Lights and Fantasy: Plan Your Visit for the Best of Christmas in Bogotá
During the holiday season, the city will transform into a huge cultural stage, featuring world-class shows and a program designed for families and tourists.
Bogotá celebrates Christmas traditions with devotion and cutting-edge technology. Both locals and visitors are invited to take part in the “Christmas is culture” agenda, organized by the Secretariat of Culture, Recreation, and Sport (SCRD) and supported by the District Tourism Institute (IDT).
There will be 16 consecutive days of activities where you can enjoy world-class shows and a city lit up with millions of lights. A city that will become a cultural stage with a carefully curated program, which will officially begin on December 7, the día de las velitas (day of the little candles), with a grand inaugural parade along Carrera Séptima.
Here are the unmissable events taking place at the city’s main venues.
- Inaugural Parade from La Santamaría Cultural Plaza to Bolívar Square. During the traditional Noche de las velitas (Night of Little Candles), the city’s Christmas lights are officially turned on. The two-kilometer musical route will feature 25 ensembles and over a thousand artists. December 7.
- Christmas for the world at Bolívar Square. A digital live arts exhibition that combines artist-audience interaction with digital technology. December 13-23. Three daily shows: 6:30, 7:30, and 8:30 p.m.
- The future we dream at La Santamaría Cultural Plaza. An interactive stage show using technology and immersive storytelling that allows the audience to participate in the story. Unlike traditional performances, spectators are not just observers, they actively take part in the show’s evolution, making decisions that impact the storyline and creating a unique, memorable experience. Two daily shows: 7:00 and 9:00 p.m. December 13-23.
- The diversity that unites us at El Tunal Metropolitan Park. A cultural proposal celebrating the city’s plurality through a large-scale show featuring multiple artistic disciplines. The event serves as a space for connection and empathy, using art as a force to promote a more creative and caring city. December 17-23. Two daily shows at 7:00 and 8:00 p.m.
- Christmas for everyone: parades, novenas, and fairs at Suba Foundational Park. This free event includes concerts, parades, novenas (traditional prayers), and fairs, offering citizens a festive experience to celebrate the holiday season. December 17-23.
- Christmas Blocks. This colorful event promotes neighborly integration and community harmony by encouraging residents to decorate their streets during the holiday season. It includes cultural activities such as novenas with live nativity scenes and performances by local artists. December 1-19.
- Sabor Bogotá. The perfect plan to celebrate the city’s gastronomic culture during the holiday season. This fair-style event offers traditional seasonal dishes such as ajiaco, buñuelos, and natilla, while promoting the local economy and culinary tourism.
- Art and traditional gatherings. Festive events that combine artistic expressions with Christmas celebrations, promoting culture, heritage, and community bonding in public spaces such as museums and plazas. Activities often include workshops, exhibitions, music, concerts, and live nativity scene performances. December 19-23.
TYou can find the full Christmas program here, at www.visitbogota.co. Don't forget to download the free ‘Visit Bogotá’ app on your smartphone.
Gastronomy
