Käthchen Christmas Market Heilbronn

Käthchen — Heilbronn's Figurehead

The Käthchen Christmas Market is named after 'Käthchen von Heilbronn', Heinrich von Kleist's 1810 theatre heroine who has become the city's literary figurehead. The market not only uses this identification in its name but also in its marketing — a Käthchen figure appears in advertisements and event postings. The organiser is Heilbronn Marketing in collaboration with the stallholders.

65 Wooden Stalls in Four Streets

With 65 wooden stalls, the Käthchen Christmas Market is one of the largest Christmas markets in Baden-Württemberg, following those in Stuttgart, Esslingen, and Ulm. The stalls are spread across four central city axes: Marktplatz with the town hall, Kiliansplatz by St. Kilian's Church, Fleiner Straße, and Sülmerstraße. On offer: arts and crafts made from wood, glass, and ceramics, nativity figures, jewellery, regional specialities such as Württemberger mulled wine, chestnuts, crêpes, gingerbread from Bavaria and Swabia, as well as food stalls with sausages and Schupfnudeln.

Ice Rink Curling, Winter Cinema, and Advent Singing

A Heilbronn speciality is ice rink curling: Monday to Friday from 8 PM to 9 PM, the ice rink (a curling variant) transforms into a competition arena where clubs, companies, and private individuals can compete. In addition, the open-air winter cinema shows film classics and Christmas films on a screen between the wooden stalls. Highlight: The joint Advent carol singing 'Heilbronn sings' on December 20th, 2026 — thousands of Heilbronn residents will sing Christmas carols together in the Marktplatz.

Remembrance Day December 4th

A quiet special feature: On December 4th, 2026, the day of remembrance of the devastating bombing raid on Heilbronn in 1944, the Käthchen Christmas Market closes early at 7 PM. On that evening, the city and St. Kilian's Church are dedicated to remembering the approximately 6,500 Heilbronn victims of the air raid.