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Discover what’s on in Abruzzo this Christmas week – festive events, traditions and seasonal village life
CHRISTMAS MARKETS, VILLAGES & FAIRS
- Villaggio di Natale – Caramanico Terme [PE] · Sun 21 Dec (and daily through 6 Jan) · chalets, Santa’s house, rink, music
VIEW ➝ - Mercatini di Natale – Pescara (Piazza Sacro Cuore) [PE] · Sun 21 Dec (and through early Jan) · city-centre chalet market
VIEW ➝ - Mercatini di Natale – Penne [PE] · Sun 21 Dec · hill-town market weekend
VIEW ➝ - Mercatini “Magico / Scuola di Magia” – L’Aquila [AQ] · Sun 21 Dec · themed Christmas market
VIEW ➝ - Magie di Natale – Avezzano [AQ] · Sun 21 Dec · Christmas village + family programme
VIEW ➝ - Il Borgo Incantato – Campo di Giove [AQ] · Sun 21 Dec · mountain market atmosphere
VIEW ➝ - Mercatini di Natale – Roccaraso [AQ] · Sun 21 Dec · ski-town market stroll
VIEW ➝ - Natale in Piazza – Sant’Omero [TE] · Sun 21 Dec · village square stalls + entertainment
VIEW ➝ - La Casa di Babbo Natale – Castel Castagna [TE] · Sun 21 Dec · Santa-house experience in a small mountain comune
VIEW ➝ - Mercatini di Natale – Silvi Marina [TE] · Sun 21 Dec · seaside promenade market
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MUSIC & CONCERTS
- Concerto di Natale (ISA) – L’Aquila [AQ] · Sun 21 Dec, 18:00 · Orchestra dell’Istituzione Sinfonica Abruzzese
VIEW ➝ - Non Solo Gospel (Christmas concert) – Pescara [PE] · Sun 21 Dec, 18:30
VIEW ➝ - Christmas Inside (choral concert) – San Salvo [CH] · Sun 28 Dec, 19:00 · Chiesa San Nicola
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Concerto Bandistico di Natale – Avezzano [AQ] · Sun 28 Dec, 18:00 · Teatro dei Marsi
VIEW ➝ - Teramo Christmas programme (concert listings) – Teramo [TE] · Tue 23 Dec + Sun 28 Dec · multiple city-centre concerts/events
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Atri Christmas programme (concert + nativity reenactment) – Atri [TE] · Tue 23 Dec + Wed 24 Dec + Thu 25 Dec (programme includes those dates; use for your wider calendar)
VIEW ➝ - Pescara city schedule: music initiatives – Pescara [PE] · Sun 21 Dec (16:00–20:00) · “iniziative musicali” listed
VIEW ➝ - Pescara holiday calendar (official post) – Pescara [PE] · Sun 21 Dec · music + events list in one place
VIEW ➝ - Music + live sets (Christmas Beer Fest) – Roseto degli Abruzzi [TE] · Sun 21 Dec (live + DJ + stands)
VIEW ➝ - Teramo Christmas programme (city events incl. shows/music) – Teramo [TE] · Sun 28 Dec (programme day)
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ART, EXHIBITIONS & MUSEUM VISITS
- Caravaggio: La rivoluzione della luce – Teramo [TE] · Sun 21–Sun 28 Dec (running through 6 Apr 2026)
VIEW ➝ - Andrea Pazienza: La matematica del segno – MAXXI L’Aquila [AQ] · Thu 25–Sun 28 Dec (exhibition window)
VIEW ➝ - MuNDA returns to Forte Spagnolo (reopening) – L’Aquila [AQ] · from Sat 20 Dec onward (visit during 21–28 Dec)
VIEW ➝ - Museo Paparella Treccia – “Carlo Carrà. Il segno e il ricordo” – Pescara [PE] · Sun 21–Sun 28 Dec (show runs to 11 Jan)
VIEW ➝ - Museo Paparella Treccia – holiday openings – Pescara [PE] · Fri 26 Dec (holiday schedule listed)
VIEW ➝ - Pescara Museums: holiday openings + appointments – Pescara [PE] · Sat 20 Dec onward (use for 21–28 Dec planning)
VIEW ➝ - “La Bambina dei Fiammiferi” at the museum gazebo – Pescara [PE] · Sun 21 Dec (15:30–18:30)
VIEW ➝ - MAXXI L’Aquila – exhibition listing – L’Aquila [AQ] · Sun 21 Dec (visit days Fri–Sun)
VIEW ➝ - Teramo: official city note on Caravaggio exhibition – Teramo [TE] · week-long (21–28 Dec)
VIEW ➝ - Pescara: “culture doesn’t go on holiday” (official recap) – Pescara [PE] · week-long (21–28 Dec)
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HIKES, SNOWSHOES & OUTDOORS (10+)
- Ciaspolata Monti Pizzi (Maiella NP) – (meeting details on page) [CH] · Sun 21 Dec, 09:30
