🎄 The Craiova Christmas Market Has Started! 🎅

✨ The magic of the holidays has taken over the city ✨

🎊 Resounding Success on the Opening Night!

Over 100,000 visitors attended the official opening of the Craiova Christmas Market, which took place on Friday evening, marking the start of the winter fair season in Romania. Craiova's Mayor, Lia Olguța Vasilescu, confirmed the unprecedented enthusiasm with which locals and tourists welcomed this magical event.

🎭 2025 Edition Theme: "The Nutcracker"

This year, the Craiova Christmas Market embraces the classic tale of **"The Nutcracker"**, transforming the city center into an enchanted kingdom. The event runs from **November 14, 2025 – January 4, 2026** and offers a unique experience through the six specially arranged thematic zones, each with its own magical universe.

🗺️ The 6 Magical Thematic Zones

🍬Mihai Viteazul Square – "Candy Land"

A kingdom of sweets where every corner shines with fairy-tale colors. Here, **Santa's Flying Sleigh** makes its spectacular appearance every evening, starting at 6:00 PM, in a complete show featuring special effects, strobe lights, ballerinas from the Craiova Romanian Opera, and artificial snow.

🎠Doljana Area – "Carousel Christmas"

Unique huts, decorated in the spirit of the holidays, for adults and children alike, creating a fairy-tale atmosphere in the heart of the city.

🎶Frații Buzești Square – "Traditional Christmas"

The place where traditions come alive, featuring authentic carols, Romanian handicrafts, and traditional food. This is also home to the **stage-tree**, where live concerts and special artistic moments will take place every weekend (Friday and Saturday, between 6:00 PM–9:00 PM).

🎡William Shakespeare Square – "Santa's Land"

A magical universe for children and youth, equipped with a carousel, mini-trains, VR films, and the panoramic wheel that takes little ones towards the illuminated sky of Craiova.

🍕Theodor Aman Street – "Best Christmas Street Food"

A modern culinary feast, where traditional flavors intertwine with international tastes, offering a diverse gastronomic experience.

🧸English Park – "The Land of Toys"

A children's paradise, filled with giant figurines, interactive games, and fairy-tale characters that come to life.

✨ Main Attractions

🛷 The Flying Sleigh

The star attraction of the fair! Daily, from 6:30 PM–7:00 PM, Santa Claus appears in Mihai Viteazul Square in a brand-new show with special effects and artificial snow created using strobe lights – the snow remains suspended in the air, as if time stood still!

⛸️ The Magic Ice Rink

The stage for "The Nutcracker" story, where ballet intertwines with light and grace, offering memorable performances by the Craiova Romanian Opera.

🥽 VR and 3D Experiences

On the esplanade of the "Marin Sorescu" National Theater and on Theodor Aman Street, visitors can experience the holiday story interactively, with virtual reality and spectacular 3D effects.

💡 Festive Lighting

Over 2 million lights and luminous decorations transform the center of Craiova into an enchanted land. The spectacular Christmas Tree in Mihai Viteazul Square has a unique design, shaped like a toy store.

🎤 Concerts and Guest Artists

Every weekend (Friday and Saturday, between 6:00 PM–9:00 PM), the stage-tree in Frații Buzești Square hosts live performances by renowned artists:

🎵 Rareș - November 15
🎵 Antonia - November 29
🎵 Minunații - December 6
🎵 Ștefan Hrușcă - December 14

🛍️ Souvenirs and Thematic Products

At the "House of Wonders" (*Căsuța cu Minuni*) and other stands, visitors can find a variety of thematic products:

Indicative Prices:

  • Decorative Mugs: starting from 30 lei
  • "The Nutcracker" Mug Set: 100 – 150 lei
  • Nutcracker Ornaments: starting from 25 lei
  • Winter Hat: 40 lei
  • Gloves: 20 lei
  • Bandanas: 40 lei
  • Toys: starting from 20 lei
  • Embroidered paintings, toy soldiers, handmade ceramic globes

📢 Merchants' Reactions

The merchants present at the fair were delighted by the turnout on the opening night. "Very many people, unexpectedly many people. We, as merchants, expect earnings at least as high as last year," a seller stated for Observator News.

