This year, Loano is embracing the festive season with “Christmas Moments,” a vibrant series of events organized by the municipality and local associations. Mayor Luca Lettieri and Deputy Mayor Gianluigi Bocchio have prepared an array of activities, from traditional favorites to cultural and charitable events, ensuring enjoyment for all. The celebrations begin on December 7 with the “Thousand Lights of the Holidays” and a dazzling parade, culminating in the Christmas tree lighting in Piazza Italia.
This year, Loano is ready to dive into the Christmas spirit with “Christmas Moments“, a comprehensive schedule of events organized by the municipality’s department of tourism, culture, and sports in collaboration with local associations, designed to brighten the holidays for residents and visitors alike.
“For 2024,” stated Mayor Luca Lettieri and Deputy Mayor for Tourism, Culture, and Sports Gianluigi Bocchio, “Loano is set to offer numerous opportunities for enjoyment and relaxation during the Christmas season to our citizens and guests. With the support of local associations and organizations, we have crafted an extensive lineup of events. From traditional favorites like the ‘Villaggio Magie di Natale’, the ice skating rink, or the classic swimming challenge, to more engaging activities like the New Year’s Eve celebration in the square or concerts. We also have cultural, sports, and charitable events. We express our gratitude to the offices and everyone who contributed in any way to making this season special once again.”
Loano will officially kick off the holiday festivities on December 7 with the lighting of the “Thousand Lights of the Holidays,” artistic illuminations that will brighten and “warm” the city streets and squares throughout December 2024 and into early January 2025. This year, the traditional lights will be enhanced by a video-mapping installation: the façade of Palazzo Doria will be adorned with stunning Christmas images. The lighting event will be a true celebration. Starting at 4:30 PM, there will be a performance by the “U Gunbu de Loa-Verzi” group, followed by the Grand Parade Gold “Preziosa” with a final show. Dazzling stilt walkers in golden costumes, illuminated by stars, will dance along the central streets, accompanied by an enchanting musical backdrop. The parade will culminate with two artists performing a luminous LED juggling act. This spectacle will guide the audience to the Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Piazza Italia and the city lights, scheduled for 5:30 PM, with participation from the residents of the Ramella protected residence in Loano.
Christmas Magic Village – Loano
The enchanting Christmas Magic Village is back at the San Josemaria Escrivà Gardens by the Multipurpose Cultural Center, in collaboration with Fipe/Confcommercio Loano.
Market Highlights:
- Charming wooden stalls with a Nordic-inspired theme.
- A variety of gift ideas including handmade Christmas items, nativity scenes, candles, collectible toys, souvenir photos, personalized calendars with Santa, jewelry, crafts, games, and local products.
- Delicious street food options, featuring many new treats this year.
- Santa Claus will be present in his cozy house to welcome children for photos and to collect their letters.
