As the holiday season approaches, the festive spirit and the streets of Bucharest come alive with the anticipation of Christmas. Discover the weekend buzz downtown with insights from Business Review.

Bucharest Christmas Market in Constitution Square

Residents of the capital as well as tourists can enjoy traditional dishes, artisanal products, and art programmes. In addition, you will find Christmas decorations, handmade products (accessories and jewellery), as well as natural care products such as cosmetics or lavender-based products.

West Side Christmas Market in Drumul Taberei Park

The West Side Christmas Market includes an ice rink, a colourful carousel, a 33-metre-high Ferris wheel, and Santa Claus’s Cottage, where kids can send letters and have fun with the elves.

Christmas Fair at the National Peasant Museum in Bucharest

The National Museum of the Romanian Peasant will host the “Christmas Gifts” fair from Friday to Sunday, with dozens of craftsmen and artists in attendance, according to the organizers.

The fair will feature a variety of items available for admiration and purchase, including toys, small wooden sticks, masks, ornaments, traditional footwear, woven fabrics, wicker baskets, wooden bowls, pots, icons, wooden flasks, plates, scarves, belts, bags, distillation apparatus, wooden trays, small wooden stools, salt shakers, pepper shakers, tubs, spoon racks, spoons, woven straw items, small chairs, tablecloths, dowry chests, traditional shirts, aprons, bells, and various pastries, fruits, honey, pies, sweets, medicinal plants, and brandy.

Mezanin Market at Palatul Universul

For more inspiration for Christmas gifts, try also Mezanin Market, pet & kid friendly. For two days, visitors will discover jewelry, interior design products, artisanal drinks and sweets, clothing for children and adults, eco-friendly products, books, sweets, and healthy combinations of honey, special accessories, and natural cosmetics. Details here.

Dichisar de Iarna at Impact Hub

In a magical setting, take the time to choose gifts made with passion in Romania, handcrafted, unique or in small series, with which you will tell your loved ones that you think of them, appreciate them, and don’t just give them something for the sake of it. Details here.

Christmas Concert by the Royal Choir o at St. Joseph’s Cathedral

The Royal Choir, a youth ensemble under the High Patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Radu of Romania and decorated by Her Majesty Margareta, the Custodian of the Romanian Crown, will perform the Royal Christmas Concert at St. Joseph’s Roman-Catholic Cathedral in the capital, on December 11, from 20.00, where admission is free, subject to available seating.

The Royal Christmas Concert will bring together some of the most talented young Romanian musicians of the moment. Alongside the Royal Choir, conductors Răzvan Apetrei and Daniela Cotoroană, cellist Alexandra Căplescu, and pianist Teodora Chircă will perform.

The repertoire consists of compositions and arrangements by Tomas Luis de Victoria, Ola Gjeilo, Javier Busto, James L. Pierpont, Phillip Lawson, Michael Engelhardt, Mykola Leontovyci, Gheorghe Danga, Tudor Jarda, Tiberiu Brediceanu, Nicolae Ursu, Gheorghe Dima, Alexandru Paşcanu, Claudiu Negulescu, Florian Costea, and Matei Alexandru.