍 Redona del Sequier bus stop

🎟️ Bus, guided tour, and lunch, €53

Calp

Historic center

📅 Sunday, August 7 · 11:00 a.m.

📍 Santa Llúcia residence parking lot

🎟️ Advance registration required at turisme@ajcalp.es or by calling 965 836 920. 

Denia

The route of the hermitages: from Santa Llúcia to Sant Joan

📅 Sunday, August 7 · 10:30 a.m.

📍 Santa Llúcia residence parking lot

🎟️ Reservations and further information at 966 420 260.

A Christmas-filled December in the Marina Alta

December marks a new way of experiencing the Marina Alta: bundled up, unhurried, and open-hearted to celebrate small, local magic.

Between movie seats shared in community, glowing stages, creative workshops, and decorated balconies, this region reminds us that culture is also a place to shelter, connect, share, and feel — especially at Christmas.

From Riu Rau Rentals, we want your winter here to feel authentic, warm, and full of moments worth remembering.

🏡 Charming stays in Xàbia, Benitatxell, Teulada-Moraira, and Benissa

📲 Direct bookings without commissions

Come, breathe the fresh December air, let the village lights glow around you, and discover the Marina Alta that lives between art and excitement, tradition and shelter, sea and memory.

We’re waiting for you. This Christmas, experience it from the inside.

If you’re staying for more than a month, have a look at our guide to spending the winter in Jávea.