Events and what to do in December on Lake Garda – 2024 Edition.

December is a month of celebration and time dedicated to family and friends. It’s a month of super gorgeous or very tamarried Christmas trees, but always made with enthusiasm. It is a month in which one indulges in a few more culinary whims, toasts with friends, dinners with colleagues. But it is also a month full of events and opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities, despite the pressing cold. Here are our tips on what to do in December between Lake Garda and its beautiful cities:

Winter Lemon Groves: A Journey to the Heart of Lake Garda to Discover a Hidden Gem

Immerse yourself in a unique experience and be enchanted by the magic of Garda’s lemon groves. These ancient greenhouses, true works of engineering, were created to protect citrus fruits from the harsh winter and represent an invaluable historical heritage.

During guided tours, you can discover the secrets of these unique structures, admire their architecture, and learn about ancient cultivation techniques. As you stroll among the lemon trees, enveloped in the fragrance of ripe citrus fruits, you’ll feel as if you’ve traveled back in time.

In addition to guided tours, you can take part in tastings of local citrus-based products, made using traditional recipes. And that’s not all! In the heart of the Chiostro di San Francesco, a quality market awaits you with a rich selection of local artisanal and food and wine products.

Discover the region’s excellence, from cheeses to cured meats, from wines to honeys, and take home a piece of the magic of Lake Garda.

The market will take place at the Chiostro di San Francesco in Gargnano on the weekends of 30 November – 1 December, 7-8 December, 14-15 December, 21-22 December, and 4-5-6 January 2025, from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM.

On the hunt for unique and particular nativity scenes.

The charm of the handcrafted crib is timeless and ageless. Lake Garda offers many spots in which to admire one-of-a-kind nativity scenes. Here is the list:

In Cassone di Malcesine (VR) the nativity scene is built astride the Aril river, the shortest river in the world which flows into eastern Lake Garda after only 175 m. For more info click here.

The ancient medieval village of Campo di Brenzone (VR) becomes even more evocative during the Christmas period, with the display of about 120-130 nativity scenes scattered throughout the village and which can be freely visited (from early December to early February). For more info click here.

In Peschiera del Garda (VR) the traditional underwater nativity scene is set up along the canal, called Presepe del Lago. This original nativity scene can be easily admired from the San Giovanni bridge.

The old port of Desenzano (BS) becomes the spectacular scenography of the traditional “floating nativity scene”: old restored mannequins are transformed into the characters of the nativity scene, dressed and made up by the volunteers who set it up. For more info click here.

From 19 November 2022 to 22 January 2023, the alcoves of the Arena di Verona host more than 400 nativity scenes from all over the world. A spectacular exhibition for young and old! For info and tickets click here.

Visit the witch of Balbido, the largest in the world.

Since 2019, the small village of Balbido (TN) has hosted a curious Guinness Book of Records: the largest Stria (witch) in the world. It is 10.77 meters high and 4.5 wide. Made with the same technique as the basket: a dense weave of bamboo and wood canes. Located at the entrance to the town, it is a tribute to the popular tradition of mischievous and prankster witches who enjoyed throwing stones at the wheels of the carts of the peasants returning from Val Marcia.
Also worthy of note are the 222 frescoed murals on the walls of the houses, using a naive or graffiti technique. They portray nature, the toil of the fields, the legend of the witches, the beauty of a woman, the long stories of the grandmother, the colors of spring, the horse race at the Palio of S. Giustina di Balbido. An enchanting scenography to be admired in the streets of the village.

Ice skating.

During the Christmas holidays, many towns and cities, in conjunction with the markets, set up beautiful rinks to try ice skating. On Lake Garda this year you can find them in: Verona, Lazise, Bardolino, Malcesine, Salò, Sirmione, Verona and Mantua.

Visit to the Sanctuary of Madonna della Corona.

If during Advent you want to visit a unique and spectacular place of worship both for its location and architecture, this Sanctuary is the ideal destination. It can be reached on foot from Brentino Belluno for those who love trekking, or comfortably by car from Spiazzi. For more info click here.

Walks, ski mountaineering, snowshoeing on the mountains of Lake Garda.

What is December without snow? A beautiful trip in the mountains with a breathtaking view of Lake Garda is ideal for playing sports and then refresh yourself in the various refuges. If you want to know where to go, find the list of the most beautiful and panoramic itineraries for walking and snowshoeing in the snow by clicking here.

See you next time dear Outdoors!
Silvia Turazza – Garda Outdoors editorial team