Christmas Market Rathausmarkt (Roncalli)

Bernhard Paul's Roncalli at the Rathausmarkt

The Hamburg Rathausmarkt Christmas Market has been curated by Bernhard Paul and his Circus Roncalli team since 2002. This patronage makes the market a special case in the German Advent market calendar: While most large markets are organized by city marketing companies or regional showman associations, a circus director with a distinct aesthetic program is in charge here. This is evident in every detail – from the stall aesthetics (warm, artisanal, somewhat "Roncalli-esque") to the program (flying Santa Claus, Christmas parade).

The Flying Santa Claus

The absolute trademark of the market: Daily at 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM, and 8:00 PM, a Santa Claus with his sleigh and reindeer hovers over the market – on a technically sophisticated cable system between the City Hall and an opposite building. The flight is accompanied by live music, and the market falls silent for the few minutes of the flight. This is staging in the Roncalli spirit – and has been the most photographed Hamburg Advent element for years.

The Christmas Parade on Mönckebergstraße

On the four Advent Saturdays, a Christmas parade moves from Mönckebergstraße to the Rathausmarkt – at 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM each time. Angels, elves, festive figures, live music, horse-drawn carriages. This parade is also due to Bernhard Paul's Roncalli aesthetic: a theatrical, almost circus-like staging of the Hamburg Advent season, which completely shapes the city center for an hour each time.

Around 80 Stalls with a Curated Selection

Roncalli strictly curates the selection of stalls: toys from artisan workshops, handmade nativity scenes, Christmas decorations, Hamburg regional specialties, handicrafts. No mass-produced goods, no cheap trinkets. A signature mulled wine variety – the "Rathausmarkt-Glühwein" as an organic version – is served, complemented by roasted almonds and gingerbread. A historic carousel operates in the center of the market and is part of the core inventory.

Sustainability as a Program Item

The market operates with 100% green electricity, LED lighting (around 80% energy savings compared to conventional fairy lights), and single-use plastic is prohibited – food and drinks are served in compostable or reusable containers. The fir trees used after market closing are shredded and composted.

A Market of Identity in the State of Hamburg

The Rathausmarkt Christmas Market is the tourist highlight of the Hamburg Advent season. In the Hamburg-Mitte district (Altstadt), it is the center of an entire market concert that extends across Mönckebergstraße, Jungfernstieg, and Spitalerstraße. In the state of Hamburg, it is, alongside the alternative Wintergarten St. Pauli, the most famous market – curated, staged, and deeply embedded in the city's narrative.