Overview
- Essen-Steele opened on November 2 with a strong turnout and an official ribbon-pull by Mayor Thomas Kufen, marking one of the first major markets of the season.
- Organizers in Essen-Steele urged travel by public transport due to limited parking, while online complaints over prices surfaced, including €8.50 for a small cup of soup with sausage slices.
- Venue changes continue: Dortmund’s Schloss Bodelschwingh market is suspended for two years for renovation, and Hamburg-Rahlstedt’s Winterterrassen has been permanently canceled over weak vendor revenues.
- New formats roll out later this month: the Landweihnacht at Hof Menken in Castrop-Rauxel runs November 27–30 with about 30 stands in two large tents, and Paderborn/Lippstadt airport hosts an Adventszauber on November 30 with roughly 60 stalls across terminal and parking areas.
- Markets are adding experiences and inclusion features, including Essen’s new ‘Glühwein‑Krimi’ outdoor escape game from RuhrEscape and EMG, and Düsseldorf’s expanded accessibility with ramps, under-table wheelchair access, barrier-free WCs and Braille menus.