Valls starts Christmas festivities with light show and Fumera celebration

Valls, in the province of Tarragona, will start its Christmas celebrations on Friday, 28 November, with an inaugural light and music show starring the Fumera. This event marks the beginning of an extensive programme that will run until Epiphany, incorporating numerous proposals and new features, according to Valls officials.

Over the coming weeks, Valls will host traditional and family activities, including the Christmas Market, the historic Nativity Plays, the Monumental Nativity Scene, carol concerts, the Tió, the Fumera, the Man of Noses, the Song of the Sibyl, and the Three Kings' Parade. This offering is designed for all ages, making the city a festive meeting point during the holidays.

The programme starts with the lighting of the Christmas lights, dance school performances, a Christmas concert by Maria Jacobs, and the Fumera as the central figure.

A Magical Start in El Pati

To welcome Christmas, El Pati will transform into a mysterious forest filled with colours, music, and magic, as the Fumera opens its forest doors to all children in the city. This event opens a first weekend of family activities, including workshops, theatre, and shows. Rikus, a fun and enthusiastic mountain shepherd who entertains audiences with his guitar and songs, will also be a key figure in this festive start. Rikus is celebrating 10 years with his show “Us convidem” (We Invite You) and will join the inaugural Christmas festivities in Valls.

Nativity Scene and Christmas Market

The second significant weekend will start on Friday, 12 December, with the inauguration of the Monumental Nativity Scene, which will be open until 2 February. The following day, Saturday, 13 December, and also Sunday, 14 December, the traditional Christmas Market will bring the historic centre of Valls to life. In the afternoon, the Lledó church will host the Christmas Concert with the Audite Choir.

Fumera's 10th Anniversary Celebrations

In 2025, the Fumera, a mysterious being who sees and hears everything and visits Valls before the Three Kings arrive, celebrates its tenth anniversary. To mark this, in addition to its traditional appearances, a special parade will take place on Saturday, 13 December, touring various city neighbourhoods. The programme continues on 20 December with an official reception at the Town Hall for Fumeras from other towns, who are special guests for this celebration. The day will end with another parade, filling the streets with magic, music, colour, and festivity.

Itinerant Shows and Deep-Rooted Traditions

Mid-festivities, streets and squares will fill with itinerant shows for all ages, alongside games, music, and entertainment, creating a dynamic atmosphere in the city's main commercial areas during the Christmas shopping season. The first itinerant show will be “Àcid” by the Sound de Secà company on Saturday, 20 December, at 12pm. This lively show will become a community celebration in the city's streets, with the audience becoming part of the spectacle in an atmosphere of light, colour, and visual extravagance. On Tuesday, 23 December, the Insòlits company will present “Hotel” in the afternoon, a comic journey featuring three actors, three actresses, and a large luggage cart with music and lights. These itinerant performances will end with Actua Produccions' “Nòmades” on 30 December in the afternoon, where two large creatures from Fantasy Lands will parade through the city, delighting everyone.

Leading up to the main days, one of the most anticipated events for children will be the traditional Caga Tió! with the Cinc Cèntims company. Uncle Buscall will be the main character, along with Shepherdess Caterina, Bastona, Heura, and Colgafocs, as they experience a magical adventure and discover the mysteries of the Tió legend.

Valls will be full of Christmas traditions, with other classic events on the calendar. The Archpriestal Church of Sant Joan will again host the representation and ritual of the Song of the Sibyl on Christmas Eve, proclaiming the advent of Jesus Christ and the end of the world, followed by Midnight Mass. The church's interior will be decorated with neules, a popular cultural expression from across the Catalan Countries. On 26 December, the traditional Sant Esteve Concert will take place at Sant Antoni church, performed by the Cors Alegres Children's Choir. The same day will see the first of several scheduled performances of the popular Valls Nativity Plays at the Teatre Principal. The Main Nativity Plays will have performances on 26 and 28 December, and 1, 3, and 6 January, while the Main Junior Nativity Plays will perform on 27 and 30 December.

Factory of Illusions and Christmas Park

The Factory of Illusions, located at the Popular Library again this year, will be where children can see their dreams come true with the show “Els Secrets de la Nit de Reis” (The Secrets of Epiphany Eve). Children will be the protagonists of an exciting adventure with games, enigmas, and riddles they must solve to submit their letter and ensure it reaches the Three Kings. Visits can be made on 27, 28, and 29 December, and on 2, 3, and 4 January.

Additionally, the Christmas Park will once again fill the Sala Kursaal on 2, 3, and 4 January with new activities and recreational workshops where children can use their imagination. During these days, activities such as storytelling, theatre, workshops, shows, and magic will transform the Park's stage into a big party. Filomena, a music group for families, will perform on the first day in two time slots. Their educational proposal aims to introduce children to traditional music through a performance that combines animation with rich traditional melodies and instruments. Various organisations, including the Cors Alegres Children's Choir, the Porta Oberta Association, the Club Twirling Valls, and the La Pera Juganera Cultural and Recreational Association, will offer workshops for all ages.

Other attractions during these days include Christmas concerts by the Robert Gerhard Municipal Music School, the traditional parade of the Man of Noses, and a programme from JCA Cinemes, with five screenings of ballets, films, and concerts, including a live New Year's concert by the Berlin Philharmonic.

Epiphany Eve

The Valls Christmas programme will end on 5 January with the magical and highly anticipated Three Kings' Parade, which will start its route at Plaça de l'Estació. This year's parade will feature a special highlight, according to local officials.