New Year’s Eve in Merano

New Year’s Eve in Merano

Lots of music, family activities and a music and light show at midnight

New Year’s Eve is everyone’s birthday and the wait for New Year’s Day is a shared celebration. A festival for young and old, but also for children who sense that something special is in the air. Merano in South Tyrol is a city that knows how to enjoy life and festivities, and this will once again be the case on December 31, when the city center fills with music and family activities in the lively and elegant setting of the Christmas market from late morning. In the evening, the rhythm increases on the stages, each of which appeals to a different audience.

Until the chimes at midnight, when the sky above the Kurhaus, the town’s landmark, is lit up by a pyromusical spectacle: Merano also wants to celebrate the turn of the year in spectacular fashion, but has done without fireworks for several years now.

Music in the morning

As already mentioned, the mood is lifted early on New Year’s Eve. Of course, you can end the day with a visit to the thermal baths or take to the heights, for example to Merano 2000, which can be reached from the town in just a few minutes, and enjoy 40 kilometers of slopes or immerse yourself in nature on 25 kilometers of hiking trails.

Activities that you can also do at other times during your stay: If you want to experience the “longest day of the year”, you can do so on foot. The Christmas market awaits you along the Passirio river in the center and in the surrounding area. From 10.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. there will be concerts on various stages with pop and acoustic rock, cover versions of the most famous Italian singer-songwriters, but also jazz, blues and funky music between the food and craft stalls.

New Year’s Eve in Merano for families

A special program is dedicated to families: Goldy’s Little House, the Mercatini mascot, will host the Disney Cinema from 11.00 to 13.00 with a screening of “Frozen – The Adventures of Olaf”, and from 12.00 to 14.00 there will be a “make-up corner” for children in Piazza della Rena.

After sunset

From late afternoon, it’s time to prepare for the evening: Be it a classic dinner in one of the many restaurants that do their best for the occasion – Tyrolean, Italian, international cuisine, often a lot of crossover – or a cozy get-together at home.
The big party under the stars takes place from 10.30 p.m. in two locations: in Piazza Teatro, the “youngest” square, where two DJs provide the dance-loving audience with music. But also in the upper part of Corso Libertà, where the rhythms of live music from the seventies, eighties and nineties will be heard.

The New Year’s Eve in Merano music and light show

With the ringing of twelve cathedral bells, the façade of the Kurhaus and the sky above are colored by the music-light show, a moment of artistic lighting and special effects. A spectacle with a rousing and surprising soundtrack to bid farewell to 2023 and welcome 2024. And there’s still time to dance afterwards: The music goes on until 1.30 in the morning!

Photos: © Press Way / Hannes Niederkofler