Hey Grapeviners!
Granada is about to flip the switch to full festive mode. 🎄 (More details below.)
To our American Grapeviners: Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃 Will you be stuffing a turkey or saying “stuff that” to the price of turkey? On Friday, watch out for scenes like this…
Granadino shoppers seek out 2-for-1 deals on Piononos - Black Friday 2024
As usual, there’s lots going on this week, from live music to theatre, even some ecstatic dance if you want to let it all go. 💃🏻 In Zaidín, the streets will transform into a giant circus thanks to the annual Clown Festival. (The real clowns however, are the ones up the road charging €3.50 for the privilege to admire some second-hand cars!)
So, as we wave goodbye to a November that broke heat records, we welcome a December full of zambombas, mosto 🍷 and one very fancy milestone… Granada city has its first Michelin Star restaurant! ⭐ Let the festivities begin…
Which lady royally loved Christmas in Granada? Answer at the bottom of the email. 👇
🎵 Musical Highlights:
A varied week of music, featuring much young Andalusian talent, several Brits and a modern-classical treat! Dave’s Faves: The final Encuentro Soundbox of the season, uniting three emerging young talents, Ilaria Degradi, Eva Calyza and Javier Lekker. The super-cool Vera GRV, Granadino whippersnapper Lipsill and Algeciras’s own N9VE. For something a bit different, Granada-based Sietemásuno serve up a cappella harmonies (think Swingle Singers). Classical offerings range from fresh modernity by Juan Escalera and Francisco Rusillo to the city orchestra and youth string band serving up some trusty Mozart, Debussy and Satie. If you’re more 🇬🇧 Britpop than 🎻 Britten, indie royalty Bernard Butler (Suede), Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub) and James Grant will be soft-rocking Granada’s juiciest Lemon (live video). Flying the flag for 2020s Britain, The Molotovs will be noisy on an otherwise quiet Monday.
🎬 VOSE Film:
Wicked II: Ocine Serrallo + Kinépolis 🎥 View Trailer
Jay Kelly: Kinépolis 🎥 View Trailer
SISU: Kinépolis 🎥 View Trailer
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery: Kinépolis 🎥 View Trailer
Zootopia 2: Kinépolis 🎥 View Trailer
🎄 It’s beginning to look a lot like…
We’re skating on thin ice with the amount of puns in this week’s newsletter!
Christmas Switch On: Sat 29 Nov, 20.30h. Pre-concert with Granadino Flamenco artist Agustín Barajas 20h.
Poblado Navideño (Christmas Village) at Paseo del Salón opens 1 Dec.
Mercado de Belén (Christmas Nativity Scene Market) now open in Plaza Bib Rambla (11h-14h and 17h-21h daily.
Noria (Ferris Wheel) opens 1 Dec at Explanada Palacio de Congresos. Operating hours: 11h-23h. Holidays 11h-02h.
More info on Christmas in Granada here.
🏘️ Nearby pueblos will also kick-off the festive season on Sat 29 Nov in various ways, such as this Fiesta de Bulería in Monachil and this party in the park in La Zubia. Watch an Ayuntamiento Facebook page near you.
⭐️ Ongoing Festivals This Week
🤡 Festival de “Clown” Nariz Roja | 29-30 Nov | This year, El Semillero, the International Clown School of Granada will be clowning around in Zaidín. See program.
🪄 Hocus Pocus Festival | 21-30 Nov | Granadino festival celebrating magic and illusionism in various venues across the city. See program.
🎭 TIF Festival Granada | 30 Oct - 7 Dec | Youth performing arts festival with a diverse program of theatre, dance and shows taking place at various venues across the city. See program.
Support Local Business
Meet Nikki of Be Travel 👋🌎
British Independent Travel Expert based in Granada
Tailor made holidays, tours, car hire, tickets & more
ABTA/ATOL protected for 100% financial peace of mind
Price match promise
📞 +34 633682442
📧 [email protected]
📝 List of Granada Events | 27 Nov - 3 Dec
Thu 27th Nov
🇪🇸 España en Libertad | 17h
📍 Subdelegación del Gobierno en Granada
Dance/theatre performance by Zen del Sur followed by concert by Quini Almendros and Ihmaele.
Free | Concert, Dance
🇮🇹 Petróleo | 19.30h
📍 Colegio Máximo. Sala Neomudéjar
Hybrid concert-theatre piece exploring identity and Italy's violent 1970s through music and multimedia. 18+ only.
Free | Concert, Theatre
🇨🇺 Leoni Torres | 20.30h
📍 Sala Aliatar
Cuban singer-songwriter performs his Latin Grammy-nominated tropical music.
€40 | Concert, Latin Music
🎤 Lipsill + N9VE | 21h
📍 Sala Planta Baja
Andaluz hip-hop double bill featuring 20-year-old Granada artist Lipsill and Algeciras-based N9VE.
€8 | Concert, Hip Hop, Local Talent
🎶 Darren J Anderson | 21.30h
📍 Lemon Rock
Granada-based multi-instrumentalist from Sheffield presents songs from his upcoming album.
