Christmas market in Bernkastel again from November 22 to December 22, 2024
The atmospheric Christmas market in the historic old town of Bernkastel attracts visitors with attractions such as torchlight floats and fireworks, unusual events such as the largest Advent calendar in the region, active activities such as the St. Nicholas hike and indulgent treats such as the unmistakable Riesling mulled wine - all of this can be found at the Christmas market in Bernkastel-Kues. The festively decorated Christmas market stalls are spread throughout the medieval old town of Bernkastel. From traditional arts and crafts to jewelry and candles to nostalgic gift ideas, everything is on offer. The gastronomic offerings also leave nothing to be desired: whether tarte flambée, stews, waffles, crêpes or mulled wine.
Look forward to next year's Christmas market now. The Bernkastel-Kues Christmas market will take place from 21 November to 21 December 2025.
Christmas spirit in a unique atmosphere
The backdrop of festively decorated medieval half-timbered houses makes the Christmas market in Bernkastel-Kues something very special. The charm of the historic old town combined with the Christmas atmosphere invites you to take a leisurely stroll through the alleyways and browse the many Christmas market stalls. Perhaps you will buy a nice present for your loved ones, warm yourself up with a hot mulled wine or punch or enjoy savory and sweet treats.
Largest Advent calendar in the region
Every year at the Bernkastel-Kues Christmas market, a half-timbered house on the historic market square is transformed into the largest Advent calendar in the region. The windows are then decorated as Advent calendar doors with beautiful motifs. During the Advent season from 1 to 23 December, a window opens every day at 5:30 pm and on 24 December at 11 am, and behind it is always an entertaining Christmas performance.
Torchlight swimming
Dressed warmly and with a warming drink in your hand, you can stand on the banks of the Moselle on Saturday, 7 December at 6 pm and watch over 100 scuba divers swimming through the icy Moselle. Each of them will have a torch in their hand, the light of which will shimmer in the Moselle, illuminating the night and creating an impressive spectacle. The torch swimmers are accompanied by St Nicholas on a boat. Once they reach the mainland, St Nicholas hands out presents to the children.
Winter fireworks
A highlight of the Christmas market that captivates young and old alike is the wintry musical firework display on Saturday, 21 December at 6 pm. Then bright colours, sparkling rain and impressive light shows light up the dark winter night. Find a nice spot on the banks of the Moselle and watch the colourful spectacle in the night sky. Ideally with a glass of hot mulled wine or punch in your hand.
Atmospheric musical performances
The Christmas market in Bernkastel features both traditional Christmas sounds and modern music acts, such as on the winter stage, which takes place every Thursday. There is something for everyone in the varied music program.
| Date | Weekday | Time of day | Venue | Music performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23. November | Saturday | 2 p.m | Marketplace | Irmenach-Beuren Music Society 1912 E.V. |
| 3 p.m | Marketplace | Music club "Harmonie" Longkamp | ||
| 27. November | Wednesday | 2 p.m | Old Town | Fantasy One Man-Band |
| 28. November | Thursday | 6 p.m | Karlsbad Square | Winter stage - open air live music |
| 29. November | Friday | 3:30 pm | Old Town | Mill singers |
| 7 p.m | Old Town | Brass group "Blechkamper" Longkamp Music Society | ||
| 30. November | Saturday | 2 pm | Marketplace | Wind class 6B of the Stefan-Andres-Gymnasium |
| 4 p.m | Karlsbad Square | Eifelecho" Music Society | ||
| 4:30 p.m | Old Town | Wind players of the Bernkasteler Bürgerwehr | ||
| 1. December | Sunday | 2 pm | Market square | Music Society "Lyra" Wehlen |
| 4 p.m | Marketplace | Lyra" Lieser Music Society | ||
