{:en}“Magical is Christmas at Loano” is the slogan that accompanies the 2019/2020 edition of “Christmas Enchantments,” the very rich calendar of events organized by the Municipality's Department of Tourism, Culture and Sports to brighten up the holidays of Lovran residents and guests.
“Like every year," says Loano Mayor Luigi Pignocca - ‘Enchantments of Christmas’ returns, the usual series of events that will enliven our city until early January next year. This edition also looks extremely varied, with concerts of sacred music, initiatives for children and families, book presentations, visits to cribs, and sports events. Not forgetting such now-famous events and appointments as the Christmas village, the winter swimming competition, the New Year's Eve party in the square, and the New Year's Day fireworks display. In short, as always there is something for all tastes and ages. My thanks go to the Department of Tourism and all the offices, which once again managed to come up with a very rich and unique program for these holidays in our province.”.
“Also for this Christmas," adds Councillor for tourism, culture and sports Remo Zaccaria - our administration has invested heavily in this review of events and manifestations that catalyzes the attention of many tourists from all over northern Italy. We are confident that once again this year our city will be a must-see destination for anyone wishing to spend the holiday season with joy and lightheartedness in the ‘tourist village’ of Loano.”.
Saturday, November 30 kicks off the ninth edition of the Christmas market promoted by the Multipurpose Cultural Center association of Loano. A real Christmas village with a Northern European flavor has been recreated inside the San Josemaria Escrivà Gardens: illuminated by the magical decorations handmade by the volunteers of the Centro Culturale Polivalente, the little wooden houses will offer many gift ideas such as handmade Christmas items, nativity scenes, candles, collectible toys, souvenir photos and personalized calendars with Santa Claus, jewelry, art objects, paintings, educational games and local products. Not forgetting street-food delicacies with which to accompany shopping among the little houses.
Santa Claus will be waiting for children in his cozy little house to take a picture with them and to collect letters. Under an enchanted tree, an elf makeup artist will play with the little ones. In the center of the fountain pool, a sparkling Santa's sleigh will be available to anyone who wishes to take a “selfie” thanks to the free station specially set up. In addition, thanks to state-of-the-art visors, this year it will be possible to take a “virtual trip” into the fantastic world of Santa Claus.
Framed by a fairy-tale setting, the market will offer an entertainment program for the whole family. Shopping afternoons will be accompanied by musical events and entertainment for children. On Saturday, Nov. 30, an afternoon of entertainment by the “Crazy to Tie” is scheduled, while on Sunday, Dec. 1, there will be a “sports afternoon” with the Martial Arts Center and the workshop “Christmas, decorations what a passion” by the Craft Association. Saturday, Dec. 7, another “sports afternoon” with the Martial Arts Center; Sunday, Dec. 7, more sports with Overland Sport and Decathlon. On Saturday, Dec. 14 and Sunday, Dec. 15, the children's afternoon will be animated by the Old Loano association. On Sunday, Dec. 22, the animations of “Matti da Legare” return, while on Monday, Dec. 23, it will be the turn of “My place Alassio.” On Christmas Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 24, it will be the turn of Magician Taz.
On Thursday, Dec. 26, the Artigianalmente association will start the “A Thank You to Santa Claus” workshop, while on Friday, Dec. 27, students from Teo Chirico's Modern Jazz Dance association will be featured in a singing recital. On Saturday, Dec. 28, children's entertainment by Old Loano will return, and on Sunday, Dec. 29 again a “sports afternoon” by Overland Sport and Decathlon.
The market will also return on Jan. 1 with children's entertainment by the Martial Arts Center, while on Sunday, Jan. 2, Magician Taz will again be the star. On Friday, Dec. 3, Artigianalmente will organize the workshop “From Hags to Coal.” Saturday, Dec. 4, “My place Alassio” will take children back in time with “Games of the past.” Sunday, Jan. 5, again a “sports afternoon” with Overland Sport and Decathlon. Last event on Monday, Jan. 6 with entertainment and the election of “Miss Befana 2020” by Vecchia Loano.
