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Essen-Steele Christmas Market Sees Big Crowds, Price Complaints and New Food Stalls

Organizers urge public transport use due to a lack of official parking or shuttles.

Overview

  • One of NRW’s earliest markets opened on November 2 with roughly 100 stalls, drawing heavy weekend attendance in Essen-Steele.
  • Visitors reported lengthy searches and long walks for parking, while S-Bahn, tram, regional rail and multiple bus lines serve the Essen-Steele station a short walk from the site.
  • Online criticism focused on food prices, including a cited €8.50 small lentil soup with four sausage slices, with commenters pointing to higher wages and increased stand fees as cost drivers.
  • Petra’s Feldküche returned under new management after last year’s operator quit over higher stand fees, reinstating a long-running market fixture.
  • Food highlights span crowd favorite K wie Kartoffel backpotatoes (€6 basic; €8 with mushrooms or Bolognese) and a new Afghan stand by Monira Wali offering meatless dishes such as bolani and sambosa.