Great Mining Parade Annaberg-Buchholz

The highlight of the Ore Mountains mining parade season

When the Great Mining Parade Annaberg-Buchholz begins at 1:30 PM on the 4th Sunday of Advent, it's a national moment in Saxony: 1,000 uniformed miners from the entire Ore Mountains and from other mining regions of Germany (Saarland, Ruhr, Mansfelder Land) march through the mining town. Around 300 musicians accompany the procession. The parade is considered the "most impressive mining parade during Advent" and concludes the Ore Mountains mining parade season.

Mining tradition as UNESCO World Heritage

Since 2016, the Ore Mountains mining parades have been recognized as intangible UNESCO World Heritage. They preserve a tradition that dates back to the mining boom of the 16th–19th centuries: the miners, in festive attire, showed their pride, their connection to the community, and their willingness to work in mining. In Annaberg, this tradition is particularly alive – the town was one of the richest silver towns in Europe in the 16th century.

The Route

The procession follows a fixed route: Wolkensteiner Straße → Markt → Buchholzer Straße (past the theatre and back) → Große Kirchgasse → St. Annenkirche. In the famous St. Annenkirche, one of the largest late Gothic hall churches in Saxony, the closing concert of all mining musicians takes place – an acoustic major event.

Annaberg Christmas Market as a Setting

The mining parade takes place as part of the Annaberg Christmas Market (November 28–December 23, 2025; similar dates in 2026). Those who visit the parade should plan a full day in Annaberg – the market, the St. Annenkirche, the Ore Mountains Museum with the "Im Gößner" mine, and the Adam Ries birthplace core make Annaberg-Buchholz a top-tier Advent destination. In the Erzgebirgskreis district in the state of Saxony, the mining parade is the undisputed Advent highlight.