Warnemünde Advent Singing at the Lighthouse

Tradition at Warnemünde's Landmark

The Warnemünde Advent Singing is one of the traditional events in the Rostock Baltic Sea resort of Warnemünde. It takes place every year on the first Sunday of Advent at the foot of the Warnemünde Lighthouse – the landmark of the seaside resort, which was put into operation in 1898. The organizer is the Friends of the Warnemünde Lighthouse Association, which operates the lighthouse.

Choirs and Maritime Sounds

From the afternoon onwards, guests and locals gather on the lighthouse forecourt. The musical program is provided by the children's choir of the Heinrich Heine Elementary School, the women's choir »Sing man tau«, and the shanty singers »De Klaashahns«. Soloists also perform regularly. The carillon frames the Advent singing at the beginning and end, lending the evening its special sound.

Community and a Good Cause

The Advent Singing thrives on the communal singing of well-known Advent and Christmas carols. During the event, warm drinks and Stollen cake are sold – the proceeds benefit charitable causes. Since its founding, the Friends of the Warnemünde Lighthouse Association has distributed over one million euros for culture, monument preservation, and humanitarian projects.

The Lighthouse Keeper and the Children

At the end, the lighthouse keeper, the guardian of the lighthouse, distributes sweets to the children – a custom that makes the Advent Singing a highlight of the pre-Christmas season, especially for families. The maritime backdrop of the illuminated lighthouse and the winter Baltic Sea beach shape the evening's atmosphere.

Getting There

Warnemünde is directly accessible by S-Bahn from Rostock Hauptbahnhof. From Warnemünde station, it is a few minutes' walk to the lighthouse in the city area of the Hanseatic and independent city of Rostock in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.