With Christmas now just around the corner, entertainment events in the municipality of Ischia are intensifying. One after another, they will all be days to be experienced with the excitement that only Christmas can ensure, accompanied by good food, music and the magical atmosphere that the island manages to provide even at this time.
The first event will be on Christmas Eve: on December 24, the venues of Ischia Porto and Ischia Ponte will come alive for the now famous Christmas Eve brunch. For lovers of tradition, there will also be a “Fresh Cape” gathering at St. Peter’s Beach with fried cod tasting and wine. After the festive days of Christmas and Boxing Day here’s where programming comes into full swing with daily events from Dec. 27 to Jan. 1.
On December 27, the streets of Ischia will be enlivened by the Brass Band, which will perform first in Ischia Ponte, then in Piazzetta San Girolamo, and then in Piazzetta Croce from 5 p.m. The MagicaBoola Brass Band takes on all the characteristics of a modern street band thanks to a lineup consisting of wind and rhythm instruments: trumpets, trombones, saxophones, sousaphone, bass drum, snare drum and percussion. The intent is to offer contaminations of jazz, blues, ethnic, hip hop, funk and popular song in all its forms. Therefore, original compositions are complemented by revisitations of many covers.
On Dec. 28, probably the most important event of the Christmas festival in the municipality of Ischia: “Le Vibrazioni” will perform in Piazza Antica Reggia at 8:30 pm. Francesco Sarcina, Stefano Verderi, Marco Castellani and Alessandro Deidda. A Milanese band formed in 1999, “Le Vibrazioni” represents one of the longest-running groups on the Italian music scene. With five albums under their belt, they have always been protagonists of the Italian charts, boasting 30 Top 20 singles and more than one million copies sold overall. They succeeded in winning over the general public with their retro, sweeping melodies in the spring of 2003 with the single “Dedicated to You.” The song has also remained etched in the collective memory and imagination thanks to the video that accompanied it: filmed on the Milanese Navigli, it was the first “video catchphrase” phenomenon. Following this extraordinary success, in the same year Le Vibrazioni released their first album, “Le Vibrazioni,” whose sales exceeded 300,000 copies and from which the singles “In una notte d’estate,” “Vieni da me,” “Sono più sereno,” and “…E se va,” included in the soundtrack of the cult film “Three meters above the sky,” were extracted. The final consecration for the band came in late 2004 with the release of the single “Raggio di sole,” which anticipated their second album “Le Vibrazioni II.” Success continued in the following years, being able to boast several appearances at the Sanremo Festival as well.
The excitement continues with another long-awaited event that is always appreciated by islanders and tourists alike, returning after a long stop due to the covid: the Dec. 29, with “Stelle in Strada” Corso Vittoria Colonna will be transformed into a giant open-air kitchen, with the artistic touch of Ettore Guarracino. A triumph of taste and food and wine in the heart of the Christmas Festivities, with the most original and surprising recipes translated by the flair and creativity of the most titled chefs of Ischia and Campania. More than 50 professionals, including chefs, pizza makers and pastry chefs, will take part in the evening and offer both tourists and residents the opportunity to take a tasting, smelling and visual journey that combines the rediscovery of ancient traditional Campanian dishes with their re-proposition of the same in a more modern key. The event maintains the formula that has been so successful in the past.
On Dec. 30, however, it is the turn of another welcome return: The Living Nativity. The most important new feature is the magical setting that will host the event, namely the Molino Tower and the surrounding areas of Mandra Beach. Appointment at 5:30 p.m. with the procession leaving from St. Anthony’s Convent.
December 31 After the encore of the brunches organized by the venues of Ischia Porto and Ischia Ponte, the attentions are all on New Year’s Eve, which in the town of Ischia will be, as per tradition, experienced in Piazza Antica Reggia with exceptional guests: in addition to the deejays and Ischian voices, the special guest will be Cristian Marchi along with the live show of Queen of Bulsara with whom we will say goodbye to 2023 and especially welcome the arrival of 2024.
It continues on Jan. 1 with another now-traditional event at the Excelsior Cinema where the New Year’s Eve Gran Calà will be staged at 5 p.m. with tenor Francesco Malapena, baritone Francesco Teneriello and the Banda Musicale Città di Ischia.
These are certainly the main events of the Christmas in Ischia event series, but they are certainly not the only ones: unfailing good-luck dives on January 1 at both San Pietro Beach and Mandra Beach, as well as other musical events. The programming will close with two important events: on Jan. 5 there will be an unprecedented edition of Borgo in Festa in Ischia Ponte, and on Jan. 6 at the Fishermen’s Beach the landing of the Three Kings will be staged, as per tradition. Christmas in Ischia is this and much more!
