Events in Lower Saxony on Saturday and Sunday, 7 and 8 November 2026, range from funfairs to lantern parades. The Zeteler Markt opens its 342nd edition on Saturday at 3 pm.
Markthamm in Zetel, Saturday, 3 pm. That is where the Zeteler Markt opens its 342nd edition on 7 November 2026. Events in Lower Saxony on Saturday and Sunday, 7 and 8 November 2026, range from funfairs to lantern parades.
The Zeteler Markt in Zetel
The Zeteler Markt is one of the oldest and largest folk festivals in northern Germany, and its programme follows a centuries-old tradition. The 342nd edition lasts five days and ends on Wednesday, 11 November. Around 80,000 visitors come to the Markthamm and the town centre of Zetel, and admission is free.
Saturday, 3 pm: the municipality of Zetel opens the market officially. The rides start up and the market stalls open.
On Sunday, 8 November, the festive concert with timpani and trumpets begins at 6 pm. Brass bands from the region give the Sunday its festive soundtrack.
The municipality of Zetel is the organiser. For its age and size, the market ranks among the most important folk festivals in north-western Lower Saxony. Drivers take the A29 to the Zetel exit, and parking is available.
Funfairs, medieval markets and geese
The Kirchdorfer Herbstmarkt celebrates its 191st edition: on Saturday it opens at 2 pm, on Sunday at 11 am, and around 70 showmen bring the Twister, the Shaker, the HipHop-Express, a horror maze and dodgems. A trade exhibition accompanies the funfair. In Osnabrück, the Herbstjahrmarkt, known locally as the Jazzer, runs until Sunday at the Halle Gartlage. More than 120 showmen take part, entry to the grounds is free, and only the rides cost money.
In the palace park in Celle, ANNO 1292 stands until Sunday against the backdrop of the Welf palace. Blacksmiths, wood turners and potters work live, jesters, stage fighters and fire artists fill the stage, and suckling pig, flatbread and mead feed the market crowd. Children get stick bread and archery.
In Melle, the town centre turns into a fairy-tale world under the title Fabelhaftes Melle. Since the first edition in 2003 the festival has included a medieval market, illuminated squares and a stage programme with storytellers, puppet theatre and readings. It runs until Sunday, and admission is free.
The Wildeshausen St Martin's market grew out of the historic goose market. On Sunday, 8 November, more than 50 traders in the town centre sell crafts, honey, cheese and baked goods, and a riders' cavalcade with the cloak-sharing scene, a lantern parade and a fire show are part of the programme. The shops open for Sunday trading. On the market square in Helmstedt, the Helmstedt goose market, run by the town marketing office since 2000, takes place from 1 to 6 pm. Cheese, liqueurs, ceramics and woodwork fill the stalls, and ten frozen geese are raffled in the late afternoon.
In Osterode am Harz, the light installation of the Altstadt festival of lights begins on Sunday at 1 pm. The lantern parade sets off from Martin-Luther-Platz at 5 pm, and the stalls sell mulled wine, bratwurst and dripping bread. Oldenburg opens the kale season with Hallo Grünkohl at the Rathausmarkt and in the Grünkohlgarten behind St Lamberti church. Besides classic kale with Pinkel sausage, the menu runs to kale ice cream, kale gin and kale sushi, and the shops open on Sunday.
Punk instead of lanterns: at the Updreihn Festival in the Utfahrt area of Oldenburg's town centre, five bands from ska, punk and rock'n'roll share the stage on Saturday. It is the 5th edition of the non-profit indoor festival, which has existed since 2017. Tickets are sold in advance.