€8 | Concert, Local Talent, Rock
😜 Paco EnLALuna | 21.30h
📍 Taberna J&J
Humour-laced show featuring hits, loop-pedal trickery and audience participation, all punctuated by mini-monolouges.
€10 | Concert, Humour
Fri 28th Nov
📖 Manuel Benítez Literary Walk | 09.45h
📍 Museo Casa de los Tiros
Walk through Albaicín celebrating local poet's 103rd anniversary with poetry and music.
Free | Literary, Walking Tour
🚗 Salón del Vehículo | 11h
📍 Fermasa - Feria de Muestras
Three-day used and nearly-new car show featuring over 1000 vehicles and offering “huge savings”.
€3,50 | Expo
🌿 Visita Multisensorial: Arte y Biodiversidad | 17.30h
📍 Museo Memoria de Andalucía
Multi-sensory museum tour exploring art and biodiversity.
€4 | Art, Workshop
🪘 Zambomba: Pasión y Estrella | 19h
📍 Ave María San Cristóbal School
Traditional Andaluz Christmas celebration with music and carols.
Free | Family, Flamenco
🎶 Encuentros Soundbox: De Arte Sonoro a Pop | 20.30h
📍 Centro Cultural CajaGRANADA
Showcase of emerging artists, with Eva Calyza, Javier Lekke, and GranaJoven award-winner Ilaria Degradi. Proceeds go to UNRWA.
€7 | Concert
🎻 El Stabat Mater de García Román | 19.30h
📍 Auditorio Manuel de Falla
City orchestra performs mixed bill including crowd-pleasers by Debussy, Satie and Rimsky-Korsakov.
€18 | Concert, Classical
🎬 Por Donde Pasa El Silencio (2024) | 20h
📍 Filmoteca de Andalucía
Spanish drama set in Écija, Andalucía about the choice between family duties and a life built elsewhere.
Free | Cinema
💃🏻 La Materia de Olga Pericet | 20h
📍 Teatro Alhambra
National Dance Prize winners co-direct and perform this exploration of the origins of flamenco.
€18 | Ballet, Flamenco
🎻 Revellas | 22h
📍 Entresuelo
Asturian-Galician duo performs traditional northern Spanish music with voice, violin, and percussion.
€3 | Concert, Folk
🎧 Concierto: Camela | 22h
📍 Palacio municipal de Deportes
Spanish techno-rumba pioneers perform their iconic hits.
€30,80 | Concert, Pop
🎸 Sanguijuelas del Guadiana | 21h
📍 Sala Planta Baja
Young Extremaduran trio play energetic rock influenced by Extremoduro, Triana, and Nirvana. €20 | Concert, Rock
🎓 Antílopez | 21h
📍 Sala Industrial Copera
Farewell tour by popular duo performing tracks from their final album.
€20 | Concert, Rock
🇮🇹 El Decamerón (Italy 1970 VOSE) | 21h
📍 Espacio V Centenario
Provocative Italian cinema in its original uncut version, part of the ciclo: 50 años en libertad.
Free | Cinema
🤘 Billy Flamingos + Nuevo Berlín | 21.30h
📍 Lemon Rock
Spanish rock double-bill.
€12 | Concert, Rock
🎷 UNNO | 21.30h
📍 Taberna J&J
Improvised blend of jazz with electronic music featuring drum machines, synthesisers and guitar.
€10 | Concert, Fusion, Jazz
🎧 DJ Qahli | 00h
📍 La Estrella Bar
DJ Qahli in a groove, funk, psych and oldies set.
Free | DJ
Sat 29th Nov
Fancy a hike? 🥾 Hike in Los Cahorros, Monachil (8km)
Join hiking group taking bus from Paseo de los Basilios, Granada.
More info: [email protected] / +34 648 80 57 90
Free | Sports
🏃♀️ Caras Norte Skyrace | 08h
📍 Guejar Sierra
Trail running race in Güejar Sierra with 14km, 24km, and 45km distance options.
€25 | Sports
🎄 Especial Navidad: Taller de Adornos | 11.30h
📍 Museo Memoria de Andalucía
Christmas decoration-making workshop.
€6 | Workshop, Family
🪘 Zambomba: Pasión y Estrella | 13h
📍 Ave María San Cristóbal School
Traditional Andaluz Christmas celebration with music and carols.
Free | Family, Flamenco
⛪︎ Concierto de Adviento | 19.30h
📍 Catedral de Granada
Classical concert featuring string quartet.
Free | Concert, Classical
💃🏻 Navidad por Bulerías en Monachil | 19.30h
📍 Auditorio Jorge García Tudela, Monachil
Traditional flamenco bulerías party celebrating Christmas with the Priscila Perez Dance School.
Free | Family, Flamenco
💡 Christmas Lights Switch On + Performance | 20.30h
📍 Plaza del Carmen
Official switching-on of the Christmas lights, with performance by local artist Agustín Barajas.
Free | Family
🐐 La Cabra Mecánica | 21h
📍 Auditorio Manuel de Falla
Spanish rumba-rock band performs as part of the Especiales del Falla series.
