Overview
- Overath (NRW) scrapped its St. Walburga market after the city declined to underwrite barriers and guards, with organizer OVplus citing about €17,500 spent on security in 18 months; Mayor Michael Eyer said no extra measures were demanded and called the cancellation hard to understand.
- Kerpen is switching to a smaller “Genussmarkt im Advent” on November 28 to limit fencing and personnel needs after no municipal support was offered, according to AGK representative René Hövel.
- Rostock’s historical market in the IGA Park is canceled again this year, first reported by Ostsee-Zeitung, while the city’s main Christmas market remains scheduled to open after Totensonntag.
- Organizers across towns warn rising expenses for vehicle barriers and security staff create untenable risk and cite a 2018 Berlin administrative court decision that frames public safety as a governmental duty.
- Most markets are proceeding with published plans, including Berlin’s Spandau Altstadt, Humboldt Forum, Alt‑Rixdorf, Kollwitzplatz and Niederschöneweide, as well as Ingolstadt’s Christkindlmarkt.