Kierspe Christmas Market

Advent Market in the Märkischer Kreis

Kierspe is a town of 16,000 inhabitants in the southern Märkischer Kreis, at the transition from the Sauerland to the Bergisches Land. The town is primarily known regionally for its plastics and lock industry – but in Advent, a different image comes to the fore: the Christmas market around St. Margaret's Church, organised in cooperation between the city and the Protestant Parish of Kierspe.

When and where does the market take place?

The Kierspe Christmas Market 2026 runs on Saturday, December 5th and Sunday, December 6th, 2026, around St. Margaret's Church on the church square and in the neighbouring Lutherhaus. Opening hours: Saturday 2:00 PM–10:00 PM, Sunday 12:00 PM–6:00 PM.

What you will find at the market

The character of the market is strongly shaped by the commitment of the clubs and the parish:

• Handmade items: knitwear, sewn items, illuminated decorations, jewellery, hand-painted porcelain, personalised gifts
• Food and drinks: bratwurst, kebab, pulled pork burgers, crêpes, waffles, mulled wine, hot chocolate
• Saturday stage programme: theatre performances, several music groups, a big band concert
• Sunday stage programme: Advent singing for children, city piano school
• Tower climb of St. Margaret's Church both days
• Indoor stalls in the Lutherhaus for arts and crafts and a coffee room

St. Margaret's Church and Lutherhaus

The Protestant St. Margaret's Church is a Gothic building from the 13th century, the landmark of Kierspe, and gives the market its name. In Advent, it is usually open until late in the evening, with Advent windows and quiet music. The neighbouring Lutherhaus, the community centre, houses the indoor stalls in case of rain and snow. This combination of church square, historic church building, and heated community hall is the special feature of the Kierspe Christmas market.

Kierspe in the Märkischer Kreis

The market is centrally located in the Märkischer Kreis (registration plate MK), which includes towns such as Lüdenscheid, Iserlohn, Plettenberg, and Meinerzhagen. Kierspe is connected to Dortmund and Olpe via the A45 (Sauerland line). The location between the Sauerland and Bergisches Land brings a typically wooded low mountain range climate – snow is not uncommon in Advent, and the market is then particularly atmospheric.