Madrid winters are cold and sunny. No school Dec 7-8, Dec 23-Jan 8, Feb 12 and 15. Christmas brings lights, the Plaza Mayor market and ice rinks from Matadero to Atlético's stadium. On January 5 the Three Kings parade down the Castellana, and in mid-January neighbors bring their pets to San Antón to be blessed. Here's what we checked, from street traditions to show jumping, circus and Christmas theme parks.
Spain's biggest horse show is back after a year off. In the main arena, riders compete for three World Cups: show jumping, dressage and carriage driving. The crowd favorites are Pony Turf and the Jump & Drive race.
Next door, the Horse Hall has brand stands, food, a pony park and a kids' zone. Horse-mad kids could stay all day; others may last a couple of hours.
Millions of LED lights turn streets, plazas and buildings across Madrid into one big Christmas trail. Designer displays, giant light trees and bulbs drawn by first and second graders in a school contest give kids plenty to hunt for. Gran Vía, Calle Alcalá and Plaza Mayor are the classics.
A few days a year, Spain's parliament lets the public in for free. Visitors climb the steps between the bronze lions and follow a set route: an original copy of the 1812 Constitution, the domed Hall of Lost Steps, then the Hemicycle, where the 350 deputies debate and vote.
It suits school-age kids who have heard of parliament and want to see where it happens.
A Christmas ice rink that last season took over Atlético de Madrid's stadium with more than 4,000 square meters of ice. The skating ticket also opened the food halls and the day's activities: workshops, face painting, Santa visits, a gaming zone and a Playmobil space. Midday kids' shows brought characters they know; evenings switched to DJs and concerts for teens and adults. The next edition hasn't been announced yet.
Madrid's big Christmas fair for kids, run by IFEMA with Productores de Sonrisas. The exhibition halls fill with theater, video games, robotics, traditional games, creative workshops, cooking demos, sports, magic, music and storytelling. Kids try things rather than watch: building with LEGO in one hall, meeting firefighters and police in the other. It suits families looking for a long indoor outing over the holidays.
Madrid's feast of Saint Anthony, patron saint of animals. Neighbors bring their pets to the Iglesia de San Antón to be blessed, then the Vueltas, a parade of animals, loops the streets around the church.
Kids also come for the panecillos, small saint's buns sold at the church. It suits animal-loving kids of any age, with or without a pet.
Christmas here runs all the way to January 6, because the Three Kings, not Santa, bring most of the presents! From late November the Plaza Mayor fills with stalls of nativity figures and joke-shop wigs, Cortylandia's facade sings on Calle Preciados, and the streets light up. On January 5 the Kings parade down the Castellana. Here's what we checked, from free lights and nativity scenes to the Christmas circus.
Madrid, Navidad de Encuentro turns Matadero, the old slaughterhouse arts center by Madrid Río, into a Christmas village. The anchor is an outdoor ice rink that stays open longer than the rest of the program. Around it come shows, games, workshops and music for all ages.
Each edition picks a theme. Last year's was books and storytelling, and fake snow fell on Plaza Matadero every evening.
Circo Alegría's first Madrid production turns a big top into an underwater world. International acrobats perform around synchronized dancing fountains, with 3D effects, mermaids, pirates, sharks and storms. Giant kinetic whales float over the audience. A story about caring for the oceans runs through it, with plenty of humor and music.
A big evening Christmas park near Madrid, with a lake ice rink, a giant Ferris wheel, a life-size nativity walk, a Christmas market, lantern paths and fireworks. Some experiences come with the ticket and others cost extra. Best for kids who can stay up past dark and handle crowds.
Madrid winters are cold and sunny. No school Dec 7-8, Dec 23-Jan 8, Feb 12 and 15. Christmas brings lights, the Plaza Mayor market and ice rinks from Matadero to Atlético's stadium. On January 5 the Three Kings parade down the Castellana, and in mid-January neighbors bring their pets to San Antón to be blessed. Here's what we checked, from street traditions to show jumping, circus and Christmas theme parks.
Spain's biggest horse show is back after a year off. In the main arena, riders compete for three World Cups: show jumping, dressage and carriage driving. The crowd favorites are Pony Turf and the Jump & Drive race.
Next door, the Horse Hall has brand stands, food, a pony park and a kids' zone. Horse-mad kids could stay all day; others may last a couple of hours.
Millions of LED lights turn streets, plazas and buildings across Madrid into one big Christmas trail. Designer displays, giant light trees and bulbs drawn by first and second graders in a school contest give kids plenty to hunt for. Gran Vía, Calle Alcalá and Plaza Mayor are the classics.
A few days a year, Spain's parliament lets the public in for free. Visitors climb the steps between the bronze lions and follow a set route: an original copy of the 1812 Constitution, the domed Hall of Lost Steps, then the Hemicycle, where the 350 deputies debate and vote.
It suits school-age kids who have heard of parliament and want to see where it happens.
A Christmas ice rink that last season took over Atlético de Madrid's stadium with more than 4,000 square meters of ice. The skating ticket also opened the food halls and the day's activities: workshops, face painting, Santa visits, a gaming zone and a Playmobil space. Midday kids' shows brought characters they know; evenings switched to DJs and concerts for teens and adults. The next edition hasn't been announced yet.
Madrid's big Christmas fair for kids, run by IFEMA with Productores de Sonrisas. The exhibition halls fill with theater, video games, robotics, traditional games, creative workshops, cooking demos, sports, magic, music and storytelling. Kids try things rather than watch: building with LEGO in one hall, meeting firefighters and police in the other. It suits families looking for a long indoor outing over the holidays.
Madrid's feast of Saint Anthony, patron saint of animals. Neighbors bring their pets to the Iglesia de San Antón to be blessed, then the Vueltas, a parade of animals, loops the streets around the church.
Kids also come for the panecillos, small saint's buns sold at the church. It suits animal-loving kids of any age, with or without a pet.
Christmas here runs all the way to January 6, because the Three Kings, not Santa, bring most of the presents! From late November the Plaza Mayor fills with stalls of nativity figures and joke-shop wigs, Cortylandia's facade sings on Calle Preciados, and the streets light up. On January 5 the Kings parade down the Castellana. Here's what we checked, from free lights and nativity scenes to the Christmas circus.
Madrid, Navidad de Encuentro turns Matadero, the old slaughterhouse arts center by Madrid Río, into a Christmas village. The anchor is an outdoor ice rink that stays open longer than the rest of the program. Around it come shows, games, workshops and music for all ages.
Each edition picks a theme. Last year's was books and storytelling, and fake snow fell on Plaza Matadero every evening.
Circo Alegría's first Madrid production turns a big top into an underwater world. International acrobats perform around synchronized dancing fountains, with 3D effects, mermaids, pirates, sharks and storms. Giant kinetic whales float over the audience. A story about caring for the oceans runs through it, with plenty of humor and music.
A big evening Christmas park near Madrid, with a lake ice rink, a giant Ferris wheel, a life-size nativity walk, a Christmas market, lantern paths and fireworks. Some experiences come with the ticket and others cost extra. Best for kids who can stay up past dark and handle crowds.
