# Magico Natale a Cefalù > Magico Natale a Cefalù is the town's free Christmas programme, early December to 6 January: Santa's House, concerts in Piazza Duomo, Ninnaredda and New Year. - Page: https://www.lemadonie.it/en/events/magico-natale-a-cefalu/ - Updated: 2026-10-19 - Other languages: [Italiano](https://www.lemadonie.it/eventi/magico-natale-a-cefalu.md) · [Español](https://www.lemadonie.it/es/eventos/magico-natale-a-cefalu.md) · [Français](https://www.lemadonie.it/fr/evenements/magico-natale-a-cefalu-noel.md) · [Deutsch](https://www.lemadonie.it/de/veranstaltungen/magico-natale-a-cefalu.md) ## At a glance | | | |---|---| | 2025 edition | 6 December 2025 – 6 January 2026 | | Where | Cefalù old town: Corte delle Stelle on Corso Ruggero, Teatro comunale Cicero, Piazza Duomo, Ottagono di Santa Caterina, Largo Di Giorgio; the village of Sant'Ambrogio, [Cefalù](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/villages/cefalu/) | | Category | Culture | | Recurrence | Every year, from early December (6 or 7 December) to 6 January | | Organiser | Comune di Cefalù | | Price | Free entry | | Official website | https://comune.cefalu.pa.it/vivere-il-comune/eventi/ | | Source | https://comune.cefalu.pa.it/vivere-il-comune/eventi/magico-natale-a-cefalu-2025-2026-il-programma/ (checked on 2026-10-19) | ## Programme Opening on 6 December with Santa's House at the Corte delle Stelle on Corso Ruggero, the exhibition at the Ottagono di Santa Caterina and the Christmas parade; shows almost every evening at the Teatro Cicero; traditional Ninnaredda from 16 to 24 December; historical parade for King Roger II on 22 December; concerts in Piazza Duomo from 27 to 30 December; Vecchia Strina parade and New Year's Eve in Piazza Duomo on the 31st; Three Kings on horseback on 6 January. All events free. Magico Natale a Cefalù is the town council's Christmas events programme in Cefalù. It runs from the first weekend of December to 6 January and brings together Santa's House on Corso Ruggero, shows at the Teatro comunale Cicero, concerts in Piazza Duomo, the traditional Ninnaredda, New Year's Eve in the square and the Three Kings parade. In the 2025-2026 edition every event was free. The 2026 programme has not been published yet. ## When is Magico Natale? The last editions started on the first Saturday of December and ended at Epiphany. The town council publishes the programme on its [events page](https://comune.cefalu.pa.it/vivere-il-comune/eventi/) shortly before the opening: in 2025 it came out in early December. | Edition | From | To | |---|---|---| | 2025-2026 | 6 December 2025 | 6 January 2026 | | 2024-2025 | 7 December 2024 | 6 January 2025 | ## What happens: a typical programme The [council's 2025-2026 programme](https://comune.cefalu.pa.it/vivere-il-comune/eventi/magico-natale-a-cefalu-2025-2026-il-programma/) had dozens of events. These are the fixed moments. **The opening.** On the first day, at 5 pm, Santa's House opens at the Corte delle Stelle on Corso Ruggero, with the "Fiocco di Neve" photo corner. Half an hour later the Christmas exhibition opens at the Ottagono di Santa Caterina, then a parade with a brass band and dancers sets off from Largo Di Giorgio. **The Teatro Cicero almost every evening.** Comedy, concerts, dance, Sicilian puppet theatre (Opera dei Pupi) and afternoon shows for children. In 2025 the line-up included Sergio Vespertino, Mary Cipolla and a family version of Dickens's "A Christmas Carol". **The Ninnaredda.** This is the traditional Christmas music, played by Cefalù's bands and music associations at 7 pm on almost every evening from 16 to 23 December. The last one is played in Piazza Duomo after Christmas Eve midnight Mass. **The bagpipers.** With "Natale cu na Ciaramedda", bagpipers (zampognari) wander the old town on some December evenings. **The parade for King Roger.** On 22 December, the anniversary of the birth of the Norman king Roger II, the historical parade "Alla Corte del Re" passes through with flag-wavers and medieval groups. **Concerts in Piazza Duomo.** Between Christmas and New Year the square in front of the Cathedral hosts evening concerts: in 2025 gospel, pop and orchestra from 27 to 30 December, in 2024 Alberto Urso and Neri Per Caso. **New Year's Eve and the Vecchia Strina.** On 31 December at 6 pm the Vecchia Strina parade of the Associazione Santa Cecilia leaves Largo Di Giorgio, after "Aspettando la Vecchia Strina" from 29 December. At 11 pm the New Year's party starts in Piazza Duomo. **Epiphany.