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The Christmas market in Kaiserslautern will open Monday and run through Dec. 23. But then after the Christmas holidays, it will run into an extension.
For the first time the city will sponsor a New Year’s market Dec. 28 to 30. The market is set up from Schillerplatz to Stiftskirche and consists of more than 40 little wooden houses and booths decorated with fir tree garlands and light bulbs. Vendors sell typical Christmas items such as ornaments, candles, angels, nutcrackers and Advent wreaths. Shoppers find ideas for Christmas presents such as wooden toys, leather items, glass products, jewelry and pottery.
Culinary specialties being offered include Thüringer 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, in the center of town and near Barbarossa Castle will be turned on.
A daily entertaining program will be presented from the stage on Schillerplatz.
“Like in recent years, we again put the emphasis on tradition and a certain continuity,” said Alexander Hess from the project office for city events. A variety of musical performances will lure visitors to the stage. “Local renowned singers such as Stephan Flesch and Waymond Harding, gospel choirs and brass bands will perform festive Christmas music.”
The full program can be found in flyers laid out 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. 3 (see the GACO article on Page 15).
Just like last year the atrium of the Stiftskirche will be open for events. 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 huge Advent calendar of 16 meters will be set up. Every day, at 4 p.m., another door opens to show a picture created by local kindergarten children.
“A 100 square meter Christmas bakery invites children to learn how to bake Christmas cookies near the entrance to the Stiftskirche atrium,” said Mr. Hess. “Parents can wait in one of the three big tents, which houses a café.”
After being successful last year, the medieval association, Die Legende, again will set up a medieval market Dec. 4, 5 and 6 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.
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.
