This week Vicki is joined by her “events bestie” Nina Moons, the founder of The Calendar Mallorca, to talk about winter on the island, Christmas build up in Palma and how to make the most of the quieter season.

Nina shares what she has been up to lately, from local concerts and village fairs to family hikes, lazy lunches and discovering new boutique fitness and wellness spots. She and Vicki chat about the famous Palma Christmas lights switch on, the charm and chaos of the city centre that night, and how to navigate the Christmas markets, from Plaça Major to Passeig del Born and village fairs in places like Alaró.

They also dive into community, language and lifestyle. Nina explains how The Calendar Mallorca helps people plug into island life, why experiences make the best gifts, and how her own family is growing up multilingual and very outdoorsy. Expect lots of practical ideas for winter days, from cultural events and kids activities to cosy brunches, jazz nights and spa sessions.

• Winter rhythm on Mallorca after the summer season
• Palma Christmas lights switch on and how the city celebrates
• Christmas markets in Palma and in villages such as Alaró
• Why experiences make great Christmas gifts on the island
• How The Calendar Mallorca connects different communities and interests
• Raising multilingual children and family life in Mallorca
• Boutique gyms, wellness spots and ways to stay active in winter
• Comedy, theatre and live music as part of the off season scene

Event and lifestyle resources

• CHECK The Calendar Mallorca website https://thecalendarmallorca.com/ and Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thecalendar.mallorca/ for weekly event listings.
• Palma Christmas lights switch on in November, an evening in the centre with street performers, music and the first big taste of the festive season.

Palma and village Christmas markets, especially:

• City centre markets around Plaça Major, La Rambla and Parc de la Mar
• Hotel and boutique markets, including Es Baluard and similar spaces
• Village markets, for example Alaró, with a strong community feel.

Wellness, fitness and language

• Rdy Studios in Palma, an indoor cycling and music focused spin studio with themed classes and community runs.
• Balu in Santa Catalina, a boutique Pilates and yoga studio that hosts creative community events.
• Haslap, a locally founded running app that lists runs, clubs and events across Mallorca.
• Spanish by Living (Tia’s Spanish speaking club), weekly conversation meet ups in Palma plus special activities such as hikes with lunch or boat trips, all aimed at helping people improve Spanish in real life settings.

Food, drink and going out

• Grun restaurants in Fornalutx and Deià, open all year with charcoal grilled dishes, fish of the day and family friendly options, ideal after a hike.
• Palma jazz lounge at Plaça de la Reina area, a small, intimate venue with live jazz and themed evenings, perfect after dinner.

Family and kids

• Palma Aquarium “Yo También” charity days, with reduced entry for residents, extra workshops and activities for children, and a donation from each ticket to a local children’s charity.
• Year round family hikes and nature time, especially around Deià, Fornalutx and Sóller, combined with lunch at local restaurants.

Wellness and spa

• Wild Spa sauna truck in the Sóller mountains, a mobile sauna experience with community sessions and private bookings, ideal for colder months.
• Infrared and recovery style sauna sessions in Palma, as a gentler alternative to traditional very hot saunas.