Market Schedule:
- Saturday, November 30: 3 PM – 7 PM
- Sunday, December 1: 10 AM – 7 PM
- Friday, December 6: 3 PM – 7 PM
- Saturday, December 7: 3 PM – 7 PM
- Sunday, December 8: 10 AM – 7 PM
- Saturday, December 14: 3 PM – 7 PM
- Sunday, December 15: 10 AM – 7 PM
- Saturday, December 21: 3 PM – 7 PM
- Sunday, December 22: 10 AM – 11 PM
- Monday, December 23 – Saturday, December 28: 3 PM – 7 PM (December 25 and 26 open from 4 PM – 7 PM)
- Sunday, December 29: 10 AM – 2 AM
- Monday, December 30: 3 PM – 7 PM
- Tuesday, December 31: 3 PM – 2 AM
- Wednesday, January 1, 2025: 4 PM – 7 PM
- Thursday, January 2 – Saturday, January 4, 2025: 3 PM – 7 PM
- Sunday, January 5, 2025: 10 AM – 7 PM
- Monday, January 6, 2025: 3 PM – 7 PM
Musical Events and Entertainment for Children:
(Starting from 4 PM unless otherwise indicated)
- November 30: Baby dance
- December 6: Magic show with Magician Alex
- December 7: Archaeological workshop with Varatella Lab Grotte di Toirano
- December 14 at 10 AM: Pony riding experience
- December 15 at 10 AM: Pony riding experience and at 4 PM, treasure hunt
- December 21: Children’s entertainment with treasure hunt
- December 22: Baby dance
- December 26: Magic show with Magician Alex
- December 27 at 10 AM: Pony riding experience
- December 28 at 10 AM: Pony riding experience and at 4 PM, archaeological workshop with Varatella Lab Grotte di Toirano
- December 29 and 30 at 10 AM: Falconry and flight show (with a fee)
- January 2, 2025: Magic show with Magician Alex
- January 3, 2025: Baby dance
- January 4, 2025 at 10 AM: Pony riding experience and at 4 PM, archaeological workshop with Varatella Lab Grotte di Toirano
- January 5, 2025 at 10 AM: Pony riding experience
From November 30, 2024, to January 6, 2025, a large ice skating rink will be set up in Piazza Italia, offering both young and old, experienced and beginners, the thrill of gliding on ice. The enchanting atmosphere, coupled with the proximity to the Christmas tree and market, will transport everyone into a fairy-tale. The rink will be open Monday to Friday from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM, 2:30 PM to 7:30 PM, and 8:30 PM to 11:30 PM; on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 AM to 11:30 PM.
On December 15, starting at 3:00 PM, Monte Carmelo will host a traveling nativity scene organized by the Loano 2.0 Youth Group. On December 24, from 10:30 PM, Piazza Italia and Piazza Palestro will come alive with a living nativity scene organized by Vecchia Loano in collaboration with the parish of San Giovanni Battista.
On December 28, the Winter Swimming Challenge returns. This traditional plunge will take place at 10:30 AM at Bagni Medusa, featuring “challenge professionals” from all over Liguria and northern Italy. Brave swimmers will test themselves in the winter sea for a few seconds or, for the more trained, for about ten minutes.
On December 31st, Loano will bid farewell to 2024 and welcome 2025 with a vibrant New Year’s Eve celebration in the square, filled with music and entertainment. Starting at 10:30 PM in Piazza Italia, there will be a DJ set by Marco Trabbia and a performance by the Mixoro. Daniel, a dynamic singer and showman, alongside professional showgirls, will present a medley of the most famous Italian hits from the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s, with modern and captivating arrangements that preserve the authenticity of the Italian sound. The ice skating rink and markets will remain open throughout the evening.
On January 1st, 2025, the traditional New Year’s fireworks display will take place. Around 6 PM, from the Doria pier near Palazzo Kursaal, original creations with fountain, sphere, and rain effects will intersect in the sky, forming a magical play of colorful lights and a dazzling scene that will create an enveloping atmosphere. Light, shape, color, and rhythm will compose a unique and original show.
On January 6, 2025, at 3 PM, children and parents will gather in Piazza Italia for the Befana Festival. The afternoon is organized by Vecchia Loano and Pro Loco Loano.
Music Takes Center Stage This Christmas Season
- December 15: Sacred Christmas music concert by the Coro Nova Tempora Association at the parish of Santa Maria Immacolata.
- December 20, 9 PM: Soloists of the Coro Polifonico Città di Loano perform at Palazzo Doria, organized by the Associazione Musicale Loanese.
- December 21, 9 PM: Sacred and gospel music concert by I Vocalisti at Oratorio delle Cappe Bianche.
- December 22, 10 PM: Sacred music concert by the Associazione Musicale Loanese at Santa Maria Immacolata.
- December 23 & 27, from 4:30 PM: Roaming concert with the marching band of the Associazione Musicale Santa Maria Immacolata through the city center.
- December 28, 6 PM: Concert by the Corale Alpina Montagne Verdi “Egidio Gazzano” from Calizzano at Oratorio delle Cappe Turchine.
