Erlangen Forest Christmas

The Christmas Forest at the Palace

The Erlanger Waldweihnacht is the namesake main Christmas market of the university city of Erlangen and part of the city's Advent program »Erlanger Winterzauber« (Erlangen Winter Magic). The venue is the Schlossplatz directly in front of the baroque Margravial Residence in the center of Erlangen's Old Town. Unlike most Christmas markets, the Waldweihnacht does not focus on nativity scene romance but on the image of a winter fir forest: wooden stalls line up between countless real fir trees, soft forest floor, and warm light.

Stalls and Culinary Offerings

Around 60 stalls offer a mix of Franconian snacks, mulled wine, bratwurst, crêpes, and sweets, as well as unusual gift ideas made from handicrafts, woodwork, and jewelry. Fresh Christmas trees are sold at a dedicated fir tree market starting in early December.

Stage Program

Every day there is live music on the Waldweihnacht stage: Pop and rock bands like RuBen Music, 6 Feet Four, or ReAct, Big Band and Soul (K36 Big Band, Soul Edition), acoustic singer-songwriter duos, the Scottish bagpipe group Glen Regnitz, and tap dance performances by Addicted to Tap showcase the musical diversity with which the city enlivens the market every year.

Social Actions and Children's Program

The program includes classic elements: a children's carousel, the »Wunschbaum« (Wishing Tree) campaign for needy children, the Peace Light ceremony by the Erlangen scouts, and academic lectures on Christmas traditions. Hidden gnome figures in the fir trees are a popular guessing game for families.

Erlangen in Advent

As a university and Siemens city, Erlangen is a relatively young major city in Middle Franconia with baroque roots. The Schlossplatz with the Margravial Palace and the Huguenot Church forms the central stage for the Advent season; around 100,000 students and professionals ensure that the Waldweihnacht is consistently well-attended during lunch breaks and after work.