Magical Winter World by the Sea — Heringsdorf

Winter Market with Sea View

The Magical Winter World by the Sea is one of Northern Germany's most unusual winter event formats. Instead of being held in the historic city center of an inland town, it takes place directly on the Baltic Sea beach — on the spacious event square next to the Heringsdorf pier, in close proximity to the large Usedom Island Ice Rink. The combination of a winter market, seaside backdrop, and winter activities makes the format unmistakable.

Arts and Crafts and Gastronomy

Over the six event days between Christmas and New Year, artisans gather with their stalls. Handmade ceramics, amber jewelry, and wood carvings by regional turners are complemented by hearty and sweet foods — grilled specialties, game meat from the forests of Vorpommern, freshly smoked fish, traditional gingerbread, and sweet crispy hearts. Mulled wine, grog, and punch warm up visitors.

Ice Rink, Ferris Wheel, and Carousel

The core attraction is the Usedom Island Ice Rink, which is open from mid-November until early March. It features a large ice surface for public skating and various winter sports activities like ice stock sport. Above the event square, a Ferris wheel turns, offering unique views of the Baltic Sea, the historic pier, and the sea of lights from the stalls from its gondolas. Children's carousels and rides complete the offerings.

New Year's Eve by the Sea

New Year's Eve is the emotional highlight of the Winter World. At 5:00 PM, an early family fireworks display is launched directly at the event square — a version accessible to younger children, long before midnight. At midnight, the large pier fireworks of all three imperial spas (Heringsdorf, Ahlbeck, Bansin) follow, which are excellently visible from the event square. Dancing and live music in heated marquees accompany the turn of the year.

Nestled in the Island Sparkle

The Magical Winter World is part of the comprehensive Inselglitzern (Island Sparkle), which transforms the entire island of Usedom — from Karlshagen to Ahlbeck — into a sea of lights from late November to mid-January. Daily from 4 PM to 10 PM, promenades, beaches, and piers glow in warm light. This positions the island of Usedom in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district as a winter destination — a conscious expansion of classic summer tourism.