Five things to try in Bucharest this winter holiday season

In between end-of-the-year deadlines and planning and covering the Christmas shopping list, here are some suggestions for getting into holidays spirit this December.

Check some of the fairs in town From traditional Christmas fairs to events focused on products of local designers, there are many fairs taking place in Bucharest beginning December. The Peasant Museum and the Village Museum usually hold events where numerous traditional products, from food to decorations, clothing and accessories go on sale. A Saint Nicholas’ Presents Fair is scheduled at the Village Museum between December 1 and 6, and it will also feature workshops on caroling and making season decorations. More here. The Bucharest Christmas Market is set to open November 30, in Constitutiei Square, bringing with it Santa’s House, an ice-skating rink, and various performances and concerts, plus many stalls selling season products. Marché de Noël, the designer presents fair covering contemporary jewelry, art, fashion and more, is scheduled for December 15 – 16. Designist is holding the Made in Romania fair of contemporary design on November 24 – 25 and Impact Hub, while Dichisar’s winter edition focused on X-mas presents takes place on December 8, also at Impact Hub. The Nutcracker Tchaikovsky’s ballet has long become a season classic, up there with carols and X-mas trees, and there are several opportunities to see it in Bucharest as well. A new production of The Nutcracker premiered at the Bucharest Opera this November, and the next performances are scheduled for December 9, 16, 29 and 30. Tickets are available here. On December 23, St. Petersburg Classical Ballet of Andrey Batalov will also perform Tchaikovsky’s popular ballet, at Sala Palatului. Batalov is a first soloist of the Mariinski Theater, open in Saint Petersburg, Russia since 1860. Tickets here