2pm - 5pm

• In the centre and on the market square you may run into a geese gaggle lead by its herder. The Puppet Theatre presents Christmas plays especially for children. This Theatre group frequently plays on the Dam square in Amsterdam. Gorgeous, graciously Tudor-style dressed ladies will roam the Market Square.
• Midwinter horn blowers, well-known guests at Gouda by Candlelight, play traditional music. The group originates from the ´Veluwe´ area; they are dressed in traditional costumes as they blow their horns.
• Theatre Company ‘Maskerade’ plays scenes from Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ and other tales by this famous British writer.
• Christmas clowns provide entertainment for young and old at different spots in the centre. And the International Gouda Christmas Circus may also be found on the Market Square, heart of Medieval Gouda, heart of Gouda by Candlelight.
• ‘Voetfolk’, singing minstrels with antique musical instruments across the centre. Historical Dutch barrel organ De Lekkerkerker
• Cor Verkade, great admirer of famous Dutch writer Godfried Bomans, will present the writer’s Christmas fairy tale ‘the Christmas Angel’ (in Dutch)

5-5.30 pm

•  Carillonneur Boudewijn Zwart plays the carillon in the grand Saint John’s church.
  

Ceremony of enlightening of the Christmas tree on the market square

6.30-8 pm

• The Christmas carol sing-along around the large Christmas tree in front of the town hall starts at 6.30 pm. Gouda’s Mayor Mr Schoenmaker will read the Nativity Story. Child Mayor Romaïssa Magoub will contribute to the ceremony, as will our city poet Hanneke Leroux. The tree will be illuminated by the mayor of Gouda’s Norwegian sister city Kongsberg. Musical accompaniment will be in the hands of the Brass Band Schoonhoven.
  
• This year three classical singers will bring us into Christmas atmosphere. Bass-baritone Bora Balci, tenors Amand hekkers and Martin van Os sing beautiful Christmas carols and ballads. The enchanting musical surprise of the evening is our young Gouda born and based artist Pelle van Esch, who plays the trombone, and a selection of the choir of elementary school ‘De Ridderslag’ will certainly bring you in the special Christmas spirit. Musical director is Gouda’s well-known Carillonneur Boudewijn Zwart.

8:15-10 pm

• The Brass Bells uit Pijnacker / JD’s Jingle bells Big Band plays live on the market square.

  

Other locations in the town centre

3–7pm

• A sightseeing tour through the historic parts of town in the monumental Carriage Taxi, the Mobile Gouda Pipe museum, Gouda Centrum West. Route starts at: Hoge Gouwe (near LF, loc 33) > Nonnenwater > Raam > Kuiperstraat > Lange Noodgodstraat > Westhaven > Stop Uiterste Brug near restaurant ‘De Malle Molen’ > stop Veerstal (near location 29a Museumhavencafé "IJsselhuis" > stop Vest near location 30 Molen De Roode Leeuw > stop Vlamingstraat, near location 31 de Kleischuur > Raam > Verloren Kost > Hoge Gouwe > stop location 32 LF-Gouda.

Kleiwegbrug

• Some historical ships are illuminated with Christmas lights to welcome you to our beautiful town centre. 6-10pm Barrel organ ‘De Pansfluiter’, one of the oldest still operational barrel organs (build around 1900).

4.30–5.30pm

• Students of the Cultural organisation Cultuurhuis Garenspinnerij perform in town with small musical groups for charity at different locations.

4–6pm

• For our arriving guests travelling from the parking places on the edge of town to the centre, Duo Snoeshaan and Paul de Jong, accordionist, will play to make your (short) journey by bus cheerful.

6–7pm

• At Blauwstraat /Turfmarkt, on the Hoogstraat and near the Agnietenkapel you may run into the music band of the Salvation Army Gouda.

Vrouwetoren

Walking on the Kleiweg you can take a sidestreet (from direction of the station the first on the right on the Kleiweg, coming from the Market the second at the left) you walk into the Kleiwegstraat. At the end of this alley you enter a small square at the corner of Slapperdel, Vrouwesteeg and Nieuwehaven. The ‘Vrouwetoren’, remains of an old monastery, is an eyecatcher. Inside you may find the workshop and giftshop of artist Sandra de Graaf. A few steps further down the road you will find floral shop ‘De boeketterie’, with a special collection of Christmas decorations and floral work. The shop will be open in the night as many shops will bet his evening. Walking on, you may find new location 27a, Nieuwe Haven 308 and further on you walk into the 32, LF the Lichtfabriek. Taking the left turn will lead you through the Vrouwesteeg ending at the canal Turfmarkt.