December in Ljubljana

In December, Ljubljana does not just switch on the festive lights. For just over a month, the city’s streets, squares and riverbanks become a shared stage for festive markets, concerts, processions, creative activities and gatherings. Over the festive period, the city is estimated to welcome around one million day visitors. For a time of year supposedly reserved for winter hibernation, that is a rather lively result.

Boats on the river, with buildings and trees adorned with festive lights, glowing in vibrant colours in the evening.

For visitors, December in Ljubljana begins with the switch-on of the festive lights at the end of November. For us, it begins much earlier. At Ljubljana Tourism, we plan, coordinate and fund the programme using dedicated funds generated by tourism. This means that part of the revenue created by visitors in the city is returned to public space in the form of a high-quality, mostly free programme for residents and visitors.

The switch-on of the lights is only the starting signal. What follows is the festive market, open-air concerts, processions, the Magical Forest, street theatre, creative activities for children and New Year’s Eve celebrations in the city squares.

December in Ljubljana is co-created by cultural institutions, artists, producers, schools, hospitality providers, retailers, public services and many other partners. Residents are not just the audience. Children, older people and other groups help create the decorations and programme, while the city streets become a space that, for a few weeks, is shared even more visibly by locals and visitors.

The city’s festive appearance is developed with care. Many decorative elements are reused or made from recycled materials and parts of decommissioned public lighting, live trees are returned to nature after the holidays, and market providers are encouraged to use more environmentally friendly packaging. Festive can also be responsible. Glitter is not compulsory.

The result is not only an attractive image of Ljubljana, but also a livelier public space, a richer cultural life and more visitors for hotels, restaurants, shops and other local providers. December days may be short, but the programme can hardly be accused of the same.