When Palma Lights Up: Advent Kickoff with Parades, Churros & Light Show on November 22

Palma turns on the lights: an evening to unwind

From mid-November this special mood hangs in the air in Palma: shorter days, more lanterns, the first scarves on shoulders. This year, the official start of the Christmas lights — the event described in Palma enciende las luces: inicio del Adviento — falls on Saturday, November 22. What follows is a mix of street festival, market and small ritual — colorful, loud, sometimes chaotic and mostly warm-hearted.

Late afternoon: parades and street sounds

Already around 5:00 PM life in the alleys grows louder. Small brass groups, dance ensembles and occasional street performers move through Calle San Miguel and the Paseo del Borne. You hear the clacking of castanets, the laughter of children with lanterns and occasionally the clink of coffee cups from the cafés. Vendors at mobile stalls call out their classics: “¡Churros calientes!” — the scent of freshly fried dough mixes with hot chocolate. It's not a strictly organized spectacle; often the most beautiful scenes happen spontaneously when a guitar starts playing next to a lantern.

Plaza de la Reina: the countdown to the light show

The real highlight is in the evening at the Plaza de la Reina. At 8:00 PM the light and music show begins, a spectacle reported in Palma brilla: miles celebran el inicio de la Navidad. Projections dance across La Seu (Cathedral of Palma)'s facade, rhythmic LED installations draw lines through the old town and for a few minutes everything stands still — except for the shared awe. Admission is free, but: the plaza gets full, as covered in Palma Shines: Thousands Celebrate the Start of the Christmas Season at Major Light Show. Comfortable shoes are a must, because on the curved stone slabs you stand longer than you think.

Why switching on is more than decoration

Many Majorcans do not see this evening as a pure tourist event but as a ritual. Neighbors meet again, families go to the market together, and the small traders on the corners earn the first Sundays of the season. Yes, international voices mix with Majorcan chatter — that makes the evening lively. And for a moment the city feels the way it should in winter: a little cozier, a little friendlier.

Practical tips for a relaxed evening

If you want to go, keep a few small things in mind: arriving early is worth it — not only for the best view but also to secure a seat in one of the small cafés. Public transport is recommended that evening; parking is scarce. Bring cash, the mobile stalls do not always accept cards. And: one more jacket won't hurt. Even if it's mild during the day, the November wind along the promenade can bite at night.

A pleasant preview of what's to come

The evening of lights is a kickoff — not the finale. It marks the beginning of a time when more than just tourist lights glow on Mallorca: small Christmas markets in neighborhood squares, musical evenings in bars and the usual spontaneous encounters on the cathedral steps. For many, that is the value of the event: it brings people together, creates warmth in public spaces and makes the city appear friendlier for a few hours.

So: mark your calendar, don't forget your scarf and look forward to a piece of unfiltered street culture. If after the show someone — perhaps at the end of a small lane — starts to pluck a guitar, then take the time to listen. For many, that is the real start of the Advent season.