The village will also remain open on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, Friday, Dec. 6 to Sunday, Dec. 8, Saturday, Dec. 14 and Sunday, Dec. 15, and Dec. 20 to Jan. 6, 2020 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. To keep up to date with all the news, you can follow the “Loano Christmas” Facebook page.
Sealing the “official” start of the festivities will be the lighting ceremony of the “A Thousand Lights of the Holidays”, scheduled for Friday, Dec. 6. At 5 p.m. Mayor Luigi Pignocca will turn on the beautiful artistic illuminations that will festively dress the entire city until January. The lighting of the lights (made on the initiative and project of Ascom) will be accompanied by carols by pupils of the Loano-Boissano Comprehensive Institute (from 2:30 p.m.) and a concert by “U Gunbu de Löa-Verzi.” As for the Christmas illuminations and events that will enliven the city during the holidays, this year the city council has decided to support the project prepared by Ascom: this is in order to “strengthen the synergy between Loano's associations and economic categories, in the awareness that teamwork is the best way to promote the image of our territory.”.
Once again this year, the parking lot of Marina di Loano will be home to a beautiful ice rink open to young and old alike. The young and inexperienced alike will be able to try their hand at “skating on ice” thanks to “penguins” who will help beginners keep their balance. Making the experience of ice skating a stone's throw from the sea even more special will be the enchanting artistic lighting that will festively decorate the entire Loano marina until January. The rink will be open from December 8 to January 6, 2020 from 4 to 6:30 pm.
On Saturday, December 28, the 33rd edition of the Winter Swimming Tournament: Beginning at 9 a.m. at the Medusa Baths, dozens of enthusiastic tryouts will test themselves by tackling the traditional end-of-year “dip in the sea.”.
On Sunday, December 29, starting at 5 p.m. at PalaGarassini, the “Solidarity Party”, the show with a charitable purpose organized every year by the city administration with the collaboration of numerous local organizations and whose proceeds will again be donated to charity.
The month of December will conclude with the extraordinary new year's eve in italy square, which this year will have as guests DJ Angelo and Roberto Ferrari of Radio Deejay.
The proverb says that “There's no two without three,” and so after hosting on-stage stars from Radio 105 and Radio M20, this time it is Radio Deejay's turn to occupy the stage for Loano's big end-of-year party. For New Year's Eve 2020, Mayor Luigi Pignocca and Councillor Remo Zaccaria have decided to set their sights even higher and, thanks to the collaboration with Dimensione Eventi (manager of the summer dates of the Prince's Garden and Dreams Festival), they have chosen to offer all Lovanese and guests a fun-filled start of the year.
The rendezvous is set for about 10:30 p.m. in Piazza Italia, in front of the town hall in Palazzo Doria: here the scenic truck stage will dominate, which will be the centerpiece of the evening (which will continue until about 1:30 a.m.). To open the veglione the performance of Carolina Marquez.
Colombian-born Carolina is one of the most important figures in the Italian dance scene of the 1990s/2000s. Her many hits, including the catchphrases ’S.E.X.O,“ ”Super DJ,“ ”Ritmo,“ ”Discomani,“ ”Mas Musica,“ ”Yantra,“ ”Dix Petits Indians,“ ”Sing La La,“ and ”Super.“ His ”The Killer's Song Vol.I“ even became part of the soundtrack to Quentin Tarantino's film ”Kill Bill: Volume I.“ Great interactivity and involvement: no one in the square will be able to avoid dancing.
Carolina will accompany the audience until a few minutes before the chimes of midnight when the countdown will be handed over to two of Italian radio's most beloved personalities. Announcing the first minute of 2020 will be Roberto Ferrari and DJ Angelo, hosts of the program “Ciao Belli,” directly from Radio Deejay.
In case of pre-announced bad weather, the organizers will decide on Dec. 30 whether to move the event inside the city sports hall, issuing the notice and, above all, ensuring a great party in any weather condition.
The celebration will continue on January 1, with the spectacular fireworks scheduled for about 6:30 p.m.
Between December 2019 and January 2020, the ninth edition of “Books Under the Tree”, the book review organized by the Cultural Department of the City of Loano with the collaboration of Monica Maggi's #atuttotondo, Loano's Mondadori Bookstore and Aps #cosavuoichetilegga? which every Christmas presents the best literary productions of the last period. Graziella Frasca Gallo (the Gazette gieffegi of Loano) conducts the meetings.