€28 | Concert, Rock, Rumba
🗣️ Sonoro - Sietemásuno | 20h
📍 Centro Sociocultural Fernando de los Ríos (Albolote)
Local eight-piece a cappella choir perform versions of classic hits.
€3 | Concert, Local Talent
💃🏻 Himno Vertical de Rocío Márquez | 20h
📍 Teatro Alhambra
A “contemporary flamenco requiem” exploring life, death, and transformation.
€18 | Flamenco
🎤 Concierto: Vanesa Martín | 21.30h
📍 Palacio municipal de Deportes
Big-name Spanish pop singer-songwriter performs hits from her acclaimed discography.
€41,80 | Concert, Pop
🎧 Ale Acosta | 21.30h
📍 Lemon Rock
Electronic music producer from Lanzarote presents his solo album.
€18 | Concert, Electronic
🎶 Vera GRV | 21h
📍 Sala El Tren
Almeriense artist making a splash on the homegrown music scene presents her first album on her first nationwide tour.
€20 | Concert
🥚 Prison Affair | 21.30h
📍 Sala Planta Baja
Lo-fi Barcelona egg punk trio makes their Granada debut.
€16,52 | Concert, Punk
🎶 D´Callaos | 21.30h
📍 Taberna J&J
Duo performs flamenco-fusion mixing rumba and rock with acoustic guitars and heartfelt vocals.
€15 | Flamenco, Fusion
🎺 Carlos Vico Quintet | 22h
📍 Asociación Ool Ya Koo
Guitar-led jazz quintet presents new album.
€12 | Concert, Jazz
Sun 30th Nov
🎹 Juan Escalera y Francisco Rusillo | 12h
📍 Auditorio Manuel de Falla
Piano and saxophone duo perform contemporary classical works.
€10 | Concert, Classical
🤡 Festival La Nariz Roja (Clown Festival) | 16.30h
📍 Teatro Municipal de Zaidín (and other venues in Zaidín)
3rd edition of the “Red Nose Festival” featuring family-friendly clown performances, workshops and street parades in Zaidín neighbourhood.
€5 | Festival, Family, Humor
🕺 Ecstatic Dance | 17h
📍 Sala Reset Granada
Three-hour ecstatic dance journey with live music by DJ Januman.
€20 | Dance
🎤 Lorenzo Santamaría | 19h
📍 Palacio de Congresos
Legendary Mallorquín crooner performs his farewell tour featuring 25 career-defining hits.
€41,80 | Concert, Pop
🥔 Potato Head Jazz Band | 19.30h
📍 Taberna J&J
Nine-piece jazz band presents The Wail, an homage to the jazz orchestras of the 1920s.
€10 | Concert, Jazz
🤘 Exfan | 19h
📍 Sala Planta Baja
Explosive post-punk band present their album Rave 53.
€10 | Concert, Punk
🎻 JOSG en Beiro | 19.30h
📍 Teatro Municipal Maestro Alonso
The City Youth String Band perform Mozart, Elgar, Holst and Piazzolla.
Free | Concert, Classical
🎺 Not Yet | 20h
📍 Asociación Ool Ya Koo
Jazz collective play original compositions and collective improvisations, blending diverse influences.
€12 | Concert, Jazz
🎶 SON Estrella Galicia: Butler, Blake & Grant | 20.30h
📍 Lemon Rock
Folk-pop supergroup featuring Bernard Butler (Suede), Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub) and James Grant.
€18 | Concert, Folk
Mon 1st Dec
🍸 The Molotovs | 21h
📍 Sala Planta Baja
UK’s hot new punk rock band brings their high-energy live show to Granada.
€19,80 | Concert, Punk, Rock
Tue 2nd Dec
👶👧 Hermanos Justicia | 21.30h
📍 Lemon Rock
Local brother-sister duo perform their first public performance together, playing soul, R&B, and pop covers.
Free | Concert, Local Talent
Wed 3rd Dec
💃🏻 Flamencos Granaínos Cantan a la Navidad | 20h
📍 Teatro municipal Isabel La Católica
Local flamenco artists perform traditional Christmas villancicos (carols) in a project led by cantaor Curro Andrés.
€11,50 | Concert, Flamenco
🇺🇸 Kirsti Blow | 21.30h
📍 Lemon Rock
Granada-based singer-songwriter from New York performs acoustic blues-pop originals and covers.
Free | Concert, Local Talent
📆 Public Holidays: (The final puente of the year.)
6 Dec - Día de la Constitución.
8 Dec - Día de la Inmaculada Concepción.
🎄 ‘Tis the season to share an email. All I want for Christmas is more subscribers. Do they know it’s Christmas? (They will - if you share this.) It’s beginning to look a lot like… erm… desperation… we’ll leave it there.
Come on - this was an easy one!
👑 Queen Isabella I of Castile (1451–1504) played a major role in Granada’s transition at the end of the 15th century. As one of the famous Catholic Monarchs, she oversaw the final campaign that brought the Nasrid Kingdom to an end in 1492. Isabella spent periods around Granada during the negotiations and military operations leading up to the city’s surrender. Her presence is still reflected in landmarks such as the Royal Chapel, where she chose to be buried, making her an important historical figure in Granada’s late-medieval story.