Greifswald Harvest Thanksgiving Market

About the Market

The Greifswald Harvest Thanksgiving Market has been a firm fixture in the Hanseatic city's autumn calendar since 2003. On the first Sunday in October, a colourful market with around 50 stalls spreads across the Historic Market Square with its brick gabled houses from the Hanseatic era.

Assortment

The focus is on seasonal products from the Vorpommern region: pumpkins of all sizes and varieties, apple varieties from regional mixed orchards, onion braids, potatoes, herbs, soup vegetables and autumn wild vegetables. Farm cheesemakers showcase their specialities, beekeepers bring summer honey and beeswax candles, and regional butchers offer sausages and smoked specialities.

Floristry and Arts and Crafts

Florists from the region create harvest crowns, autumn bouquets and arrangements right before the eyes of visitors. In addition, there are arts and crafts stalls with ceramics, baskets, felt, jewellery, wooden toys and natural cosmetics. Around 10,000 visitors come to the market every year – many combine it with the Sunday shopping in the city centre.

Local Context

The Harvest Thanksgiving Market is linked to the German Harvest Thanksgiving festival, traditionally celebrated on the first Sunday in October, but is itself a secular market format. It is organised by the University and Hanseatic City of Greifswald through the Office for Citizen Services and Fire Protection. Greifswald is located in an agriculturally rich region – Vorpommern is the breadbasket of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.