It begins Saturday, Dec. 7 at 4:30 p.m. at the “Antonio Arecco” Civic Library in Kursaal Palace with the presentation of “M/N Sestriere” by Giorgio Genta, Italo Elice and Riccardo Ferrari. Proceeds from sales of the book are donated to the DopoDomani Onlus association. On Sunday, December 15, also at 4:30 p.m. in the library, Mariolina Venezia presents “Via del Riscatto. Imma Tataranni and the unknowns of the future” (Einaudi). Aperitif will follow. Sunday, Dec. 22 again at 4:30 p.m. at the library there will be a “spectacular meeting” with Guido Maragoni, who will present the book “Like stars carried by the wind: my journey between lost and found horizons” (Sperling & Kupfer).
A theatrical reading performance based on “Catcher in the Rye” one hundred years after the birth of its author J.D. Salinger will be held at the library on Friday, Jan. 3, 2020, at 9 p.m. After an introduction and synopsis by Graziella Frasca Gallo, #cosavuoichetilegga readers Monica Maggi, Michele Marziano, Susy Minutoli, Paola Paolino, and Loredana Polli will bring to life the theatrical reading of excerpts from the book. This will be followed by the reading of the contemporary piece, “The MILF” by Daria Pratesi a theater and film writer. Graziella Ghezzi reads for direction and choreography by Irene Ciravegna, choreographer and dancer. Dance interventions by Ilaria Cozzani, Franca Damiano, Gabriella Gallo, Monica Tobi. The performance will be enhanced by listening to music from the 1950s.
Last meeting on Saturday, January 11 at 9 p.m. at the library with “#Life Words Notes”, the project that puts poetry, music, and images in dialogue conceived by Maurizio Rossato (Radio Deejay) with the participation of Giancarlo Cattaneo (Radio m2o). #Life explores the seasons of life through an intense selection of readings enhanced by music and images. Thoughts, poems, letters, speeches; the most beautiful pages of all times are made even more engaging by the unique interpretation. “#Life Words Notes” is an innovative and surprising show that delivers strong emotions.
Books will also take center stage on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 2:30 p.m. in the Latin Rascal Hall in Marina di Loano, where there will be a presentation of “A Rose for Tutankhamun” by Giuseppe Garfagno. This will be followed by a screening of the film “Lost and Found” by Loano director Giorgio Molteni. The afternoon was organized by Pro Loco Loano.
Saturday, Jan. 4 at 9 p.m. in the St. Pius X Parish Hall will stage the show “Waiting Rooms” by ell Aps #cosavuoichetilegga? During the evening, funds will be raised for the completion of the Loano CAI shelter.
From Tuesday, Dec. 3 to Monday, Dec. 16, the Mosaic Room of Palazzo Doria will host a photo exhibition celebrating The 150th anniversary of the presence of the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy of St. Mary Joseph Rossello on the territory of Loano. From Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019 to Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020, always the Mosaic Hall will host Silvia Massaferro's “Tiny people, big problems” exhibition: this is an environmental awareness photo exhibition that will “make people discover waste from a new point of view.”.
The events of “Loano not only sea”, the program curated by the Loano section of the Cai that promotes hiking as an opportunity for socialization, personal well-being, knowledge and appreciation of the area. Every Thursday, Loano's experienced Cai guides will accompany participants to discover nature and the most beautiful views of our territory and beyond. A hike on Monte Grosso is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 5, while a hike on the Liguria Trail will be held on Thursday, Dec. 12. On Thursday, December 19, the half of the hike will be the refuge of Pian delle Bosse.
