Was ist los in Franken? Dec. 16, 2016

Christikindlesmarkt in the snow. (Photo: Christine Dierenbach)

Christikindlesmarkt in the snow. (Photo: Christine Dierenbach)

ANSBACH, Germany (Dec. 16, 2016) – “Was ist los in Franken?” details off-post community events and activities occurring throughout Middle, Lower and Upper Franconia.

Herrieden Christmas Market
The Herrieden Christmas market in the main square will take place on Dec. 16 through 18 this year. The booths, manned by volunteers, are offering food and beverages, as well as hand-made ornaments and other little decorations. The opening ceremony is on Friday at 5 p.m., when the mayor and the Christkind ring in the season together with the local children’s choir.


Bad Windsheim Christmas Market
The Bad Windsheim Weihnachtsmarkt is going into the last weekend Dec. 16 through 18. Booths open at 3 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.


Dinkelsbühl Christmas Market
Dinkelsbühl – sometimes called the little Rothenburg because of its historical walled city – features a unique little Christmas market. Booths offer not only the usual food and beverages, but all kinds of decoration of gift items. Worth mentioning is the arts and crafts bazaar, tucked away in a building in the corner of the market with handmade brick-a-brac and trinkets. To learn more, visit www.tourismus-dinkelsbuehl.de


Romantic Christmas Market in Anwanden, Gut Wolfgangshof
More than 100 crafters and vendors display their products in rustic huts, a cow stable, a grain hall or in a hay attic at the Christmas market in Gut Wolfgangshof (Weitersdorfer Str. 22) in Anwanden, a little town between Nürnberg and Ansbach. The market is open on Dec. 16-18. Opening hours are Fridays 3 – 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday noon to 8 p.m.; admission prices vary from 5 euros for adults to 1 euro for children 6 to 15 years; youngsters under six enter for free.   To learn more about the market, go to Christmas Market Anwanden


Sing-along Christmas Songs
A sing-along with Christmas songs from all over the world is hosted at the Orpheum (Johannisstr. 32 a/ corner of Burgschmietstraße) in Nürnberg Dec. 17, starting at 8 p.m. To learn more, visit Orpheum


Bach’s Christmas Oratorio
The Weihnachtsoratorium by Johann Sebastian Bach is performed at the Sebaldus church in Nürnberg (Winklerstr. 26) Dec. 18 at 5 p.m. The church is located close to the Christkindlesmarkt; the concert is performed by the Nürnberg Bach Orchestra and St. Sebald participants. To learn more, visit Sebalduskirche


Windsbacher Knabenchor in Ansbach
The famous boys’ choir from Windsbach, the “Windsbacher Knabenchor,” performs a Christmas concert at the St. Gumbertuskirche (Johann-Sebastian-Bach-Platz 3) in Ansbach on Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m. The choir presents the Christmas Oratorio by Johann Sebastian Bach together with an orchestra. To learn more, visit Konzert


Best of Black Gospel in Rothenburg and Ansbach
“Best of Black Gospel” is visiting Rothenburg with their “Back to the Roots” program Dec. 20 at the Reichsstadthalle Rothenburg (Spitalhof 8) at 7:30 p.m. To learn more, visit Gospel Rothenburg or Best of Black Gospel

The Ansbach performance takes place Dec. 21 at the Orangerie. To learn more, contact the Ansbach Tourist Office at Tel.: 0981 – 51 243 or akut@ansbach.de


Nutcracker in Ansbach
The Classic Russia Ballet performs the Nutcracker with music by Tchaikovsky Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. at the Onoldiasaal. To learn more, contact the Ansbach Tourist Office at Tel.: 0981 – 51 243 or akut@ansbach.de


Ansbach Christmas Market
The traditional Ansbach Christmas market is open daily until Dec. 24; opening hours are Monday through Wednesday 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Thursday through Sunday 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. The market closes at 1 p.m. on Christmas Eve. A crafts exhibition in the Stadthaus (first floor, co-located with the tourist information office) features handmade Christmas decorations and much more. For more details, including an event program and a site map, go to Weihnachtsmarkt Ansbach


Medieval Christmas Market in Fürth
The Medieval Christmas Market in Fürth takes place parallel to the the regular Christmas market at the Freiheit through Dec. 23; it is open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and offers crafts and performances, campfires, jugglers, fire artists and much more. To learn more, visit Mittelaltermärkte


Christkindlesmarkt in Nürnberg
Every year, Germany’s most famous Christmas Market opens its stalls for visitors from all over the world, right in the middle of the city, on Nuremberg Main Market Square. And, as every year, by Christmas Eve, more than two million people from all over the world will have visited the Nürnberg Christmas Market.

