Seiffener Weihnacht

Christmas in the Toy Town

Seiffen — officially «Kurort Seiffen/Erzgebirge» in the Erzgebirgskreis district of Saxony — is the center of traditional Ore Mountains wood toy manufacturing. For centuries, the famous nutcrackers, incense smokers, candle arches (Schwibbögen), pyramids, and toy miners have been made here, recognized worldwide as Saxon folk art. From November 27 to December 22, 2026, the Seiffener Weihnacht — the 34th edition — invites visitors for four weeks into the festively decorated town center.

Over 40 Stalls and Artists' Workshops

More than 40 market stalls line the streets around the town center and the main road. A special feature of the Seiffener Weihnacht is that the stalls are complemented by the direct workshops and sales rooms of Ore Mountains wood artists — from incense smoker carvers and pyramid turners to nutcracker manufacturers. When you buy here, you buy directly from the producer. The tourist information office serves mulled wine in traditional «Dippl» cups, which are redesigned annually (with motifs of the church and candle arches). The late Gothic Seiffen Mountain Church — the town's landmark — is also a meeting point for concerts and moments of quiet reflection.

Miners' Parades and Torchlight Processions

The 2026 festival calendar features four programmatic highlights: on Saturday, November 28, a small miners' parade opens the season. On December 5, a torchlight procession on historic mining trails winds through the snowy Ore Mountains landscape — costumed participants and mining lamps against a winter backdrop. On Saturday, December 12, the grand miners' parade follows, with over 400 costumed participants from all over the Ore Mountains — mining bands, mining guilds, miners, and pitmen march through the town. The finale on December 19 is the lantern procession with Santa Claus — especially for families with children.

Saxony, Erzgebirgskreis, and Seiffen

Seiffen is located in the Erzgebirgskreis district of Saxony, at an altitude of around 650 meters on the Czech border. Mining culture and Ore Mountains folk art have been recognized as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2016 — Seiffen is one of its most important centers. Visitors to the Seiffener Weihnacht should also visit the Ore Mountains Toy Museum and the Open-Air Museum — both offer insights into how the poor mining village of the 17th century became the «Toy Land of the Ore Mountains». Admission to the Christmas market is free.