On 25 November 2016, the New Year’s lights switch-on and the Festive Fair opening marked the beginning of the Festive December in Ljubljana.

The traditional December programme includes the St. Nicholas Fair, the St. Nicholas Procession, the Good Fairy, performances of organ-grinders in streets and squares, the Christmas Concert, five Father Frost Processions, street theatre performances, the Christmas Crib, the music programme in city squares and the New Year’s Eve open-air celebration with fireworks.

This year, in line with the sustainable development vision and the title European Green Capital 2016, the culinary providers at the fair December 2016 in Ljubljana are going to use environmentally friendly packaging instead of plastic.

The fair sales programme has been updated with the introduction of some novelties in the gift department, offering suggestions for presents for the upcoming holidays. The stalls selling goods at the Festive Fair are closing on 1 January 2017, while the culinary stalls are going to remain open until 8 January 2017.
The music programme on the stages in New Square, Congress Square, City Square, French Revolution Square and Pogačar Square includes many Slovenian and foreign musicians: Dan D, Siddharta, Modrijani, Begini, Jan Plestenjak, Nina Pušlar, Tony Cetinski, Anika Horvat, Elvis Jackson, Pop design, Samuel Lucas, Tanja Žagar, Crvena jabuka and others.
Until 23 December, children can attend workshops at the Magical Forest. In the magical atmosphere of the Pavilion in the Star Park children can make different creations and, in addition to the workshops, story theatre plays are lined up on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The programme still includes the New Year’s celebration for children on 31 December, starting at 16.00 at Congress Square.

On 2 January 2017 at 20.00, at the conclusion of the project European Green Capital 2016 the event GREEN NIGHT.FOR YOU. is going to be held at Congress Square with Perpetuum Jazzile performing.

This year’s December programme is co-financed from the budget in the amount of 113,000 euro. Part of the December programme is covered by sponsors.

Until 3 January 2017, free-of-charge parking is provided in Vodnik Square for visitors of December events: from Monday until Saturday between 18.30 and 5.00 the next day, and on Sundays and holidays all day long until 5.00 the next day.

Regular guided tours also have a festive character in December. Ljubljana Tourism has prepared a tour of the festively decorated Ljubljana, an evening stroll through the city during which the visitors can enjoy the fairy-tale Ljubljana up to 8 January 2017, starting at 17.00 in front of the Tourist Information Centre at Stritar Street.

The full programme December 2016 in Ljubljana is published on the website www.visitljubljana.com.