cityWEIHNACHT Frankfurt (Oder)

Four Weeks of Advent Magic on the Oder

As the days get shorter in Eastern Brandenburg, the Magistrale in Frankfurt (Oder) transforms into a continuous Advent mile. The cityWEIHNACHT is the largest winter festival in the twin city of Frankfurt (Oder) / Słubice — and at the same time a piece of lived German-Polish neighborhood, as the Słubice Christmas market runs parallel on the opposite side of the Oder.

Date and Course 2026

The 2026 edition runs from Monday, November 23, to Sunday, December 20, 2026 — for almost four weeks. Around four dozen stalls line the Karl-Marx-Straße and the central squares of the city center. Offerings include: mulled wine and punch from regional distilleries, bratwurst and potato pancakes, gingerbread and Christmas stollen from Märkische bakeries, as well as handicrafts made of wood, glass, felt, and ceramics — many exhibitors come from the Oderbruch, Uckermark, and Spreewald regions.

Stage and Advent Program

Over the four weeks, school and church choirs, brass ensembles, accordion, and folk music ensembles alternate. Key program points include the switching on of the Advent lights on the opening weekend, the visit of St. Nicholas on December 6, and the grand Advent concert before the third Advent. Several smaller markets run in parallel: Advent at Wichern (November 29), Advent at St. Marien (December 5/6 and 12/13), and the Słubice Christmas Market (December 4/5) across the Oder.

Frankfurt (Oder) — Hanseatic City on the Border

Frankfurt (Oder), with almost 60,000 inhabitants, is the largest city in Eastern Brandenburg and is located directly on the Polish border. The city center was rebuilt in several stages after the destruction of World War II — and today breathes a mix of GDR modernity, Gothic accents (St. Marienkirche, Rathaus), and the vibrant proximity to the Europa-Universität Viadrina. In Advent, the Magistrale shines, and the view of the city bridge over the Oder is one of the most beautiful cityscapes in Brandenburg after dark.

German-Polish Advent

The special feature of the cityWEIHNACHT lies in its integration with the Polish sister market in Słubice. Those who stroll from the Magistrale across the city bridge can reach the Polish side in ten minutes and find a market with pierogi, bigos, vodka specialties, and crafts from Wielkopolska. This German-Polish Advent axis is unique in Brandenburg — and a good reason to visit the twin city between Berlin and Poznań.