Martinsmarkt with Lantern Parade Bergedorf

Market around St. Petri and Pauli

The Martinsmarkt has been held for years on the first weekend of November in and around Bergedorf's St. Petri und Pauli Church. The market extends from the church square, through Bergedorfer Schloßstraße, to Alte Holstenstraße – the historic center of the Bergedorf district. Stalls in the community center and on the forecourt offer books, jewelry, bags, clothing, jams, honey, candles, and a typical North German cake selection.

The Lantern Parade

The grand lantern parade on Sunday provides the emotional climax. The meeting point is usually in front of Edeka/Marktkauf in Lohbrügge, and the parade starts at 5:00 PM. St. Martin on horseback leads the procession, followed by the TSG Bergedorf brass band, then hundreds of children and families with homemade lanterns. The procession winds through the Bergedorf city center and ends at the church.

Sunday Shopping

In parallel with the market, shops in the Bergedorf/Lohbrügge city center open on Sunday from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM – one of the few Sunday shopping events of the year in Hamburg. This marks the traditional opening of the Christmas shopping season for many Bergedorf households. The WSB (Wir Sind Bergedorf) organizes the Sunday with additional promotions by individual retailers.

Children's Program

A packed children's program runs on the church square and in the community center: the Wolke-7 team provides entertainment, a tombola with attractive prizes, craft stations for lanterns, and a cake bazaar. Food stalls offer bratwurst, mulled wine, children's punch, and hot drinks.

In the Bergedorf District, in the State of Hamburg

Bergedorf is Hamburg's southeasternmost district and one of its most historically independent parts – an independent town until 1867, then administered together with Hamburg-Lübeck. This independence is still reflected today in its vibrant local culture, with its own city center, its own castle, and its own event calendar. The Martinsmarkt is one of the most important autumn dates on this calendar in the state of Hamburg.