The Santander City Council is set to launch a new edition of 'La Noche es Joven' on Friday, 6 November, a municipal programme aimed at providing alternative and healthy nightlife activities for young people aged between 15 and 30. The initiative will run on weekends until 19 December and will include a diverse range of free activities.
Noemí Méndez, the Councillor for Youth, explained that this edition will combine various workshops with large thematic events, cultural, sports, and artistic activities across different venues in the city. The aim is to offer young people in Santander participatory, creative, and healthy leisure alternatives that cater to a variety of interests and promote social interaction.
Workshops and events
The Friday evenings of 6, 13, 20, and 27 November will feature a wide array of simultaneous workshops held at five locations: the Tabacalera and Numancia civic centres, the Numancia sports pavilion, Espacio Joven, and the Las Carolinas School of Hospitality. Participants will have the opportunity to explore various disciplines, from cooking and baking to sports activities such as archery, skating, self-defence classes in aikido, boxing, and krav maga.
Dance enthusiasts can also join workshops in K-pop, heels, twerk, flamenco, salsa, bachata, and urban dance. Additionally, artistic and creative workshops will include manga drawing, graffiti, cyanotype, wax sealing, Japanese bookbinding, kokedama (a Japanese art form of growing plants), embroidery, candle-making, podcasting, and customising t-shirts.
Reservations for workshops requiring prior booking will be available online each Wednesday at 17:00, while other activities will allow participation on a first-come, first-served basis until capacity is reached.
Special programming
In addition to the Friday workshops, 'La Noche es Joven' will feature special programming on Saturdays and select dates in December, with activities taking place in various cultural and leisure spaces throughout Santander. The calendar will kick off on Saturday, 7 November, with a climbing event at the Quality Climbing Center, followed by 'Gamazo Artístico' on 14 November at the Naves de Gamazo. This multidisciplinary evening will include a guided tour of the exhibition 'Persona' by Estela de Castro, workshops for making bath bombs with Lush Cosmetics, a Latin dance gathering, and a live poetry slam tournament.
On 21 November, participants can enjoy a free 'Cine Premium' session at Cine Yelmo Peñacastillo, screening 'The Hunger Games: Dawn of the Harvest' at 21:00. Another highlight will be the 'Mansion of Sensations' on 28 November, an immersive night experience transforming the Palacio de La Magdalena into an artistic and sensory venue, featuring collaborations with various cultural organisations.
In December, the Palacio de Exposiciones de Santander will host 'Minas Tirith Night' on 4 and 5 December, dedicated to board games, role-playing, and alternative entertainment. The 'Night of Museums' on 11 December will allow young people to visit various cultural sites in Santander, including Faro Santander, the Planetarium, the Centro Botín, the Museum of Art of Santander (MAS), the Maritime Museum of Cantabria, the Medieval Wall, and the Air Raid Shelter.
On 12 December, Espacio Joven will present 'FrikiArte Santander', focusing on alternative and Asian culture, featuring manga workshops, K-pop activities, a Random Dance event, a trivia competition, and a cosplay runway. The programme will conclude on 18 December with a special day of closing workshops, including disciplines like ceramics, aerial fabrics, pole dance, barre, and aerial yoga. The final event will take place on 19 December with another free 'Cine Premium' session at Ocine Premium Bahía Real, screening 'Avengers: Doomsday'.
'La Noche es Joven' has received recognition for its achievements, including an award from the Youth Institute (INJUVE) as a model project at the national level. It was also a finalist in the international awards from the European Institute of Innovation in Public Policies for its commitment to youth and contribution to social cohesion. Councillor Méndez has encouraged young people in Santander to check the programme and participate in the various offerings.
