Christmas preparations are under way in Alicante’s city centre as the city prepares to showcase its famed Nativity displays. The Monumental Nativity Scene, in Plaza del Ayuntamiento, has been a Guinness World Record since 2020 and is currently being assembled. The display comprises six figures—Baltasar, Saint Joseph, the Virgin Mary, Gaspar, Melchor and the Child Jesus—and is due to be completed by Thursday the twentieth of November.

Officials say the official inauguration will take place on Sunday the twenty-third at six thirty p.m., unveiling a light and sound show that will illuminate the square. From that day the plaza will be closed to general traffic, with only public transport, taxis and buses allowed in the area to improve safety and the visitor experience. The city also continues work on two other Nativity displays, the Nativity in the Ayuntamiento entrance hall and the Montañeta Nativity, opening later in November.

Attention also turns to the giant eighteen-metre Christmas tree on Avenida de la Constitución, which will be lit on Friday the twenty-first at seven o’clock p.m. as part of the Extraordinary Illumination. The lighting is being coordinated with local traders to boost footfall and stimulate the economy. Taken together, the installations emphasise Alicante’s Christmas tradition, brightness and appeal as thousands of visitors descend on the city each year.