Overview
- Drensteinfurt marked its 40th market on the second Advent weekend with broad club participation, Eisstockschießen, a children’s snow cannon and a café serving 59 homemade cakes.
- Essen’s International Christmas Market runs November 14–December 23 with the WDR 2 Weihnachtswunder scheduled for December 13–17 and a bookable ‘Glühwein-Krimi’ experience, while stands operate on green electricity and rely on reusable deposit tableware.
- Dortmund’s market, open November 20–December 30, centers on a roughly 45‑meter tree of about 1,200 firs lit by more than 138,000 LEDs on Hansaplatz, complemented by city history–themed light installations along Kampstraße.
- Schongau’s Winterzauber, open through December 21 on Marienplatz, features Yuzu‑Glühwein, a ‘Kusshaltestelle’ for couples, and a festive opening by local officials along with family attractions.
- Tourism rankings cited by TUI place Cologne first, Nuremberg second and Dresden third for popularity, with Stuttgart’s long‑running market ranked 12th, as major markets in Munich, Bremen, Berlin, Münster and Ulm publish full programs and hours through late December.