- December 28, 9 PM: Christmas concert by the Simona Briozzo Christmas Quartet at Palazzo Doria.
- December 29, 5:30 PM: “Le danze occitane scendono al mare” in Piazza Italia, featuring Sergio Berardo and Lou Dalfin for an afternoon of folk rock dancing. Part of “Racconti d’inverno,” leading into the National Prize for Italian Traditional Music.
- January 2, 9 PM: Christmas song concert by the Corale San Francesco di Alassio at Santa Maria Immacolata.
- January 3, 9 PM: Christmas and gospel concert by Sherrita Duran (with piano accompaniment) in the council chamber.
- January 3, 6 PM: Organ concert by maestro Luca Ferrari at Oratorio delle Cappe Turchine.
- January 4, 5:45 PM: “Magic Music Show Christmas Edition” in Piazza Italia featuring Gabriele Mago Gentile and Nicole Magolie.
- January 5, 9 PM: Premio Folkest – Alberto Cesa 2025 territorial selection in the library, followed by a sacred music concert by the Associazione Musicale Loanese at Monte Carmelo.
December and the holidays have always been a time for books, with various literary events planned as part of the traditional “Books Under the Tree” series. On December 13 at 9 PM, at Palazzo Doria, educational psychologist Stefano Rossi will hold a conference titled “Lessons of Love for a Child: Guiding Young People Through the Labyrinths of Adolescence.” On January 15 at 4:30 PM, at the “Antonio Arecco” library in Palazzo Kursaal, Emanuela Ersilia Abbadessa will present her book “The Prompter,” an event organized by the Centofiori Bookstore. On December 22 at 5 PM in the council chamber, Valentina Mastroianni will present her book “And We Will Fly Over Fear,” curated by the Mondadori Bookstore.
On December 7 from 9 AM to 1 PM in the council chamber of Palazzo Doria, there will be a conference to launch the photographic exhibition dedicated to Felice Cascione, hosted in the Mosaic Room until December 15. The exhibition, curated by Anpi Loano, features documents and artifacts related to the partisan “U Megu” and the Resistance in the First Ligurian Zone and the Albenga area.
Young people will have the opportunity to socialize and enjoy themselves with activities organized by Yepp Loano for the “Youth in the Library” project. On December 13 starting at 8:30 PM at Palazzo Kursaal, there will be a music evening with Yepp Karaoke. On December 20 at 9 PM, the youth will lead the talk “Music History and Stories” and interview Damir Ivic. On December 27 at 8:30 PM, there will be a cinema evening with Yepo Movie featuring the screening of “Murder on the Orient Express.” On January 3, 2025, there will be a game night with Yepp Games and the “13 Clues.”
In addition to the “Christmas Magic Village,” there are numerous opportunities to stroll among the stalls of the markets. As on every second Sunday of the month, on Sunday, December 8th from 9 AM to 7 PM, under the arcades of Corso Europa and in the nearby “Bestoso” gardens, the Antiques and Collectibles Market returns. This event, organized by the Cultural and Recreational Association E20 Free, is dedicated to antiques and collectible items. Dozens of exhibitors will showcase a curated selection of furniture, silverware, paintings, carpets, and objects imbued with an antique charm. The market will feature curiosities and “grandmother’s treasures,” as well as collectibles and vintage items. On December 7th and 8th from 9 AM to 5 PM in Piazza Massena, the Craftsmen in the Square Christmas Edition returns. This festive version of the artisans and artists’ market is organized by the Artigianalmente association. Professional artisans and specialized artists will display their inventive and skillful creations. The stalls will offer sculptures, paintings, drawings, engravings, and figurative arts, along with painted ceramics, carved wooden objects, painted glass, leather bags and belts, and artistic jewelry.
