Gargnano’s Christmas programme starts on Saturday 28 November with the first weekend of the Mercato delle qualità e limonaie d’inverno, a winter market of local produce, and runs until Wednesday 6 January, the day of the Epiphany Concert. It was put together by the Culture Office of the Municipality of Gargnano with the Pro Loco Gargnano (the local tourism association) and several cooperatives and associations. The events include markets in the Chiostro di San Francesco (the cloister of San Francesco), shows and workshops for children and families, cinema and concerts, spread across Gargnano, Montegargnano and Sasso. The municipality warns that dates, times and venues may still change.
Markets in the Chiostro di San Francesco
The Mercato delle qualità e limonaie d’inverno, run by Pro Loco Gargnano and the cooperative Terre&Sapori, opens the cloister from 09:00 to 18:00 on four occasions: Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November; Saturday 5 to Tuesday 8 December; Saturday 12 December; and Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 December.
On Sunday 13 December the same cloister hosts the Mercato della comunità (community market), organised by Terre&Sapori with the Pro Loco, from 09:00 to 17:00. That day at 12:30 the Oratorio Papa Giovanni Paolo II also hosts a Christmas lunch for people over 65.
Shows and workshops for children and families
The busiest part of the calendar, grouped under the title Vivi la magia del Natale (Live the magic of Christmas), is aimed at younger visitors.
At the Montegargnano library, the cooperative La Melagrana offers three afternoons at 16:00: Giochi in scatola: divertiamoci assieme (board games, from age 7) on Friday 4 December; Aspettando Santa Lucia: una luce di magia (readings and workshops, ages 4 to 11) on Friday 11 December; and Natale a sorpresa! (ages 5 to 11) on Friday 18 December.
In the Sala “A. Castellani”, on Saturday 5 December, Francesco Smaniotto presents La favola dello Schiaccianoci (The Nutcracker tale), ballet and storytelling, with two performances at 18:00 and 20:30. Booking is required. On Tuesday 8 December at 17:30 the Associazione Strabilio presents C’era due volte un piede, contemporary circus and figure theatre with Veronica Gonzales.
On Saturday 12 December, from 14:30, Aspettando Santa Lucia brings the traditional tin-can toss (tiro delle latte) to the streets and to piazza Feltrinelli, with entertainment and a snack, in collaboration with Pro Loco Gargnano and Progetto Genitori Gargnano. On Saturday 19 December at 20:30, Andrea Arena presents the sand art show Notte di sabbia e luce (Night of sand and light).
The parish Teatrino hosts three shows at 16:30: I pescatori di storie dimenticate by Compagnia Auriga Teatro on Wednesday 23 December; Il custode del Natale by Teatro Telaio on Tuesday 29 December; and Anna dai capelli rossi (Anne of Green Gables) by Sipario Onirico on Tuesday 5 January.
On Wednesday 30 December, from 15:30, Davide Cometti of the cooperative La Cordata leads juggling workshops in the hall of the former town hall (ex Palazzo Municipale). Booking is also required.
Family cinema returns to the Sala “A. Castellani” at 16:30 with Toy Story 5 on Monday 21 December and the live-action Oceania (Moana) on Monday 4 January.
Concerts, from choir to brass band
Music runs through the whole period. On Sunday 6 December at 16:30, Cinema in musica brings the Orchestra Sinfonica Inclusiva of the Centro di MusicoTerapia Orchestrale Le Risonanze to the Sala “A. Castellani”, together with the Associazione Musicalbrio.
In the church of Sant’Antonio Abate in Sasso, the Coro Monte Pizzocolo sings on Saturday 12 December at 18:30, while on Sunday 20 December at 15:00 the Christmas Concert is performed by the Maria Pedroni Trio.
On Sunday 13 December at 17:00 the Academy Gospel Ensemble gives a gospel concert in the Sala “A. Castellani”, where on Sunday 27 December at 20:30 the Elodea Sextet plays the Concerto degli auguri (Season’s Greetings Concert).
The series closes with the Banda “G. Verdi” of Toscolano Maderno, which performs the Epiphany Concert on Wednesday 6 January at 16:30.
