13th Lichterfest Güldendorf

Advent Magic in an Oder Village

The Lichterfest Güldendorf is one of the most beautiful Advent traditions on the Oder riverbank. The venue is the Angerdorf Güldendorf, a district of Frankfurt (Oder) in the far east of Brandenburg, directly on the Oder-Neisse cycle path. When the sun sets early on the 1st Advent, a magical spectacle begins here: candles in the windows, lights around the village green, a luminous Christmas tree at the Seeplatz, and the warm glow from mulled wine stands.

More Than Just a Christmas Market

The Lichterfest is not a classic Christmas market with stalls, but a very personal village event. The Citizens' Initiative Güldendorf organizes the festival together with the Heimatverein Güldendorf e.V. (Local Heritage Association), the village church, and the residents. Every household puts candles in the window, many decorate their front gardens — the entire village becomes a stage. The atmosphere is intimate, communal, and exactly what small Brandenburg villages represent during Advent.

Program Schedule

The festival day follows a well-rehearsed choreography:

• 3:00 PM — Advent concert in the Güldendorf Village Church with classical and Christmas music
• After the concert: joint walk to the Seeplatz
• Solemn lighting of the Christmas tree
• Illumination of all houses in the village — walk through the Angerdorf
• Stands with mulled wine, bratwurst, kale, and waffles
• Musical accompaniment by local choirs
• Festival winds down in the early evening

Güldendorf — A Touch of East Brandenburg

Güldendorf is a district of Frankfurt (Oder) in the south of the independent city, located in the Oder valley with views of Polish Słubice and the floodplain landscape of the Lower Oder Valley National Park. The village was first mentioned in a document in 1373 and still retains its character as a well-kept Angerdorf. The Heimatverein takes care of preserving village traditions — from setting up the Maypole to the Harvest Festival and the Lichterfest.

Why This Trip is Worth It

Anyone who wants to avoid the overcrowded Christmas markets in Berlin or Potsdam and is looking for an authentic, quiet Advent atmosphere instead will find it at the Lichterfest. The roughly 90-minute drive from Berlin is worthwhile. Before or after the festival, you can explore the nearby Frankfurt (Oder) — the Friedenskirche (Church of Peace), the Kleist Museum, or the bridge to Poland.