From December 1st to 23rd, the activities of the “caruggetti orbi” will bring “Advent in the caruggetti orbi” to life. Every day until Christmas Eve, the merchants of the “Loanesi alleys” will launch a small public challenge via social networks and give a gift to the first person who accepts and wins it. On December 14th and 28th from 5:30 PM, the “Kitsch Bingo” returns directly to the alleys, featuring the Grinch as the guest of honor. On January 4th, 2025, the awards ceremony for the most beautiful drawings created by children and dropped into the “mailbox” will take place, along with the presentation of the “Grinch’s Wrong Lottery.” All information is available on the Facebook page “Advent in the caruggetti orbi.”
Christmas is the perfect time to explore the region and its treasures. On Thursdays, December 5, 12, and 19, the events of “Loano Beyond the Sea” return. This program, organized by the Loano section of CAI, aims to promote hiking as an opportunity for socializing, personal well-being, and the appreciation and discovery of the area. During the holiday season, the Sea Museum, managed by the Lodanum Association, will also be open. The museum at Palazzo Kursaal will welcome visitors on Friday, November 29, and Saturday, November 30, from 3 to 6 PM; Sunday, December 1, from 9:30 AM to 12 PM; Friday, December 6, and Saturday, December 7, from 3 to 6 PM; Sunday, December 8, from 9:30 AM to 12 PM; Friday, December 13, and Saturday, December 14, from 3 to 6 PM; Sunday, December 15, from 9:30 AM to 12 PM; Friday, December 20, and Saturday, December 21, from 3 to 6 PM; Sunday, December 22, from 9:30 AM to 12 PM; and from December 26 to 31 from 3 to 6 PM; from January 2 to 6, 2025, from 3 to 6 PM.
On December 8, the “Santa Claus Run” will take place on Molo Francheville and along the seaside promenade, promoted by the Multipurpose Cultural Center and Fipe/Confcommercio in collaboration with Runners For Autism and Asd Maremontana. The start and finish line will be at Piazza Italia. On the same day, there will be a procession for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception with the participation of the Santa Maria Immacolata Marching Band.
There will be no shortage of sports events. On December 7, the 2024 edition of the International Fight Show, a prestigious combat sports gala organized by Asd Team Perlungher, will be held at PalaGarassini. From January 2 to 5, 2025, PalaGarassini will host the 10th edition of “Loano in Dance – Magic Winter 2025” organized by Asd Promozione Danza Liguria. On December 7 and 8, there will be another event for the Marina di Loano Winter Championship. On December 21, starting at 2 PM at PalaGuzzetti, “Gymnica Christmas Night” will be presented by Gymnica Loano.
From December 6th to 8th, the Christmas Stars will be available in Loano, supporting the research efforts of Ail, the Italian Association Against Leukemia, Lymphomas, and Myeloma.
On December 15th at 4 PM, the Christmas Celebration will take place at Marina di Loano, marking the 20th anniversary of volunteer work by the Pro Loco of Loano.
As the Christmas season approaches, numerous traditional nativity scenes have been set up in the churches and oratories of Loano. Each depiction of the Nativity is set against a picturesque landscape. Alongside the classic figures of the nativity scene, there are characters from popular life and everyday scenes, sometimes featuring mechanical elements. Visitors can follow a true itinerary to explore the architectural and religious treasures of Loano by visiting the nativity displays in the city’s parishes, chapels, and oratories. Traditional nativity scenes can be found at the oratory of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, or “dei Turchini,” in Piazza Italia (from December 8, 2024, to January 26, 2025); at the parish of San Pio X in Via Bergamo (from December 24, 2024, to February 2, 2025); at the parish of Santa Maria Immacolata in Via dei Gazzi (from December 24, 2024, to February 2, 2025); at the oratory of San Giovanni Battista, or “dei Bianchi,” in Via Boragine (from December 8, 2024, to January 26, 2025); at the parish of San Giovanni Battista (from December 24, 2024, to February 2, 2025); and at the Monte Carmelo convent in Via Costino di Monte Carmelo (open year-round).