Waderner Herbst- und Wildmarkt

The Oldest of its Kind

The Waderner Herbst- und Wildmarkt kicks off the Waderner Wildwochen (Wadern Game Weeks) every year – a whole month during which the town's restaurants showcase game dishes. The market itself is considered the oldest purely culinary autumn market in the Saar-Hunsrück Nature Park and the Hochwald, a low mountain range region on the border between Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate, long shaped by hunting, forestry, and agriculture.

When Does the Market Take Place?

Traditionally on the last weekend of October. In 2026, the market will open on Saturday, October 24 (9 AM–3 PM) and Sunday, October 25 (12 PM–6 PM) at Wadern market square. Sunday is also a Sunday with open shops in the town center – the shops in the Hochwald town will be open.

What You'll Find at the Market

Around 40 stalls offer specialties and products sourced directly from the region:

• Game dishes: Wild boar bratwurst, deer salami, wild boar ham, game goulash
• Fine spirits from Hochwald distilleries (tastings at the stall)
• Regional wines – the Mosel is just a stone's throw away
• Honey from beekeepers in the Saar-Hunsrück Nature Park
• Mushrooms, fresh pumpkins, wild herbs, jams
• Handicrafts, felt work, wood carvings

Accompanying Program

The market is more than just a row of sales stands. Throughout Saturday, hunting horn choirs from Wadern and Grimburg will perform, and on Sunday, alphorn players take over. From 3 PM on Sunday, there will be live acoustic music. A falconer will present local birds of prey, the nature park offers mushroom advice, and beekeepers explain their work at an open beehive.

Location and Surroundings

Wadern is located in the district of Merzig-Wadern, in the north of Saarland, where the Saarschleifenland transitions into the Hunsrück. With just under 8,000 inhabitants, the town is small, but the historic market square with nearby Dagstuhl Castle makes it a charming excursion destination. Those who want to explore the region can combine a visit to the market with a hike in the Hochwald or a detour to the Saarschleife near Mettlach.

Hochwald Tradition

In the Hunsrück, hunting has been a part of everyday life for centuries. The Waderner Herbst- und Wildmarkt celebrates this connection between people and the forest in its modern, culinary form. Here, you won't find imported specialties, but rather what the surrounding forests, fields, and meadows truly offer – honest, regional, seasonal.