Murcia welcomed the Christmas season in unforgettable fashion on November 28 2025, as Hollywood actor Richard Gere travelled to Plaza Circular to switch on the city’s iconic Christmas tree. Thousands of residents, alongside many international families living in the region, gathered to witness what has become one of Murcia’s most anticipated annual celebrations.
The festive programme opened to the public at 18:00, with families filling the square well before the official start. At 18:30, children enjoyed a lively performance by La Pandilla de Drilo, helping build excitement ahead of the main event. By 19:00, all eyes turned to the stage as Richard Gere arrived to greet the crowd and join children supported by Fundación Aladina, a national charity that helps young cancer patients and their families.
The switch-on revealed a dazzling display: the Great Christmas Tree of Murcia illuminated the plaza with hundreds of thousands of LED lights, oversized ornaments and a glowing heart at its peak. A coordinated show of lasers, pyrotechnics, artificial snow, bubbles and 65 powerful light cannons created a breathtaking visual effect. The beams projected the shape of a luminous tree across the night sky, visible up to two kilometres away, reaching neighbourhoods across the huerta.
A meaningful visit supporting children with cancer
Gere’s presence in Murcia was not limited to the ceremony. Earlier in the day, he visited the Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, where he joined Fundación Aladina to lay the first stone of a new paediatric gym. The facility will be designed specifically for children undergoing cancer treatment, providing rehabilitation areas, private rooms, bathrooms and support spaces to help improve their physical and emotional well-being during treatment.
Although it had been widely expected that Gere’s wife, Spanish businesswoman Alejandra Silva, would accompany him, the actor ultimately attended the event alone. Nonetheless, his visit retained a strong sense of warmth and purpose, with the focus firmly on the children and the charity’s work.
During the ceremony, the participating children handed over a symbolic illuminated heart, which was raised above the crowd as the tree lit up. This moment represented unity, community spirit and hope – values Murcia aims to highlight during its 2025 festive campaign, titled “Una Navidad para la Historia” (“A Christmas for the History Books”).
A festive experience for residents and expats alike
For many expatriates living in the Region of Murcia, the event offered a welcoming opportunity to experience Spanish festive traditions up close. The mix of community atmosphere, international guests, cultural performances and charitable initiatives made the evening a memorable introduction to local Christmas celebrations.
With its combination of glamour, solidarity and spectacular lighting effects, the 2025 Murcia tree-lighting ceremony has set a new benchmark for festive events in the region – one that both locals and international residents are likely to remember for years to come.