This year, Christmas in Óbidos has a wooden nose. The 2026 edition of Óbidos Vila Natal is dedicated to “Pinocchio and the World of Puppets,” inspired by Carlo Collodi’s story, and runs from November 27 to January 3 at the Castle Walls, according to the Óbidos City Council.
But the town begins to shine even before that. The Christmas lights will be turned on on Saturday, November 14, at 6:30 p.m., with street entertainment by the Ícarus et Lumen troupe and a closing performance by the Bonecos de Santo Aleixo.
From Geppetto’s Neighborhood to Pinocchio’s Dive
Inside, the story of the wooden puppet unfolds across various spaces. In Geppetto’s Neighborhood, there’s the Master’s Workshop and a studio where children can build their own puppets out of wood or paper. There’s also the Fairy Kingdom, the Den of the Lame Fox and the Blind Cat, featuring fairy tales, and The Big Fish, an immersive journey through the animal’s insides.
For those who prefer an adrenaline rush, there’s the Pinocchio Dive and the Frozen Sea, featuring an ice rink and an ice slide. The Land of Fun features a train, a mini Ferris wheel, and carnival games, and there’s also a Parisian carousel at Porta da Vila, a puppet theater, Santa’s House, and a Christmas market.
Six kilometers of lights and a nine-meter tree
The town will be illuminated with about six kilometers of lights and 30,000 LED bulbs, and in Praça da Criatividade, outside the walls, a nine-meter-tall Tree of Light will be lit. The lighting costs about 20,000 euros, including materials and labor, and reuses existing structures and equipment. If you’re looking for more ideas for these weeks, check out our Christmas destinations near Lisbon.
Useful Information
Where: Cerca do Castelo, Óbidos (via the A8, exit 15)
When: November 27 through January 3; lights turn on November 14 at 6:30
p.m. Hours: Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through December 17 and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. starting December 21; Fridays, weekends, and holidays, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; December 24 and 31, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Closed on December 25 and January
1 Price: €12 (ages 12 and up) and €8 (ages 3–11), with discounts for students, seniors 65 and older, and families; the ice rink, carousel, Ferris wheel, and train are paid for separately
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