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Christmas at Gut Wolfsgangshof in Anwanden
ANSBACH, Germany (Nov. 24, 2016) – “Was ist los in Franken?” details off-post community events and activities occurring throughout Middle, Lower and Upper Franconia.
Ansbach Christmas Market Opens
The traditional Ansbach Christmas market opens on Thursday, November 24. The booths and stands start selling their goods at 5 p.m., but the official opening begins at 7 p.m. on the center stage. A crafts exhibition in the Stadthaus (first floor, co-located with the tourist information office) features handmade Christmas decorations and much more.
The 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. 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 Nov. 24 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. On Nov. 25 at 5.30 p.m. (the Friday before the first Advent Sunday), the Christkind opens her market, reciting the solemn prologue from the gallery of the Church of Our Lady. 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, especially on opening day. 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 (Photo: Steffen Oliver Riese)
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
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 Nov. 25-27, Dec. 2-4, 9-11 and 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 Gut Wolfgangshof
Advent in Franconian farm houses – Bad Windsheim
The open air museum Bad Windsheim features “Advent in fränkischen Bauernstuben” (Advent in Franconian farm houses) on the advent Sundays before Christmas (Nov. 27, Dec. 4 and 11), from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Experience holiday mood with traditional music, singing, storytelling, Lebkuchen, coffee and Glühwein. Christmas tree decorations, nativity scenes, wreaths and hand-knitted wool products can be bought on site. To learn more about the museum and its events, go to Freilandmuseum
Rothenburger Meisterkonzert
A classical music concert takes place in the Reichsstadthalle Rothenburg (Spitalhof 8) on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 8 p.m. The program includes Bedrich Smetana (Die Moldau), Antonín Dvorak (Violinkonzert a-Moll op. 53) and Peter Tschaikowsky (Symphonie Nr. 5 e-Moll op. 64). To learn more, visit Meisterkonzert
Museumsweihnacht Bad Windsheim
The open air museum in Bad Windsheim (Eisweiherweg 1) is celebrating Christmas at the museum on Sunday, Dec. 4 from noon to 4 p.m. with music, caroling, trombone concert, coffee, Glühwein, cake and holiday decorations. To learn more, go to Freilandmuseum
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 Nov. 25-27, Dec. 2-4, 9-11 and 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
Windsbacher Knabenchor in Ansbach
The famous boys’ choir from Windsbach, the “Windsbacher Knabenchor,” performs a concert at the St. Gumbertuskirche (Johann-Sebastian-Bach-Platz 3) in Ansbach on Nov. 28 at 7:30 p.m. To learn more, visit Konzert
Christmas Pottery Market
Pottery fans can look forward to the pottery Christmas market in Schloss Thurnau, located along Autobahn A70 between Bamberg and Bayreuth, on Dec. 2 through 4. Pottery shops from all over exhibit and sell their work, while visitors can enjoy locally produced food and beverages. Opening hours are Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; admission is free. To learn more, visit Pottery market
Scottish Festival in Fürth
Experience the Scottish way of life at the Schottenfest in the Grüne Halle Fürth (Krautheimer Straße 11) on Saturday, Dec. 3, starting at 4 p.m. The program features Highland Dancing, bag pipes, a Scottish Whisky lounge, a fashion show, lamb roast, Haeggis, fish and chips …..to learn more, visit Grüne Halle
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) from Nov. 16 through 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
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
Erlangen on Ice
The public ice skating rink on Marktplatz (between Paulibrunnen and Palais Stutterheim) in Erlangen opens on Nov. 19; the rink, 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
