The magic of Christmas is back in Ravenna: a month of events including art, music and markets

The magic of Christmas is back in Ravenna: the city is preparing to experience a month of events that will begin with the traditional lighting of the majestic Christmas tree, in Piazza del Popolo, scheduled for Saturday, December 7, at 5:30 pm. The large Christmas tree, a majestic spruce donated by the municipality of Andalo to celebrate the 30-year link between the two towns, will be lit with LED lights and 250 golden elements. The display will be made with the support of local partners such as Ram Group, Cooperativa Spiagge Ravenna, Cassa di Ravenna, Spasso in Ravenna and Cittadini dell’Ordine spa. On the same day, the Christmas Village in Piazza San Francesco will also be open from 3 p.m., while at 4 p.m., also in Piazza del Popolo, there will be a show for all ages by the Paggio dei Clerici Vagantes, an event that combines music, juggling and stilts, ideal for young and old.

A month of events for all tastes: free concerts and family shows

The Christmas atmosphere will spread throughout Ravenna with a busy program of initiatives. Notable among the musical events is the Christmas Soul festival, which returns from December 28 to January 1 with four free concertsin Piazza del Popolo and at the Alighieri Theater, organized by Spiagge Soul and the Ravenna Manifestazioni Foundation, with the support of the Municipality of Ravenna. Opening the festival will be LeBron Johnson, on Dec. 28 at 6 p.m. Originally from Nigeria, the singer took his first steps in his country’s evangelical churches, then pursued his musical career in Italy, where he moved in 2017 to Ravenna of all places. Noticed by musician Andrea Pititto, Johnson has become an emerging figure on the Italian music scene and recently concluded his first European tour. The second event, Sunday, Dec. 29, also at 6 p.m., will feature the Leon Beal Joyful Gospel Choir, a U.S.-based ensemble led by Leon Beal who, with more than 40 years of experience, is considered a pioneer of contemporary Gospel music.
The highlight concert of the festival is scheduled for the evening of Dec. 31, from 11 p.m., with a performance by the Spirit of New Orleans Gospel Choir. This group brings with it all the vitality, warmth and musical tradition of Louisiana, giving an explosion of rhythms and melodies that will accompany the audience into the New Year.
The festival concludes on Jan. 1, at 11:30 a.m., with a special event at the Alighieri Theater, where The Bronx Gospel Choir, direct from New York, will perform. This choir skillfully combines their Gospel, spiritual, jazz and soul roots with modern and innovative styles. For program info and updates: www.spiaggesoul.it.

“I am very pleased with the billboard we have managed to build, involving some of the best choruses touring Europe at Christmas time,” explains Francesco Plazzi, artistic director of Christmas Soul.“We will have the opportunity to taste a wide overview of the stylistic nuances of Gospel music thanks to the different origin and formation of the ensembles involved: from the more intimate and traditional one of the Boston chorale, to the more visceral and passionate one typical of Louisiana and in particular of New Orleans, up to the more modern and innovative one of the New York formation. All united by a respect for the content of what is in effect the religious music of the African American people and their way of celebrating the Christian faith and giving thanks for the great gift of life. I am convinced that once again the audience of Ravenna, and of the many tourists who will be present, will be emotionally involved and united in this peculiar and revitalizing occasion to celebrate the Christmas holidays. I also emphasize the concert of the ’local’ LeBron Johnson who will know how to warm up the audience with his joyful and engaging approach for a concert of more Soul and R&B style.”

Piazza del Popolo will be the beating heart of the festivities: in fact, it will host from Nov. 30 to Jan. 6, the characteristic Christmas huts of the market “Che Spasso di Natale! Ravenna Centro Storico,” organized by the Spasso in Ravenna Committee, open to the public from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. An original all-Ravenna Christmas village around the big Christmas tree. The huts, which refer to the Romagna seaside tradition of the 1950s and 1960s, will be festively dressed with quality Christmas and food and wine products.

The afternoons will feature family shows: on Dec. 13 and Dec. 22 at 4:30 p.m. the Paggio dei Clerici Vagantes returns, a show featuring the puppet Paggetto, musician, juggler, jester and alchemist, while on Dec. 14 and 15, also at 4 p.m.30 will be the turn of PiùMe, a theater-circus show by Teatro Appeso created by Paola Li Vecchi, acrobat, actress and singer, with musical accompaniment by Fax, the drummer of PetitCabaret 1924.

For music enthusiasts, on Dec. 8 at 5 p.m. the Manu Evelyn Prioli - Christmas Jazz Quintet will perform, followed on Dec. 21 by the Comedy Christmas Magic Show, in which magician Enrico Battaglia will engage the audience with illusions and funny interactions. On Dec. 23, the Sound of Christmas show will instead take viewers on a musical journey through the most beloved Christmas songs from 1960 to the present day, reinterpreted in jazz and swing.