The “Christmas Enchantments” will also feature the music. Saturday, Dec. 21 at 9 p.m. at the Christmas village sax and piano concert with Mattia Pelosi. On Tuesday, Dec. 24, the city streets will be enlivened by the enthralling music of the marching band “Sbanday Street Band.” A concert by soprano Melissa Briozzo is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 28, at 6 p.m. in the parish of St. John the Baptist. Also on the same day but at 9 p.m., the appointment with “Winter Tales”, a musical initiative promoted by the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sports and organized by the Compagnia dei Curiosi Association: Palazzo Kursaal will host the territorial selection “Premio Folkest - Alberto Cesa,” which will entitle the winner to participate in the final evenings for the awarding of the Targa Alberto Cesa to be held in July in Spilinbergo. Saturday, January 4 at 4 p.m. in Piazza Italia concert by Lou Pitakass and at 5:30 p.m. in Piazza Rocca performance by Lou Dalfin. Sunday, Jan. 5 at 4:45 p.m. in the Oratory of Our Lady of the Rosary new appointment with “The Concerts of the Turchini , Music of the Soul” starring “The Strings of Zynaida.”.
From Friday, December 6 to Sunday, December 8, Ghilini Street will be selling “Ail poinsettias”, the icons of solidarity protagonists of the traditional Christmas initiative promoted by the Italian Association against Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma onlus. The funds raised will be used to: fund research; strengthen home care services for adults and children; support housing; fund social welfare services for families; support the operation of hematology centers, stem cell transplant centers and laboratories for diagnosis and research; and promote the training and professional development of doctors, biologists, nurses and laboratory technicians.
On Sunday, December 8 from 2 to 7 p.m. in the city streets and squares will be held the “Santa Claus Walk” organized by the Loano committee of the Italian Red Cross.
But the events of the Christmas season do not end there.
On Sunday, December 8, the Antiques and Collectibles Market, an event dedicated to antiques and collectibles that will kick off at 8 a.m. and continue until 8 p.m. under the arcades of Corso Europa and in the nearby “Bestoso” gardens. Here more than 40 exhibitors will present a selected collection of furniture, silver, paintings, carpets and objects with an antique flavor and full of charm. The market will feature curiosities and “grandma's things,” as well as collectibles and modern antiques. Also on Sunday, December 8, the Massena Square will host the return of the Craft Market: From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. professional artisans and skilled artists will display the fruits of their ingenuity and skill in the small square heart of Loano's historic center. Works of sculpture, painting, drawing, printmaking and fine arts as well as painted ceramics, wood-carved objects, painted glass, bags and belts made from leather and art jewelry will be on the stalls.
The shopping opportunities will continue on Saturday, December 21 with the “Night of Gifts” organized by Ascom that from 3 to 11 p.m. will enliven the downtown streets with stores set up with a Christmas theme, stalls and the music of the marching band “Sbanday Street Band.” On Saturday, Dec. 28, also in the center, Ascom's “Waiting for New Year: desbarassu” returns. A new appointment with shopping downtown (and beyond) is scheduled for Jan. 4.
As a tradition during the holiday season, on the afternoons of Saturday, December 28, 2019, and Saturday, January 4, 2020, members of the Alpine Group of Loano will be in Vittorio Veneto Square for the traditional distribution of mulled wine and hot chocolate to all Loano residents and guests. A “warm embrace” to better celebrate the end of the old year and the beginning of the new year and to concretely support one of the most important health care realities of our region: the donations collected during the two days, in fact, will be destined to the Gaslini Children's Hospital in Genoa.
The initiatives of “Experience the park”, the integrated security project launched by the Municipal Police Department and the City of Loano Sports Department that aims to shape public spaces and especially revitalize city parks so that they increasingly become places of socialization and inclusion. On Saturday, December 21 at 10 a.m. at Don Leone Grossi Park there will be a new session of “Technical Walking” by Fit2Go trainers. “Technical walking” is a discipline that, through the basic motor gesture of walking, helps strengthen the muscle tone of the lower limbs and pelvis, improves arm-leg coordination, circulation, muscle elasticity, breathing, and mood.
Friday, December 27 to Saturday, December 28 at PalaGarassini will be held the youth soccer tournament City of Loano - “Ettore Mussi” Trophy” organized by Asd San Francesco. From Friday, January 3 to Sunday, January 5, 2020, the PalaGuzzetti and PalaGarassini will host the 21st Befana youth volleyball tournament organized by Asd San Pio X Volleyball.
Here the whole calendar.{:}