** On 6 January at 6 pm the Three Kings ride on horseback from Largo Di Giorgio, organised by the Associazione Cavalieri della Valdemone. In 2025 the programme also included a Christmas Eve sea swim, "AbbracciAmo il Natale", at 11 am on 24 December at the pier. ## Nativity scenes and Sant'Ambrogio On the same days Cefalù hosts the [Via dei Presepi](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/events/la-via-dei-presepi-cefalu/), a trail of nativity scenes and exhibitions in the churches of the old town, with the diocesan exhibition in the church of the SS. Trinità. It has its own page because it is run by the Diocese with the Pro Loco. The village of Sant'Ambrogio also has its own calendar within Magico Natale: a nativity street, Father Christmas's parade with letters handed in, baking workshops for children and a tombola. ## Practical tips Cefalù is 72 km from Palermo, an hour and 5 minutes by car via the Cefalù exit on the A20, and has a railway station on the Palermo-Messina line. You'll find all the distances in our guide to [getting to the Madonie by car](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/roads/). For the shows at the Teatro Cicero, arrive early. For a Christmas weekend, look at [where to stay in Cefalù](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/villages/cefalu/where-to-stay/) and [where to eat in Cefalù](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/villages/cefalu/where-to-eat/). Before you go, check the [Cefalù forecast](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/weather/cefalu/). If you want to add the mountains, the Madonie villages have their own Christmas nativity scenes: the [living nativity in Gangi](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/events/living-nativity-da-nazareth-a-betlemme-gangi/) and the [Presepe d'InCanto in Petralia Soprana](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/events/presepe-d-incanto-petralia-soprana/). Other events in town are under [events in Cefalù](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/villages/cefalu/events/). ## Frequently asked questions ### When does Magico Natale a Cefalù 2026 start? The town council of Cefalù has not yet published the 2026-2027 programme. The last two editions began on the first weekend of December, on 7 December 2024 and 6 December 2025, and ended on 6 January. The programme is posted on the events page of the council's website, usually around the opening days. ### Are the Magico Natale events free? The 2025-2026 programme published by the town council of Cefalù lists all events as free, including the shows at the Teatro comunale Cicero and the concerts in Piazza Duomo. In 2024 Balarm also described it as a programme of free events. A few events are by invitation only, such as the concert at the Museo Mandralisca on 28 December 2025. ### Where is Santa's House in Cefalù? In the 2025-2026 edition Santa's House, with the "Fiocco di Neve" photo corner, was at the Corte delle Stelle on Corso Ruggero, opened on 6 December at 5 pm. In 2024 it was at the Spazio Cultura, the former Circolo Unione, also on Corso Ruggero. Street performers put on children's shows there too. ### What is the Ninnaredda in Cefalù? The Ninnaredda is Cefalù's traditional Christmas music, played in the evening by the town's bands and music associations. In 2025 the council's calendar scheduled it at 7 pm on almost every day from 16 to 23 December, plus a Ninnaredda in Piazza Duomo after Christmas Eve midnight Mass. ### How is New Year's Eve celebrated in Cefalù? On 31 December 2025 the town council organised the Vecchia Strina parade at 6 pm in Largo Di Giorgio, run by the Associazione Santa Cecilia, and from 11 pm a party in Piazza Duomo with the band I Barracuda and a DJ set. On the previous evenings, from 27 to 30 December, there were concerts in Piazza Duomo too. ### What is there for children at Magico Natale? For children there's Santa's House on Corso Ruggero, parades with mascots and stilt walkers, afternoon shows at the Teatro Cicero and street performers. In 2025 the village of Sant'Ambrogio also had letters handed to Father Christmas, a Christmas baking workshop and a tombola game. ## Sources - [Comune di Cefalù, programma Magico Natale 2025-2026](https://comune.cefalu.pa.it/vivere-il-comune/eventi/magico-natale-a-cefalu-2025-2026-il-programma/) - [Comune di Cefalù, pagina eventi](https://comune.cefalu.pa.it/vivere-il-comune/eventi/) - [Balarm, Magico Natale a Cefalù 2024-2025](https://www.balarm.it/eventi/teatro-concerti-presepi-con-alberto-urso-e-neri-per-caso-il-magico-natale-a-cefalu-135340) - [Madonie Press, programma 2025](https://www.madoniepress.it/2025/12/01/torna-il-magico-natale-a-cefalu-ecco-il-programma-completo/) --- Markdown version of the page https://www.lemadonie.it/en/events/magico-natale-a-cefalu/, from Le Madonie (lemadonie.it), an independent guide to the Madonie. Facts with source and date of check.