Christmas Market at the Roland Wedel

The Roland — Wedel's Landmark

Since 1450, the Wedeler Roland, a five-meter-high sandstone statue symbolizing market rights and municipal independence, has stood in the center of Wedel's old town. Around the Roland, the Christmas market, named after the landmark, takes shape every year on the first Advent weekend.

The 44th Edition in 2026

The event is organized by Wedel Marketing e.V. in cooperation with the city administration and local associations. Around 80 stalls gather in the market square and adjacent alleys — curated to offer a range of arts and crafts, medieval-style goods, food, and drinks. Institutional Wedel players such as Immanuel Church, the City Museum, and the Freihof also participate with their own contributions — making the market a platform for the city community.

250 Volunteers Support the Festival

A special feature of the Wedel Christmas market is its high proportion of volunteer work: Around 250 helpers organize setup, stall operations, the program, and dismantling — a model that preserves the market's authenticity on the one hand and guarantees its continued vibrancy on the other. The commitment ranges from student initiatives to seniors who have been running stalls for decades.

Program and Atmosphere

Concentrated over two days (Saturday and Sunday of the first Advent weekend), the market offers:

• Arts and Crafts — Ceramics, woodwork, jewelry, felt, glass
• Medieval Assortment — Furs, mead, singing bowls, historical prints
• Food and Drinks — Mulled wine, bratwurst, crêpes, lard pastries, regional specialties
• Program Items — Brass band and choir music, children's program, theatrical performances in some areas
• Stall of the Immanuel Church with Advent services
• Contributions from the City Museum and the Freihof

In the Pinneberg District

Wedel is located on the western edge of the Hamburg metropolitan area in the Pinneberg district in the state of Schleswig-Holstein. With S-Bahn connection to Hamburg (line S1), the Christmas market is accessible for visitors from Hamburg in 30 to 40 minutes. This location makes it a popular Advent excursion for families from the entire Hamburg region.