A merchant participating for the first time confessed: "This is our first time participating, I hope to impress with the artisans' creations. We have embroidered paintings, toy soldiers, handmade ceramic globes."

📅 Full Program - First Days

🎊 Friday, November 14, 2025 - Official Opening

From 6:00 PM – Mihai Viteazul Square:

  • "Dance of the Snowflakes"
  • "Holo Christmas"
  • "The Nutcracker" Ballet Show – Craiova Romanian Opera
  • Santa's Flying Sleigh Show
  • Fireworks
  • MC: Tom Crîngureanu

Mihai Viteazul Square – A.I. Cuza St. (6:00 PM):

  • Street Animation – Carrousel and Les Lunes – International Show Parade powered by Birra Moretti

Frații Buzești Square (7:00 PM – 9:00 PM):

  • DJ set by Naidin & Toni

🎶 Saturday, November 15, 2025

Mihai Viteazul Square (6:00 PM):

  • Dance of the Snowflakes
  • Holo Christmas
  • "The Nutcracker" Ballet Show, on the Ice Rink
  • Santa's Flying Sleigh Show
  • Street Animation – Carrousel and Les Lunes

Frații Buzești Square:

  • 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Starry Christmas – Craiova Children's Palace
  • 6:10 PM – 6:30 PM: Alegria Choir, Tudor Vladimirescu National Military College
  • 6:40 PM – 7:20 PM: Winter Wonderland, Oltenia Philharmonic
  • 7:30 PM – 8:15 PM: RAREȘ powered by Birra Moretti
  • MC: Tom Crîngureanu

☀️ Sunday, November 16, 2025

Mihai Viteazul Square (6:00 PM):

  • Dance of the Snowflakes
  • Santa's Flying Sleigh Show

🚗 Parking and Transportation

🅿️ Available Parking:

✈️ AIRPORT AREA (approx. 1000 spaces)

Craiova International Airport Parking (public):

  • 1–5 hours: 3 lei
  • 5–8 hours: 20 lei
  • 8–12 hours: 30 lei
  • 12–24 hours: 40 lei
  • 7 days: 150 lei
  • 1 month: 350 lei

Parking in front of the Airport (private):

  • 0–1 hour: 5 lei
  • 6–12 hours: 15 lei
  • 12–24 hours: 20 lei
  • 7 days: 110 lei
  • 30 days: 300 lei
  • ☎️ Information: 0731 343 433

🚌 From the Airport Area: RAT Craiova provides buses running every 15 minutes to the center, on routes 8 and 9. Ticket cost: 4 lei (payable via POS or the "Craiova Transport" app).

🏛️ CENTRAL AREA

Underground Parking – "Marin Sorescu" National Theater:

  • 2 lei/hour
  • 125 lei / 3 days unlimited
  • 290 lei / week unlimited
  • 1000 lei / month unlimited

Other available parking lots:

  • Gin Gin Parking (private) – next to Flora restaurant
  • Regina Maria Clinic Parking (private) – on A.I. Cuza street

🚌 COACH AND MINIBUS PARKING:

  • Craiova Multifunctional Center – Târgului St. no. 26
  • Polyvalent Hall – Ilie Balaci Blvd. no. 6
  • Promenada Mall – Calea Severinului no. 61
  • Potelu Street – ANL neighborhood

⚠️ Warning: Illegally parked cars will be towed by the Craiova Local Police.

🚌 RAT Craiova Public Transport

Main Stations for the Christmas Market:

  • 🚋 Trams 100, 101, 102: NATIONAL THEATER Station
  • 🚌 Route 1: OLTEȚ - Students' Culture House Station
  • 🚌 Route 8: ȚĂRĂNCUȚA - Carol Boulevard Station
  • 🚌 Route 9: NATIONAL THEATER Station
  • 🚌 Route 11: From Promenada Mall - NATIONAL THEATER Station

Other important stations: Sfântul Dumitru Cathedral, Madona Dudu, Hospital no. 2

📲 The **Craiova Transport App** is available for free on Google Play and the App Store, featuring a trip planner for the best route.

🎄 Craiova becomes the place where Christmas comes to life! 🎄

Period: November 14, 2025 – January 4, 2026

Come and experience the magic of the holidays at the most spectacular edition of the Christmas Market!

📝 Practical Information