The Sorrento Coast, especially Sorrento, is preparing to welcome Christmas, with many events planned to make the most beautiful and magical time of the year even more exciting.
So it’s not just sea, sun, and heat: the coast also offers excitement in winter. From the Christmas village to concerts and traditional Christmas markets.
Sorrento has organized a grand celebration for Christmas 2025, entitled “M’illumino d’Inverno” (I light up in winter).
- The lighting of the tree in Piazza Tasso
- The Chocolate Festival from December 4 to 8
- Puppet show and treasure hunt parade
- Christmas markets in Sorrento
- The Christmas garden in the municipal park
- Fireworks and New Year’s Eve concert
- Christmas Concerts 2025
The lighting of the tree in Piazza Tasso
As usual, the entire Christmas program will kick off with the lighting of the large Christmas tree located in Piazza Tasso and the illuminations. The official date is December 6 at 6:00 p.m. and will feature musical entertainment by the “E. Caruso” Association Band of Sorrento.
But that’s not all. There are many events scheduled this year by the Municipality of Sorrento. Classical music concerts, the inevitable Christmas village, shows for children.
The Chocolate Festival from December 4 to 8
From December 4 to 8, between Piazza Veniero and Corso Italia, the ninth edition of Chocoland Sorrento Christmas Edition, the artisan chocolate fair, will be held. Here you can taste all kinds of chocolate, from hazelnut to pistachio, to classic milk or dark chocolate.
Puppet show and Christmas treasure hunt parade
On Sunday, December 7, and Monday, December 8, Piazza Tasso will be enlivened by the Fratelli Mercurio puppet show.
This event is always enjoyable and eagerly awaited, especially by young audiences. The show will be repeated on December 25 and 26. And from December 31 to January 6, 2026, again in Piazza Tasso.
And again on December 7, also for children, the municipality of Sorrento has organized a Christmas treasure hunt parade in Corso Italia starting at 10:30 a.m. This will be repeated again from December 25 to 27, 2025.
Christmas markets in Sorrento
And it wouldn’t be Christmas without the inevitable Christmas markets, which, like every year, offer typical local products and handicrafts. You can find:
- On December 12-13-14, Coldiretti will hold the Campagna Amica Christmas market in Piazza Lauro, organizing numerous workshops for adults and children for the occasion.
- From December 16 to 21, the fourth edition of the Christmas market will be held at the Cloister of San Francesco, “Mercat’ in Chiostro,” organized as every year by the Friars Minor of the convent. The market will open on Tuesday, December 16, at 3:30 p.m. and will continue on the following days from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. without interruption.
- From December 18 to 21, additional Christmas markets will be set up in Piazza Angelina Lauro by the Cultural Association I Ricordi del Passato.
The Christmas garden in the municipal park
This year, in the picturesque setting of the Villa Comunale in Sorrento, overlooking the gulf and surrounded by history and nature, the Christmas event “Il Giardino di Natale” (The Christmas Garden) returns.
From December 15, 2025, to January 7, 2026, every afternoon (from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.), the villa will be transformed into an enchanted world of lights, warmth, and festive spirit.
The project includes light and scenic installations and decorations, all designed to immerse visitors and families in a magical and engaging atmosphere.
The official inauguration of the Garden will take place with an inaugural parade starting at 5:00 p.m. from Corso Italia. It will be a special moment: lights, music, and color will fill the center of Sorrento, accompanying citizens and tourists to the Christmas “heart” represented by the Villa Comunale.
Fireworks and New Year’s Concert
To celebrate the end of 2025 and the start of 2026, Sorrento has planned a packed program of events in the town center.
Starting at 5:00 p.m. on December 31, 2025, there will be a parade through the streets of the town, from Corso Italia to the historic center and on to Piazza Tasso.
At 6:00 p.m., again in Piazza Tasso, the traditional “Ciuccio di Fuoco” will take place, a unique folkloric tradition that involves setting fire to a donkey in order to drive away evil spirits. Marco Palmieri will be participating in the event.
Shortly before midnight, from 11:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., the unmissable Christmas concert will continue, featuring DJ sets and entertainment in Piazza Tasso.
And at 1:00 a.m. on January 1, 2026, all eyes will be on the sky, because Marina Piccola will host a spectacular fireworks display.
A unique show for young and old alike, who will be able to admire the sparkle of the fireworks shining in the waters of the Gulf.
In short, a rich and full Christmas organized by the Municipality of Sorrento that will fill the days not only of the citizens of Sorrento but also of the many tourists who, like every year, decide to spend their Christmas holidays in the magical setting of the Sorrento Coast.
Christmas concerts in Sorrento
Finally, during Christmas 2025, Sorrento will come alive with a packed calendar of concerts and shows thanks to two major events: “Surriento Gentile,” a cultural festival running from December 5 to 30, and M’Illumino d’Inverno 2025, featuring musical and theatrical performances.
For M’illumino d’inverno, the concerts will begin in the Church of Sant’Anna Marina Grande at 7:00 p.m. with the concert/show for voice, music, and words, Natale tra i borghi e le marine (Christmas among the villages and marinas). It will feature the participation of soloist Francesca Maresca and narrator Marco Palmieri. They will continue on:
- December 9 at the Tasso Theater – 7:30 p.m., with the Christmas Concert “Echi di Pace” (Echoes of Peace), organized by the F. Grandi Institute of Sorrento.
- On December 12 at the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria at 7:30 p.m., there will be an opening concert featuring soprano Tatiana Previati and baritone Raffaello Bellavista. The opera concert will be organized in honor of Erico Caruso.
- On December 13, at 11:30 a.m., the Correale di Terranova Museum will host the Belle Époque matinee concert, featuring conductor Paolo Scibilia and soloist soprano Giulia Lepore. At 6:30 p.m., the closing concert in honor of Caruso and Ernesto De Curtis will take place. The finalists of the third edition of the International Singing Competition will be awarded prizes on this occasion.
- December 19 at 8:00 p.m. Teatro Tasso will perform with Sorrento Jazz Stevie Biondi.
- On December 25, at 5:30 p.m., in memory of Bianca Gambardella Acampora, the Sorrento Sinfonietta International Chamber Orchestra will perform at the Church of SS. Annunziata.
- On December 26, the traditional Christmas Concert will be held in the Cathedral of Saints Philip and James at 7:00 p.m.
- On December 31, at 11:30 a.m., the end-of-year concert will take place in Piazza Tasso.