About 180 wooden stalls, decorated with red-and-white cloth, hold the traditional goods: Nürnberg Lebkuchen (gingerbread), Früchtebrot (fruit loaves), bakery goods and sweets, typical Christmas articles such as Christmas tree angels, cribs, tree ornaments and candles, toys as well as arts and crafts products. The Zwetschgenmännla (plum people), little figures made from prunes, make a popular souvenir. Refreshments include, of course, Nürnberger Bratwurst and Glühwein (mugs of hot mulled wine).

Using public transportation is always recommended. The market is about ten minutes by foot downhill from the Hauptbahnhof (main train station). It is open daily 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., finally closing at 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Detailed information in English can be found at Christkindlesmarkt

Kinderweihnacht – Nürnberg
The Kinderweihnacht, a special Christmas market for children with historical carrousels, Ferris wheel, train, glass and candle workshops and Christmas bakery, is located on Hans-Sachs-Platz, right around the corner of the famous Nürnberg Christkindlesmarkt. Opening times are daily 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Nov. 25 – Dec. 24 (closes at 2 p.m.). To learn more, go to Christkindlesmarkt


The “Reiterlesmarkt” of Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Once a year, the medieval town of Rothenburg is transformed into a winter wonderland during the annual Reiterlesmarkt; this wonderful Christmas market has been the highlight of the festive Christmas season in Rothenburg since the 15th century. Today the narrow and winding streets and the squares around the Town Hall, its archways and the market square are still lined with stalls where one can find almost anything associated with a German Christmas market: pastries, white mulled wine and handcrafted decorations.

Numerous cultural events are held in conjunction with the market. Daily events include a guided tour starting at 2 p.m. at the market square, and a visit by the Pelzmärtel (German Santa) at 4:30 p.m. Every day (starting at Dec. 1) a new window of the “advent calendar” on the town hall is opened at 5 p.m.; a concert by a brass band follows at 5:30 p.m.

The Rothenburg Reiterlesmarkt is open Nov. 25 through Dec.23; opening hours are Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. For further information about the Rothenburg market contact the Rothenburg Tourismus Service on Marktplatz 2 at 09861-404-800 or info@rothenburg.de, or visit the website at Rothenburg Tourism


Nativity Scenes in Handwerkerhof Nürnberg
Old Nürnberg crafts tradition can be admired in the Nürnberger Handwerkerhof (Königstor, next to the big tower across from the Hauptbahnhof) until Dec. 30 when the nativity scene exhibition is once again opened for the season. Small stores and craft shops offer toys, decorations and much more, while typical Franconian restaurants open their doors to the hungry visitors. The Handwerkerhof is open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. – 10 p.m., the stores open 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Admission to the exhibition is free. To learn more, go to Handwerkerhof


Flic Flac Circus in Nürnberg
Flic Flac, an acrobatic circus show, is coming to Nürnberg at Volksfestplatz near the Dutzendteich (Bayernstrasse 110) Dec. 14 through Jan. 8; the show includes motor cycle stunts, juggling, high ropes acrobats and slap stick comedy. To learn more, visit FlicFlac


A Night at the Zoo
Children between eight and 12 years old can spend a night at the Tiergarten Nürnberg and sleep close to dolphins, manatees and see lions. An overnight stay costs 70 euros and includes food and beverages; children need to bring a sleeping bag, and insulating mat and warm clothing. The offer has started in November, dates run all the way to March next year. To learn more, visit Zoo sleepover


Ice Rink in Gunzenhausen
Gunzenhausen has put up an ice skating rink on the Marktplatz; highlights include an ice disco and “Eisstockschiessen,” Bavarian curling. The ice rink is open until Jan. 8; to learn more, go to Eisbahn

Erlangen on Ice
The public ice skating rink on Marktplatz (between Paulibrunnen and Palais Stutterheim) in Erlangen, located near the Christmas market, is open daily until Jan. 8. Skates are for rent for 3 euros, admission is free. Opening hours are Monday through Friday 2 – 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., Dec. 24 and 31 it’s 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Dec. 25 and 26 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Jan. 1 noon to 9 p.m. To learn more about Erlangen Christmas activities, go to Erlangen

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