Overview

• Hamburg-Rahlstedt’s small “Winterterrassen” was scrapped after organizers failed to recruit enough stallholders despite a €26,000 subsidy in 2024, with only a four‑day tent event planned for December 11–14 as a stopgap.
• Weinheim scaled its market back to ten huts confined to the Marktplatz, dropped a stage to save space, and will run December 5–21, drawing local criticism over fewer stalls and reduced atmosphere.
• The scenic Ravennaschlucht market in the Black Forest sold all 75,000 tickets within ten hours of presales on October 14, with timed entry capped at 2,500 visitors on site and prices of €6.50 afternoons and €8.50 evenings.
• Early openings continue to expand, from Bayreuth’s Winterdorf starting October 15 to Hamburg’s “Winterdeck” on October 22, with other venues launching in early November under neutral labels.
• A petition in Hollfeld urges delaying the market until after the first Advent, reflecting wider pushback over timing as social media debates weigh tradition against commercial pressures.