Emszauber — Rheine Christmas Market

Emszauber — Rheine's Modern Winter Experience World

When Rheine's city center switches on its Advent lights in November, Emszauber begins — Rheine's newly conceived winter and Christmas market, which consciously sets itself apart from classic mulled wine stalls and pursues the concept of a winter destination with light installations, diverse catering, and a full event program. From November 13 to December 21, 2026, Emszauber will occupy the Ems plateau and Milchstraße in Rheine's city center — a 'cozy dream of lights,' as the organizers put it.

The Concept — More Than a Christmas Market

Emszauber is explicitly designed as a winter experience and indulgence spot and not as a classic Christmas market in the narrower sense — even though it spans the Advent season. Three pillars support the concept:

• Unique Lighting Concept — choreographed light installations, fairy lights, illuminated trees, and light art objects transform the Ems plateau and Milchstraße into a fairytale atmosphere
• Diverse Catering — Currywurst, Gyros, Korean corn dogs, crêpes, traditional German dishes, sweet specialties, and of course mulled wine, punch, non-alcoholic hot drinks
• Numerous Seating Areas — unlike traditional markets, there are many seats, so the focus is on cozy lingering rather than 'drinking mulled wine while standing'

After-Work Thursdays — Rheine's Meeting Time

A special feature: Thursday evenings are 'After Work': live music, DJ sets, special offers on drinks, and a format specifically aimed at working professionals after work. These Thursday evenings with extended opening hours until 11 PM have become a regular meeting point for Rheine's professionals and friend groups.

Program Highlights

The event program is broadly diversified:

• Pink Pride Night — an LSBTIQ*-friendly themed evening with a special program
• Christmas Carol Singers and choirs — traditional Advent music
• Fairy Tale Hours for Children — reading sessions for the youngest visitors
• Live Music and DJ Sets — primarily on Thursdays and weekend evenings
• Corporate Catering Packages — personalized drink vouchers with company logos

Opening Hours — Adapted to Weekdays and Weekends

• Mon-Wed: 4-9 PM
• Thu-Fri: 4-11 PM
• Sat: 3 PM-12 AM (Midnight)
• Sun: 3-8 PM

Free admission. Open daily for several weeks — one of the longest run times among the Münsterland winter markets.

Rheine — The Münsterland Town on the Ems

The city of Rheine, with its approximately 78,000 inhabitants, is located in the northern Münsterland region on the river Ems — which gives the city its name. Economically strongly shaped by the textile industry (now largely transformed), it is today an industrial and commercial city with the Rheine railway hub, a power plant, and an active city center. Worth seeing are the historic Falkenhof complex, the Salinen Park, and the beautiful Ems river landscape. With Emszauber, Rheine confidently positions itself as a winter destination in Münsterland — its closest major competitor is Münster itself with its 7 Christmas markets.

Steinfurt District — From Münsterland to East Münsterland

The Steinfurt District includes, in addition to Rheine, Steinfurt, Emsdetten, Ibbenbüren, Greven, Hörstel — a diverse mix of Münsterland idyll, Tecklenburger Land (with forests and Tecklenburg Castle), and the former industrial site of Ibbenbüren. In winter, various markets shape the event calendar — Emszauber is the most modern and ambitious variant.