VIEW ➝ - Ciaspolata Monti Pizzi (Maiella NP) – [CH] · Fri 26 Dec, 09:30 (Santo Stefano)
VIEW ➝ - Ciaspolata Monti Pizzi (Maiella NP) – [CH] · Sat 27 Dec, 09:30
VIEW ➝ - Ciaspolata Monti Pizzi (Maiella NP) – [CH] · Sun 28 Dec, 09:30
VIEW ➝ - Ciaspolata/Trekking invernale Monte Orsello – (Campo Felice area) [AQ] · Sat 27 Dec
VIEW ➝ - Ciaspolata al Rifugio Sebastiani – (Sirente/Velino area) [AQ] · Sun 28 Dec
VIEW ➝ - Ciaspolate pomeridiane al tramonto – Campo Felice – [AQ] · (late-Dec date on page; choose within 21–28)
VIEW ➝ - Majella snowshoe “vista mare” experience (guided) – Majella area [CH] · bookable dates during 21–28 Dec
VIEW ➝ - Maiella nature experiences (holiday series) – Maiella area [CH] · Fri 26–Sun 28 Dec (multi-day festive experiences)
VIEW ➝ - Transiberiana / Ferrovia dei Parchi “Treni di Natale” (outdoors day-trip) – Sulmona departures [AQ] · Sun 28 Dec (package date listed)
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PATRON SAINTS, TRADITIONS & LIVING NATIVITY
- Presepe Vivente dei Miracoli – Casalbordino [CH] · Fri 26 Dec (18:00–21:00)
VIEW ➝ - Presepe Vivente a Brecciarola – Chieti [CH] · Fri 26 Dec
VIEW ➝ - Presepe Vivente Napoletano (“Cantata dei Pastori”) – Giulianova [TE] · Fri 26 Dec (18:00–22:00)
VIEW ➝ - Atri – Rievocazione della Natività (programme item) – Atri [TE] · Wed 24 Dec (23:00) (outside this week window, but included for people arriving for 21–28 planning)
VIEW ➝ - Christmas Inside (choral / church tradition) – San Salvo [CH] · Sun 28 Dec (19:00)
VIEW ➝ - Presepe Vivente degli Alpini – Teramo [TE] · Sun 28 Dec (programme listing)
VIEW ➝ - San Silvestro (patron celebrations begin) – Roccavivi [AQ] · Sat 27 Dec (festival cycle 27–31 Dec)
VIEW ➝ - Santo Stefano (26 Dec) – snowshoe “Santo Stefano” date – Maiella NP [CH] · Fri 26 Dec (tradition day outing)
VIEW ➝ - Santo Stefano tradition in villages (living-nativity focus day) – multiple towns [CH][TE] · Fri 26 Dec (use the live nativity list for options)
VIEW ➝ - Pescara: official Christmas programme (religious + cultural items) – Pescara [PE] · Sun 21 Dec (one place to check)
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SPECIAL EVENTS, FESTIVALS & ONE-OFFS
- Treno dei Mercatini (Transiberiana d’Abruzzo) – Sulmona → Roccaraso A/R [AQ] · Sun 21 Dec (last Roccaraso run of season listed)
VIEW ➝ - Treno dei Mercatini (Ferrovia dei Parchi “Treni di Natale”) – Sulmona-based packages [AQ] · Sun 28 Dec (package date listed)
VIEW ➝ - Christmas Kids Village (3-day special) – Tortoreto [TE] · Fri 26–Sun 28 Dec
VIEW ➝ - Natal Calascio (festival calendar begins) – Calascio [AQ] · Sat 27 Dec (runs through 6 Jan)
VIEW ➝ - Pescara: headline Christmas programme (through 6 Jan) – Pescara [PE] · Sun 21–Sun 28 Dec (use as master schedule)
VIEW ➝ - Teramo Christmas programme (key dates inside your week) – Teramo [TE] · Tue 23 Dec + Sun 28 Dec
VIEW ➝ - MAXXI L’Aquila: Andrea Pazienza (visit window) – L’Aquila [AQ] · Thu 25–Sun 28 Dec
VIEW ➝ - Pescara: museums + events across the holidays (city roundup) – Pescara [PE] · Sun 21–Sun 28 Dec
VIEW ➝ - Scurcola Marsicana “sapori” weekend (special village event) – Scurcola Marsicana [AQ] · Sat 27–Sun 28 Dec
VIEW ➝ - Avezzano Band Christmas Concert (special night out) – Avezzano [AQ] · Sun 28 Dec (18:00)
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Author: Sam Dunham
Sam is a freelance SEO content creator and IGCSE Geography and English teacher at Istituto Cristo Re in Rome. She also runs the Life In Abruzzo Cultural Association, sharing stories and insights about this captivating region.
Alongside raising a teenager, Sam hosts guests at her family’s traditional home, the Little House of the Firefly in Abruzzo, offering a warm welcome and insider tips on local culture, food, and hidden gems.