Traditions, attractions and art

There will be no shortage of fixed attractions dedicated to entertaining young and old alike. In St. Francis Square, from Dec. 7 to Jan. 6, the Christmas Village, curated by Advs Ravenna, returns with shows, children’s entertainment and tasty treats and hot drinks such as mulled wine and cotton candy. Kennedy Square, on the other hand, will host the JFK on Ice ice skating rink until Jan. 19, along with the Ice Slide, one of the most beloved attractions for children.

Art will also take center stage with dedicated exhibitions and events. The Mar - Art Museum of the City of Ravenna celebrates until January 12, 2025 together with theRavenna State Academy of Fine Arts the centenary of the Mosaic School with I’M A MOSAIC! From Severini, Sironi and Fontana to Paladino, Plessi and Samorì, curated by Paola Babini, Giovanna Cassese, Emanuela Fiori and Giovanni Gardini. An exhibition that, through the extraordinary language of mosaic, guides visitors on a path that embraces the art of the 20th and 21st centuries, juxtaposing the masterpieces of historical figures such as Severini, Sironi and Fontana with the works of contemporary artists such as Paladino, Plessi and Samorì. The exhibition initiative recounts the evolution of mosaic, which has been transformed from a millenary tradition into an innovative and surprising artistic expression. The exhibition is enriched with works, storytelling and multimedia content, connecting to the precious Collection of Contemporary Mosaics held by the MAR.

During the holiday season, the museum is offering special guided tours for adults and children, aiming to give the entire public an immersive and engaging experience. Every Sunday through Jan. 12, 2025, at 5 p.m., museum experts will delve into the themes of the exhibition, exploring the origins of the rebirth of mosaic that took place in Ravenna in the 1920s, through the artistic experiments of the 1950s, to contemporary interpretations that see the mosaic tile as a creative medium. The one-hour tour is available at a cost of €14 and includes the entrance fee. For information and reservations: 0544 482477 or prenotazionimar@ravennantica.org.

Younger children and their families can participate, every Saturday at 4 p.m., in the special Parent/Child workshop. The activity includes a short guided tour of the exhibition, followed by a hands-on workshop with RavennAntica’s educational operators. Here, inspired by the works observed, children will be able to unleash their creativity, using the mosaic technique to express their emotions and identity. This educational journey is based on the idea of I’M A MOSAIC, an invitation to explore themselves through art. The experience is designed for children ages 5 and up and is offered at a cost of €6 for young participants and €8 for adults, including visit and workshop (duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes). For more information and reservations: 0544 482477 or prenotazionimar@ravennantica.org.
In December, MAR will be open Tuesday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sundays and holidays (Dec. 26, 2024, Jan. 1 and 6, 2025) from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Also in the artistic context, the Mosaic Temporary Shop at the Iat in Piazza San Francesco will offer mosaic arts and crafts with a Christmas theme, perfect for original gifts.

Palazzo Rasponi dalle Teste will instead host the exhibition 1955-1965. The New World in Ravenna. Looks from the Ghigi Pagnani Art Collection, which will offer a look at informal art with works by artists such as Appel, Moreni, Mathieu, Vedova, Marc Tobey, Gorky, Daniel Pommereulle, Sergio Vacchi, Phillip Martin and Bernard Quentin, while the Classense Library will host two exhibitions: A Mountain of Voices. Tales of the Mountains through the Classense Collections and the Drawings of Luigi Dal Re (through Jan. 25, 2025) and The Colors of an Intellectual: The Alberto Martini Collection (Dec. 13 through Feb. 15).

“Christmas in Ravenna,” declare Councillor for Tourism Giacomo Costantini and Councillor for Economic Development and Productive Activities Annagiulia Randi; “will be full of events again this year, thanks to the collaboration between the Municipality of Ravenna and the many business and association realities involved. The city will be transformed into a stage, where tradition, culture and entertainment will meet to give everyone, residents and tourists, a great experience. We are confident that Ravenna, as every year, will prove to be attractive for everyone both from the point of view of the commercial offer and the cultural and entertainment proposal. We invite citizens and visitors to enthusiastically participate in the events and experience our historic center under the Christmas lights.”

Services for citizens and visitors

To facilitate access to the historic center and encourage participation in events, the City Council has decided to make all parking spaces regulated with parking meters (blue stalls) free of charge from 4:30 p.m. on weekdays from Dec. 9 to 24, except for Piazza Baracca, which is free from 6:30 p.m. On holidays, parking will be free all day.

With such a varied and rich program, Ravenna once again confirms its role as an attractive and welcoming city during the holiday season. For the full calendar of events, you can visit www.turismo.ra.it and www.visitravenna.it.

The magic of Christmas is back in Ravenna: a month of events including art, music and markets

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