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The Christmas market in Kaiserslautern will take place Monday through Dec. 22. It expands from Schillerplatz to Stiftskirche and consists of more than 40 little wooden houses and booths decorated with fir tree garlands and light bulbs.
Vendors will sell typical Christmas items such as ornaments, candles, angels, nutcrackers and Advent wreaths. Shoppers can find ideas for Christmas presents such as wooden toys, leather items, glass products, jewelry and pottery.
Culinary specialties being offered include Thueringer bratwurst, pizza, roasted chestnuts, cinnamon waffles and the typical winter drink, “glühwein,” a heated red wine spiced with cloves and cinnamon sticks.
Lord Mayor Dr. Klaus Weichel will officially open the market at 6 p.m. Monday from the stage on Schillerplatz. To the tick of the 18th hour, the festive illuminations across the Christmas market and in the center of town will be turned on.
“The Kaiserslautern Christmas market has something to offer for everybody – art and craft items, toys, pottery and jewelry,” said Dr. Susanne Wimmer-Leonhard, deputy mayor. “Also, the romantic atmosphere provided by the gorgeous illumination in the trees around the market, near the Tourist Information office and near Barbarossa Castle and the city hall will lure many visitors.”
A daily entertainment program will be presented from the stage on Schillerplatz.
“We put the emphasis on tradition and a certain continuity,” said Alexander Hess, from the project office for city events. “We will present a nice musical program including the band Crime & Passion, singer Waymond Harding, gospel choirs and brass bands presenting festive Christmas music.”
The full program can be found in stores, restaurants, banks and the Tourist Information ‘Office next to the Fruchthalle.
The German-American Community office will present American performers on the Schillerplatz stage from noon to 9 p.m. Dec. 4. For details, read next week’s special edition of the Kaiserslautern American.
“For the first time, the atrium of the Stiftskirche will be open for events as well,” said Dr. Wimmer-Leonhardt. There will be a bonfire, a nativity scene and artisans and stone sculptors presenting their works. “Tuesdays and Thursdays a petting zoo with animals from the Kaiserslautern Zoo will turn the nativity scene into a live scene.”
Near the entrance to the atrium, a 16-meter Advent calendar will be set up. At 4 p.m. every day, a door will open to show a picture created by local kindergarten children.
“Also here, thanks to a local sponsor, a Christmas bakery invites children to learn how to bake Christmas cookies,” said Mr. Hess. “Parents can wait in one of the three big tents, which houses a café.”
The medieval association, Die Legende, will present a medieval market Dec. 5, 6 and 7 in the ruins of former Barbarossa Castle near the city hall.
“Visitors will be taken back into the 12th and 13th century by watching medieval handicraft demonstrations and tasting food specialties and hot mead,” said Dr. Wimmer-Leonhardt.
For the 850th anniversary of his first stay in Kaiserslautern, Emperor Barbarossa will visit the Kaiserslautern Christmas market and offer special activities such as a reading session on the opening day.
The Kaiserslautern Christmas market will be open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, and 1 to 9 p.m. Sundays.
For details, visit www.kaiserslautern.de.
