The Óbidos Christmas village is back! Running from 30 November to 31 December, near the Óbidos Castle, with the following opening hours: 30 November, 5 to 8 and 12 to 16 December between 11am to 6pm and 1 to 4, 8 to 11, 17 to 23 and 26 to 30 December from 11am to 8pm and 24 to 31 December from 11am to 5pm.

This year’s event “revolves around the theme of brightness”, the mayor reveals, who referred to “the brightness of Christmas lights, but also to the feelings and values that are attributed to this season, such as hope, peace, love and solidarity, which he added are values we want to perpetuate throughout the entire year.”

One of the new features of the 2022 edition of ‘Óbidos Vila Natal’ is the way the amusements are scattered throughout the town and lead up to the castle’s entrance. Those who have a ticket for the event will not have to pay separately for any amusement at the entrance to the castle.

The carousel is located at the village gate, and the wonderful ice rink can be found at Santa Maria Square, both of these amusements will work independently from Óbidos Christmas Village.

Regarding the 2022 edition, Ricardo Duque, the executive director of Óbidos Criativa reveals that "there are several attractions for the whole family this festive season". "We will have an intense and diverse programme that, combined with music and street lighting, seeks to enhance local commerce and promote the public space as a place for people to come together."

"This year, ‘Óbidos Vila Natal’ resumes the joy of being fully open to the public and returns full of activities and a program that combines the most Portuguese traditions with the imagination of this season, with Christmas Shows, the Candy Landing, workshops, games, face painting, the Magic Farm, the Portuguese Nativity Village, Father Christmas' Cottage, toboggan slide, the Christmas Train, trampolines, among many other forms of entertainment and animation, taking place at the Castle surrounding, which are all accessible by purchasing a general ticket", explains Ricardo Duque.

Regarding Christmas lights, Óbidos, for the past few years has acquired its own lighting, with low-intensity LED lights, allowing several light designs, according to the theme. "Óbidos has not only remembered sustainability now", explains the mayor of Óbidos, underlining that "the lighting solutions acquired already a few years ago, with low-intensity leds, as well as their application, show that they have always had that concern".

The mayor states that "this will be a Christmas in which we all will have to be more responsible", ensuring that Óbidos will "continue to do everything within our reach, despite the guidelines for cuts coming from the Central Government, to continue with the festivity of Christmas". "In Óbidos, we know how to combine the brightness, sustainability, and values of this Christmas season", he concluded.

General tickets cost 10 euros, which you can purchase at www.bol.pt. For more information about Óbidos Christmas Village please visit www.obidos.pt.