More surface area, more attractions, more space on the ice rink, more operators involved, and one more week in duration. The sixth edition of Nadal al Port, which will be held from November 29 to January 6, maintains the growing trend of recent years, and on this occasion it has been conceived as a Christmas fair with a maritime focus that changes the design to highlight the maritime identity of the environment and the city.
With this objective and with the motto El Nadal més salat (The saltiest Christmas), the event will dye the port horizon blue. The Moll de la Fusta will debut blue-toned lighting, which will also bathe the Portal de la Pau and its restored facade for the first time. In addition, 50 trees from different areas of Port Vell will trace the port's outline through the Gòtic and Barceloneta, to highlight the neighborhoods surrounding the port, emphasizing a maritime character beyond the usual Nordic style of Christmas markets.
And it is that Nadal al Port "is not a typical Christmas fair, but rather a window to the neighborhoods surrounding the port and the facilities that are in or around it," as highlighted by the president of the Port of Barcelona, José Albert Carbonell, in what has been one of his first press conferences after taking office. To serve as this showcase for the port neighborhoods, the event has the participation of 60 local entities, which will offer activities and performances: "We want to offer a sustainable and inclusive Christmas experience," added Carbonell alongside the general director of Port Vell, David Pino.
The World Trade Center joins the Christmas program with open-air cinema and a classical music concertTo do so, the Christmas fair has grown to occupy two hectares of the Moll de la Fusta—15% more than last year—, and has exceeded the usual limits, even conquering spaces of surrounding operators, such as Maremagnum,the Time Out Marketand the Aquarium. In addition,the World Trade Center(WTC) repeats the cable car tower light show with a new daily proposal, but this year it goes further and joins the Christmas program with open-air cinema and a classical music concert.
The WTC will not only open the venue to citizens, but also the surrounding docks: on Three Kings' Night they will be open to the public to welcome the Three Wise Men upon their arrival in Barcelona by sailboat. "It's another step towards opening up these spaces, which will gradually open up to the public," Pino highlighted about the Barcelona dock, which hosted the New Zealand team during the America's Cup.
The restored sheds are added as new locations for the fair, becoming a real space where visitors can see the preparations for the arrival of the Three Wise Men, in an initiative with the residents of Barceloneta. Also new, "the world's largest inflatable" will be installed in Miquel Tarradell square by Funbox from November 28 to January 26, and Circ Raluy will offer its new show in its usual Christmas location in Port Vell.
The ice rink will go from 400 square meters to 550 in this editionThe fair itself also comes this year full of novelties: in addition to occupying the Moll de la Fusta from end to end with shops, gastronomy, children's activities and performances, it will add new attractions to the usual ones, such as the Ferris wheel and the ice rink.The skating space will also grow this year, and the rink will go from 400 square meters to 550.
With the aim of also attracting a young audience, The Limit will be installed, a 40-meter-high flying chair attraction, which will also dominate the city's skyline during the Christmas season. "We want younger people to also come to the port," Pino highlighted: perhaps some can be inspired for their professional future and "see that their place is in the maritime world."
To delve into this vindication of the fair's maritime character, it will offer fish tapas from the Barcelona Fishermen's Guild for the second year. In addition, workshops, games, and informative activities focused on the sea will be programmed, especially aimed at families. The little ones will also have new proposals, such as a children's sledding slope, and the Nadal dels Súpers show by SX3 on December 20.
To gain sustainability, the fair will use second-hand furniture, such as structures from the Imax. To promote this reuse, the port will be decorated with materials such as recycled pipes, and elements and structures located on the Rambla de Mar before the works for the America's Cup. "We want to be a meeting place for the entire city, based on sustainability and the circular economy," Carbonell defended.
Visitors will be able to enter the maritime Christmas fair starting on November 29, when its lights will officially illuminate, one day after the city's lights are turned on. The inauguration of this sixth edition of the event will already have a marked Barcelona character, with rumbero Christmas carols by Sabor de Gràcia, which will open more than five weeks of Christmas proposals by the sea.
Add The New Barcelona Post as your preferred Google source for free
Stay informed with the latest news.
