December 2025: Unmissable Events Around Lake Garda, Verona, Cortina and Venice!
December brings appointments that combine traditions, taste, sport and atmosphere. From Lake Garda to the Dolomites, passing through Verona and Venice, each place offers events that deserve attention for their quality, authenticity and variety. Here you will find a selection of unmissable and unique events.
Lake Garda and Surroundings
28th November 2025 – 6th January 2026 – Christmas Markets in Garda
The historic center of Garda and the lakeside promenade get lit with decorations and Christmas Lights in a very suggestive atmosphere. The typical little wooden houses of the Christmas Market in Garda set the scene for appointments for all the family.
19th December – Kintsugi Lab
According to the Kintsugi method, from a wound it is possible to give new life to damaged objects, creating a new form from which a more precious story can emerge. It represents a metaphor for the fractures and changes that one can face in life. On 19th December, in Bardolino, there will be a lab dedicated to the Japanese technique that teaches to put back together objects with lacquer and golden powder. An interesting event for those seeking a relaxing and introspective experience.
20th December 2025 – Christmas Walking
The “Christmas Walking” along the Pilgrim Path is a 32 km trail organized by the Nordic Walking Association Malcesine, designed for groups and family. It offers a different way to experience the territory in winter with a pleasant and not overly touristic atmosphere.
28th December – Lake Sound Gospel
The choir “Lake Sound Gospel” established in 2006, presents concerts combining energy and tradition. The repertoire includes Afro-American tradition songs (gospel, spiritual), as well as other types of contemporary music (pop, soul, rock). On 28th December, they will perform in Bardolino.
1st December – 6th January – Underwater Nativity Scene
In one of Peschiera del Garda’s canals, a nativity scene is installed, visible from above, illuminated and placed on the bottom. The initiative attracts visitors every year and is particularly evocative in the Evening.
Verona and Province
10th – 13th December 2025 – Santa Lucia Markets
The city’s most traditional fair: in Piazza Bra, hundreds of market stalls, offer toys, sweets, handicrafts and gift ideas. It’s a very felt appointment by the locals, a perfect way to immerse yourself in the urban atmosphere before the festivities.
21st December 2025 – Santa Claus Run
The Santa Claus Run takes place in the center of Verona, with 5 or 10 km routes, for runners or walkers. It’s an event designed for groups and families, in an immersive Christmas atmosphere.
8th November 2025 – 6th January 2026 – Flover Christmas Village
In Bussolengo, a large exhibition space is dedicated to Christmas with well-designed sets, creative workshops, shows and themed areas. This event is aimed at families and for those looking for decorations and quality gift ideas.
21st November – 26th December 2025 – Christmas Markets
The square in Verona hosts Nordic-style markets, offering typical products, gastronomy and handicrafts. The historical setting makes the visit pleasant even in the most crowded days.
1st December – 14th January – Nativity scene exposition
The nativity scene exposition, one of the biggest display in Europe. Traditional and modern models, coming from different countries. The artworks come from museums, private collections, expert nativity scene craftsmen and enthusiasts from all around the world; offering a complete artistic overview of the intercontinental nativity scene tradition.
Cortina and the Dolomites
6th –7th December 2025 – A mountain of books
Cortina returns as the cultural heart of the Dolomites with “A mountain of books”, the exhibition that, since 2009, has attracted authors and voices from all over the world to the valley. For more than three months, the location will host dozens of public events, a journey through stories, ideas and outlooks that bring together readers and enthusiasts and that has become a point of reference for the entire alpine chain.
The weekend of 6th and 7th December opens the new edition with two special appointments: Stories of Bob and Ice in Ampezzo, dedicated to the main characters and memories of the Olympic track and White Olympics from 1956 to 2026, a journey through 70 years of sport and memories in Ampezzo.
5th – 8th December 2025 – Cortina Fashion Weekend
From 5th to 8th December 2025 the Cortina Fashion Weekend returns, for its 15th edition. Over four days in which Cortina opens the Winter Season, becoming an openair runway with boutiques and luxury brands launching new collections. The schedule includes catwalk shows, cocktails, artistic performances and meetings with personalities from the show and fashion business.
A designated event for those who want to experience close the elegance and unique atmosphere of the Ampezzo area.
5th December 2025 – Saint Nicholas, Angels and Krampus
On the 5th December, Cortina celebrates one of its most heartfelt traditions: the coming of Saint Nicholas along Corso Italia, welcomed by angels and the parish priest ready to give little gifts to children. The event, organized by ULDA, unites spirituality and folklore, transforming the town center into a deeply felt shared moment. After the coming of the Saint, the Krampus appear, figures with wooden masks and cowbells representing the dark side of Dolomitic legends. The contrast between Saint Nicholas and the Krampus creates an intense and suggestive evening, involving residents and visitors in a ritual that belongs to the valley’s history.
13th December 2025 – Snowboard Alpine World Cup
On 13th December 2025 Cortina hosts the VISA FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup on the Faloria slopes. The best alpine snowboard athletes will face each other in a parallel slalom, a spectacular discipline requiring technique, precision and speed in direct duels. The event, organized by Snowboard Club Cortina and Fondazione Cortina with the support of FIS and FISI, it’s a key stage of the season and is valid for qualification for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games.
A very important day, both from a sporting point of view and for the local community, which contributes every year bringing international level competitions to the valley.
25th December 2025 – Christmas in Cortina
In Cortina the festivities begin in Corso Italia, where the Christmas tree and the nativity scene become the visual heart of the celebrations, among the well crafted shop windows and mulled wine served in the main streets. On the Evening of 24th December, the Holy Mass in the Basilica dei Santi Filippo e Giacomo unites residents and visitors, followed by a performance by the Cortina Musical Band, one of the most celebrated tradition in town.
31st December 2025 – New Year’s Eve in Cortina d’Ampezzo
Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Cortina means experiencing an evening full of ideas and atmosphere. The town center becomes the meeting point for the waiting for midnight, while restaurants, hotels and chalets offer New Year’s Eve dinners that combine alpine tradition and contemporary cuisine. Up in the mountains, chalets and huts organize evenings reachable by snowmobiles and snowshoes, ideal for those seeking a more intimate experience. At midnight people meet in the squares or in the bars in the center for the toast, with the snowed mountain tops in the background. Many evenings continue with live music and Dj set, creating a various offer that goes from fashion parties to more informal venues. This is one of the liveliest moments of the year in Cortina, able to combine style, tradition and mountain charm.
Venice and the Lagoon
22nd December 2025 – Christmas Tree Lighting in Piazza San Marco
On 22nd December Venice lights the Christmas Tree in Piazza San Marco, together with a short coral exhibition and the official opening of the Christmas activities.
All December 2025
The city offers concerts in churches, exhibitions in historical palaces, guided tours and markets in different districts. The program changes throughout the month, allowing visitors to discover the lagoon from different perspectives.
A magical month
December is a month rich in well-organized events, that give value to the places without losing authenticity. Whether markets, sport events, local traditions or cultural initiatives, every destination offers valid reasons for a visit.