Christkindlmarkt Eichendorf

Lower Bavarian Advent Tradition

Eichendorf, a picturesque market town in the district of Dingolfing-Landau in Lower Bavaria, switches to festive mode every year punctually for the first Advent. Fairy lights are strung across the main streets, a magnificent Christmas tree is erected on the market square, and the courtyard of the Postsaal is transformed into a small, intimate Christmas market — the Christkindlmarkt Eichendorf. It's not the largest market in the region, but one of the most atmospheric.

Two Days of Advent Magic

The Christkindlmarkt traditionally takes place on the first Advent weekend. Opening on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m., with illuminated wooden huts around the Postsaal courtyard. Here, regional exhibitors present Christmas crafts, homemade jams, knitted wool items, cookies, and stollen from the community's bakeries. Mulled wine, punch for the children, and grilled sausages provide the festive atmosphere.

Program for Families

The program is family-oriented: On both days, St. Nicholas visits the market around 5 p.m. and distributes small gifts to the children. On Sunday evening around 6 p.m., the 4th-grade classes of the Eichendorf Primary School perform under the direction of Christiane Aigner — Advent songs, poems, and nativity plays that delight the audience every year.

Sponsors' and Trade Association

The Förderer- und Gewerbeverein Eichendorf (Sponsors' and Trade Association) organizes the event together with the market municipality officials and the clubs. The Christmas decorations are lovingly created by the volunteers, and each trader contributes their part. It is this volunteer energy that gives the market its unmistakable character.

Eichendorf in its Advent Attire

Compared to the large Christmas markets in Munich, Regensburg, or Nuremberg, Eichendorf is deliberately small, warm, and Lower Bavarian. Those seeking authenticity — far from mass tourism, in an atmosphere where you can still get to know the exhibitors personally — will find it here. The market is perfect for a relaxed Advent outing between Landshut, Vilshofen, and Deggendorf.

What Makes Eichendorf Special

The combination of the historic market square, the Postsaal courtyard as a manageable market area, the dedicated local clubs, and the musical participation of the primary school creates an atmosphere that many modern large markets lack. In the snow — not so rare in Lower Bavaria — the experience becomes particularly romantic.