Christmas lights in the city of Beja in 2023 represent an investment of 60 thousand euros, an amount identical to that spent last year, revealed the president of this Alentejo municipal council.
Speaking to the Lusa agency, the president of the Municipality of Beja, Paulo Arsénio (PS), indicated that, as in 2022, the decorations alluding to the Christmas season “include the main commercial areas” of the city.
“We focus on the areas with the greatest commercial interest and maintain investment”, highlighted the elected representative from Alentejo.
The Christmas lights in Beja have been running since the 1st of this month and, just like last year, they will continue until the 6th of January.
In relation to 2022, the only difference is the lighting opening hours, which this year were extended to a total of eight hours, from 17:30 pm to 01:30 am.
“We decided to turn on the lighting a little earlier, as it was a request that the traders made to us. In December, it gets dark a little earlier and traders considered that 18pm was a little late”, explained Paulo Arsénio.
In addition to the festive lighting, the city council is promoting, until January 6th, the “É Natal em Beja” initiative, to promote and boost local commerce, the municipality announced in a statement.
Street entertainment, music, living statues, Santa Claus House, theater and circus arts, yoga for babies and children and traditional games are some of the activities.
One of the highlights of the initiative is the traditional Christmas Market, which started today and runs until Sunday, with more than 70 artisans and traders.
With the aim of “promoting trade and local producers”, the market includes crafts, agri-food products, natural cosmetics, illustration, solidarity actions, books and other attractions.
The “É Natal em Beja” program, which also extends to rural parishes, also includes workshops and exhibitions, giant king cake, sporting activities and prizes for those who shop in traditional stores, among other actions.
“As in other years, a window competition and a photography competition will be held that captures the best angles of the historic center” of Beja, 'decked out' in lighting alluding to the festive season, added the municipality.
As for Christmas lights in the other district capitals of Alentejo, the Évora City Council has already revealed to Lusa that it has invested around 30 thousand euros, an amount identical to what was spent last year.
As for Portalegre, questioned by Lusa regarding this year's value, a source from the respective city council limited itself to indicating that “around four thousand euros” were invested.
The same source did not indicate the amount that was invested by the municipality in 2022, only indicating that this year the investment is lower.
Comments