Bergstadt-Advent Oerlinghausen

Advent Market on the Mountain Town

The Bergstadt-Advent Oerlinghausen uses the town's name programmatically: Bergstadt (mountain town) Oerlinghausen is located on the Teutoburg Forest – on a prominent ridge between Bielefeld and Detmold. For three days, always on the 2nd weekend of Advent, the central Rathausplatz (town hall square) is transformed into a classic East Westphalian Advent market. In 2026, these will be the days from December 4th to 6th – Friday to Sunday.

Opening Hours and Schedule

• Friday, December 4th – 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM (Evening Opening)
• Saturday, December 5th – 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM (Main Day)
• Sunday, December 6th (St. Nicholas' Day) – 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM with Sunday opening hours in Oerlinghausen's shops

What's at the Rathausplatz

The offerings are within the classic Advent market framework, with a focus on quality:

• Arts and Crafts and Gift Ideas – Woodwork, pottery, felt goods, nativity figures, Christmas decorations
• Advent Light Display – Fairy lights, illuminated fir trees around the town hall, festive atmosphere even during the day
• Refreshments – Mulled wine (Glühwein) and Feuerzangenbowle in special mug editions, bratwurst, potato pancakes (Reibekuchen), gingerbread, almonds, crêpes
• Program Highlights – Musical contributions by local choirs and brass bands, performances by the kindergarten, Christmas readings

St. Nicholas on December 6th

In 2026, the Sunday of the Bergstadt-Advent falls exactly on St. Nicholas' Day. This is traditionally used: St. Nicholas walks through the market, small gifts for children, plus the Sunday opening hours. A rich family program in three hours in the late afternoon.

Organizers and Community

The market is organized by the Verkehrs- und Verschönerungsverein Oerlinghausen (Oerlinghausen Traffic and Beautification Association) together with Oerlinghausen Marketing e.V. – a constellation that combines civic engagement with town marketing logic. Contributing associations, schools, and church communities provide stalls.

Oerlinghausen — Mountain Town in the Lippe District

Oerlinghausen, with around 17,000 inhabitants, is a small town in the Lippe district, nestled in the northern Teutoburg Forest. Its location on the mountain gave the town the nickname "Bergstadt". Oerlinghausen is also known for its Archaeological Open-Air Museum, an important site for Iron Age research. The Bergstadt-Advent combines the historic townscape around the linden tree at the town hall with a classic Advent market format.