Antoine Saint-Exupéry dedicated his masterpiece The Little Prince to his friend León Wert, introducing this guide to life with a reflection that sums up much of the book: “All grown-ups were children first. (But few of them remember it.)” So if you’re among those who don’t remember it, or do so infrequently or even reluctantly, allow us to suggest taking a look around through the eyes of your inner child. And if there’s one time of year that sparks excitement in children, that’s the Christmas season, which heightens all their senses (and their radars, because they have radars as well!). School holidays, eagerly anticipated gifts, the magic of the gift-bringers, music and games, lights in the streets and a warm embrace. There’s no doubt about it: children are at the heart of Christmas in Sitges, as evidenced by our programme of events. And in fact, in Sitges most of us adults are actually big kids. You can tell, can’t you?

The programme of Christmas activities, if you come visit us, is classic Sitges: there’s lots to do and something for everyone. All day, every day. Which translates into that special something that sets us apart: great vibes.  But as we were saying, kids will be the ones to enjoy it the most (and if they’re happy, aren’t we all?). Let’s start with the lights (because we’re not big on shadows, as you know): Every day until 7 January, starting at 5:30 p.m. we’ll switch on the LED lights for 325 dazzling figures that will fill the Sitges streets with Christmas cheer as you take a stroll or do your evening shopping.

Magic first: Where’s the tió log?
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without some magic. Childhood wouldn’t be the same either. The two go hand in hand. That’s why we’ll go out all out to welcome the tió, a log with legs, a red nose and a traditional Catalan barretina cap who’s always smiling and pooping gifts. And we’ll do so in style, of course, with a parade featuring musicians and shepherds (a Catalan Christmas classic) that will go search for this special log. Save the date: on Sunday 15 December at 10 a.m., the parade will set off from the Cap de la Vila and end up at the Plaça de l’Ajuntament in front of City Hall. And on Saturday 21^st it’ll be time to make the tió in the Plaça de l’Ajuntament poop its gifts. And what gifts! This festive morning (from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) will feature giant games, storytellers, face painters, hot chocolate and more.

More magic: Harry Potter escape room and other workshops

The magic continues. This year, you can also find it in an escape room creation workshop where the theme will be the most famous boy wizard in the whole wide world. Mark your calendars, magic experts and Muggle friends ages 12 to 18: Friday 20 December from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Espai Jove. The organisers and creators of this workshop promise that “this escape room will transport you right to Hogwarts.” Surely they exaggerate, you must be thinking. We wouldn’t be so certain; this is Sitges, after all! Sign up here.

Other can’t-miss workshops: one where you can make your own personalised Christmas baubles with a range of different fabric styles and textures (7 December at 6:30 p.m. at the Palau del Rei Moro); one where you can create musical angels, inspired by those drawn by our beloved Santiago Rusiñol (Saturday 14 December at 11 a.m. at the Escola Pia, but note that space is limited; sign up in advance on the Museus de Sitges website); and one for making Christmas postcards (also at the Palau del Rei Moro, Saturday 21 December at 10:30 a.m.).

A Christmas park just for little ones

It’s Christmas, they’re kids, and this is Sitges. So of course we have a Christmas Park, which is back from 28 December to 5 January in the Pavelló de Pins Vens with a wide range of daily activities for kids 2 to 14.

We’re theatre people
If you want to see the look of wonder on a child’s face, take them to the theatre. Their eyes are sure to light up with two of our traditions, one Catalan and one British (because here in Sitges, we’re hopelessly multicultural). Els Pastorets and the Sitges ETVC Company’s pantomime. Let’s start with the latter, which actually comes first on the calendar: Sunday 15 December at 6:40 p.m. at the Institute of the Arts Barcelona. This year’s play is sure to be a success: Sleeping Beauty. The main ingredients are the same as always: song, dance, bad (no, really, we mean it!) jokes and above all, lots of interaction with audience members (you’ve been warned). One week later, on Sunday 21^st, come by the Teatre Prado at 9 p.m. for the first performance of the traditional Catalan Christmas play Els Pastorets. The next day, but at 7 p.m., we’ll have the second performance of this centuries-old story featuring young shepherds Lluquet and Rovelló, who will use their ingenuity and sense of humour (now these jokes aren’t that bad) to save baby Jesus.

And we enjoy telling (and listening to) stories

We also love a good story here in Sitges. Both telling one and listening to one. Is there anything more engaging and stimulating than imagination? Find out for yourself and let yourself be carried away by Montse Panero, who will draw you into the heart of the stories “La bruja y el tió” [The Witch and the Tió Log], on Thursday 12^th, and “La nit de reis d’en Pau” [Pau on Three Kings Eve], on Thursday 19^th, at seven in the evening in the middle of the Cap de la Vila.

Music, of course

You can’t have a good time without good music. That’s one of the first things you learn in Sitges. And the music starts in the street, with two musical parades featuring jazz by Apocadixie. You’ll probably see them in the city centre on 12 and 19 December starting at 7 in the evening. If you do, let yourself be carried away…We’re sure your little ones will take the lead.

Other magical musical events that will also delight children include the Polifònica de Vilafranca’s Christmas concert at the Parròquia de Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla on Sunday 15 December at six in the evening. The same site will be hosting another very special concert on 25 December itself, at 8 p.m.

And shifting from the solemnity of classical music to the flow of soul pop, check out the Atòmik Funk 4rtet at the Cantina del Retiro on Friday 20 December. It’ll be the perfect chance for the “big kids” to show the little ones their “secret” dance moves…

Ending on a royal note

The Christmas season starts strong and ends strong. In fact, it ends on a positively royal note, with Their Majesties the Three Kings. In Sitges, naturally, they arrive by boat, docking at the Port of Sitges - Aiguadolç. They’ll arrive on 5 January at 12:30 p.m., collecting children’s letters before resting up a bit to get ready for the parade, which will start at five in the afternoon on Fragata Beach.

This is just a taste of what you can find in Sitges during Christmas if you come with kids. There’s much more, including everything we can’t put into words. Everything you might not even see at first glance. But there’s no doubt you’ll feel it. Because as the Little Prince said, “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” So let go and enjoy the experience; we’ll be right there with you… Merry Christmas!