Herford Christmas Market

Herford — Hanseatic City in Ostwestfalen-Lippe

Herford, with around 67,000 inhabitants, is the district town of the Herford district (Detmold administrative district, Ostwestfalen), an old Hanseatic city with a rich history. The historic city center with its Minster Church, Münzstraße, and Alter Markt provides a special backdrop for the annual Herford Christmas Market — one of the larger Advent markets in OWL. In 2026, it runs from November 23 to December 30.

Almost Six Weeks of Advent Atmosphere

With a duration from November 23 to December 30 (almost six weeks), the Herford market covers not only the Advent season but also the days between Christmas and New Year — an unusually long run. This concept makes Herford an Advent destination that remains attractive to visitors even after the holidays.

Festively Decorated City Center

The historic city center with its half-timbered houses, the Gothic Minster Church, and Hanseatic merchant houses is completely festively decorated: sparkling lights across the streets, festive decorations in the shops, a central Christmas tree on the Alter Markt. Herford's Advent backdrop has been an attractive photo spot for years and attracts visitors from Bielefeld, Lemgo, Detmold, and western Lower Saxony.

Classic Market Stalls

Around 50-70 stalls are spread across the market square and surrounding streets: roasted almonds, gingerbread hearts, classic sausages and baked goods, mulled wine, punch in various forms, bratwurst, potato pancakes (Westphalian specialty), crêpes. Craft stalls offer Advent decorations, wood carvings, ceramics, jewelry — as in many Advent markets in the region.

Music Program — Choirs and Fanfares

The musical program is one of the strengths of the Herford Advent market. Throughout the Advent weeks, children's choirs from Herford schools, brass choirs from local church communities, fanfares from the city music ensembles, and professional Advent musicians perform. The exact band list and performance times will be published by Pro Herford in the fall of 2026 on herford-erleben.de.

Advent City Tours

A special feature is the Advent city tours through the historic city center. Pro Herford and independent city guides offer themed tours — from "Advent Customs in Hanseatic Herford" to "Mulled Wine Tour" and "Family Tour for Children." Registration via Pro Herford is required.

Pro Herford as Organizer

The organizer is Pro Herford, the municipal event management association, in cooperation with the City of Herford and the Downtown Business Association. Contact: Justus Kleineberg, Event Management, Tel. 05221 189-1543, [email protected].

Getting There

Herford is easily accessible by car via the A2 (Herford exit). By train: Herford Central Station on the Hanover-Hamm line (DB IC, ICE, RE, and RB). 15 minutes by train from Bielefeld, 50 minutes from Hanover. Public transport within the city: city bus lines.