New Year is a special holiday all over the world and Tbilisi is not an exception. Mostly, people are getting ready even from November to celebrate the New Year on 31 December. Christmas tree decorations, colourful lights, New Year’s Eve, snowstorms, kids waiting for Santa Claus (Tovlis Babua /thÉ”vlis babua/ in Georgian which means father frost) in red-and-white clothes, parents giving presents – it’s not all about New Year’s Eve, though. So long a modern New Year tradition, even Christmas is celebrated on 25th December (Originally Georgia celebrates Christmas on 7th January), This has played an important role in spreading American culture to Europe and the rest of the world. So, most of today’s celebrated Christmas and New Year traditions have emerged over the last two centuries with great influence on American culture. Before that, even in European countries, there were different traditions to celebrate the New Year.
Christmas lights and decorations in Tbilisi
For 2020 we have a special new year tree in Tbilisi which was bought from Italy for 1 000 000 GEL. Prior to the ceremony, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze and his family attended the ceremony. He declared the New Year’s village open on Republic Square after the Christmas tree was lit.
New Year illuminations were lit in the streets of Tbilisi on 25th December. For the last few years, we can say proudly that Tbilisi has had one of the most beautiful Christmas and new year decorations throughout Europe. Tbilservice Group has been installing New Year’s lights for about a month.
According to the decision of the Tbilisi City Hall this year the Rustaveli Avenue and Orbeliani Square is completely redesigned with new designs and lighting, and the existing illuminations will be distributed in different parts of the city to cover most of it.
Check out photo gallery
Tbilisi Christmas and New year 2020 events guide
From December 25 to January 13, Tbilisi City Hall invites Tbilisi residents and visitors to the capital on the First Republic and Orbeliani squares. A variety of children’s entertainment events will be presented at both venues during this period. Tbilisi City Hall reports.
The First Republic Square will host a New Year’s Eve town where Santa Claus will host guests; Jugglers and magicians will entertain the little ones, staging various shows, performances and more. There will also be a Christmas market that will combine two projects “Taste in the Streets of Tbilisi” and “Tbilisi Market”. Concerts of Georgian pop stars, music bands and DJs will be held every evening.
As for Orbeliani Square, it is inhabited by lit Atoneli Street, Chichilak forest and a shining planet, Santa Claus’s house and ice rink. Here, too, kids’ entertainment programs will be held throughout the day. In addition, New Year’s Eve Exhibition-Sale, Agro, Wine and Entrepreneurial Market will be organized. Startup markets and food outlets will be featured. There will be folk karaoke and DJ performances.
Full list of all Christmas/New year events in 2020 (will be updated for 2021)
December 25th
20:00 Christmas tree lighting and music
21: 00-23: 00 Dj Beka Eloshvili third soul
December 26th
20: 00-21: 00 Band “Evening Project”
21: 00-23: 00 DJ Zurab Chkonia (zurkin)
December 27th
20: 00-21: 00 Georgian Pop Stars
21:00 -23: 00 DJ Giorgi Erikashvili (Ericsson)
December 28
20: 00-21: 00 Georgian Pop Stars
21: 00-23: 00 DJ Sandro Khvedeliani (khvedeliani)
December 29
20: 00-21: 00 Georgian Pop Stars
21: 00-23: 00 DJ Nika Japaridze (nika J)
December 30th
20: 00-21: 00 Georgian Pop Stars
21: 00-23: 00 DJ Shotiko Tsverava (sumo)
December 31
23:00 New Year’s Gala Concert / Music Show “One In One”
January 1st
21: 00-22: 00 MAX THE SAX
22: 00-00: 00 DJ Nika Janelidze (skalitzer)
January 2
20: 00-21: 00 David Iluridze Band
21: 00-23: 00 DJ Misho Gochitashvili
January 3
20: 00-21: 00 group new one
21: 00-23: 00 DJ Sando Jorbenadze (dj sendnudes)
January 4
19: 40-20: 00 Saba Safareli (Street Musician)
20: 00-21: 00 Nodariko Khutsishvili Band
21: 00-23: 00 DJ Kote Japaridze (kote japaridze)
January 5
20: 00-20: 45 Show Little Prince
20:45 -21: 45 Goofy Land
January 6
20: 00-21: 00 “The Quintessence” – Christmas Concert
21: 00-23: 00 Lasha Margiani (hatsvali)
January 7
20: 00-21: 00 Georgian Pop Stars and Groups
21: 00-23: 00 DJ Nika Kvachadze
January 8
20: 00-21: 00 Luka Dgebuadze Trio
21: 00-23: 00 Ia Tomas and Saba Abramidze
January 9
20: 00-21: 00 David Eugenidze and the Band
21: 00-23: 00 DJ Beka Lortkipanidze (baqi lordkipanidze)
January 10
20: 00-20: 45 Show Little Prince
20: 45-21: 45 Rezo and the kids
January 11
20: 00-21: 00 Newton Band
21: 00-23: 00 DJ Erekle Tabukashvili (Tobacco twin)
January 12
20: 00-21: 00 Concert of Georgian folk music
21: 00-22: 00 Blues Factor Levan Javakhishvili
22: 00-00: 00 DJ Toke Nikolaishvili (Toke)
January 13th
20: 00-21: 00 Georgian Pop Stars and Bands
21: 00-23: 00 DJ Otto Parulava