| 4. December | Wednesday | 2 p.m | Old Town | Fantasy One Man-Band |
| 5. December | Thursday | 6 p.m | Karlsbad Square | Winter stage - open air live music |
| 6. December | Friday | 3:30 pm | Old Town | Mill singers |
| 6 p.m | Old Town | Brass quintet "aufgeBRASSt" | ||
| 7 p.m | Old Town | Brass group "Blechkamper" Longkamp Music Society | ||
| 7. December | Saturday | 3 pm | Marketplace | Irmenach-Beuren Music Society 1912 E.V. |
| 4 p.m | Old Town | Wind band "Antestalbläser" | ||
| 4:30 p.m | Market square | Music club "Cacilia" Monzelfeld | ||
| 8. December | Sunday | 2 p.m | Marketplace | Musikverein 1926 Hochscheid e.V. |
| 2 p.m | Old Town | Oompah House Band | ||
| 3 p.m | Marketplace | Music association of the town of Bernkastel-Kues | ||
| 3 p.m | Old Town | Fantasy-Brass-Band | ||
| 4 pm | Market Square | Lesura Valley Musicians | ||
| 4 p.m | St. Agatha Church Wehlen | Christmas concert by the male choral society "Lyra" Wehlen and the music society "Lyra" Wehlen | ||
| 4 pm | Old town | Wind players of the Bernkasteler Bürgerwehr | ||
| 12. December | Thursday | 2 p.m | Old Town | Fantasy One Man Band |
| 6 pm | Karlsbad Square | Winter stage - open air live music | ||
| 13. December | Friday | 3:30 pm | Old Town | Mill singers |
| 7 p.m | Old Town | Bleckkamper" brass band Longkamp music society | ||
| 14. December | Saturday | 2 p.m | Old Town | Brass septet "Verdissimo" |
| 3 pm | Market square | Vocal ensemble "Martinusgruppe Ensch" | ||
| 4 pm | Marketplace | Larry Cook Brass Band | ||
| 7 p.m | Karlsbad Square | Larry Cook Brass Band | ||
| 15. December | Sunday | 12 noon | Market Square | Larry Cook Brass Band |
| 2 pm | Marketplace | The "Bachwagge" from Idar-Oberstein | ||
| 4 p.m | Market square | Mixed secular choir Chorios E.V. | ||
| 5 p.m | Heilig Geist Church | Quartet Complete | ||
| 18. December | Wednesday | 2 p.m | Fantasy One Man-Band | Old Town |
| 19. December | Thursday | 6 p.m | Karlsbad Square | Winter stage - open air live music |
| 20. December | Friday | 3:30 pm | Old Town | Mill singers |
| 6 p.m | Old Town | Brass quintet "aufgeBRASSt" | ||
| 22. December | Sunday | 2 p.m | Karlsbad Square | Marching band of the voluntary fire department Schweich E.V. |
| 2 p.m | Old Town | Mill singers | ||
| 4 p.m | Old Town | Wind players of the Bernkasteler Bürgerwehr |
Theater, magic shows, a visit from Santa Claus - the varied program of the Christmas market
In addition to the annual highlights of the Christmas market in Bernkastel-Kues and the diverse musical performances, the festive period surrounding the Christmas market offers many other unforgettable experiences. Whether children's theater, exciting lectures, wine tastings on the Moselle or magical shows - the varied program has something for everyone. Both young and old visitors to the Christmas market in Bernkastel-Kues will get their money's worth and enjoy the special atmosphere.
| Date | Day | Time of day | Place | Program | Program description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23. November | Saturday | 4 pm | Vinotheque Cusanus Hospital | Good thoughts - lecture on Cusanus | Over wine, coffee or tea, you can play the Cusanus ball game with Sebastian Quint. Duration: 45 minutes, cost: €10. Registration: sebastian@sq-quintessenz.de |
| 5 p.m | Marketplace | Festive opening of the Christmas market | Welcome St. Nicholas in a carriage, led by the drummer and trumpeter corps "Landshuter Ritterschaft". Distribution of sweets to the children. Participants: Children's choir "Wintricher Hergottsspatzen", brass band of the Bernkasteler Bürgerwehr, Altstadtsänger | ||
| 25. November | Monday | 3 p.m | At the churchyard | Decorating the children's bauble tree | The children of the St. Antonius day care center decorate the children's ball tree. |
| 26. November | Tuesday | 3 p.m | opposite the Ruf bakery | Decorating the children's bauble tree | The children of the St. Michael day care center decorate the children's ball tree. |
| 27. November | Wednesday | 3 p.m | At the Bärenbrunnen | Decorating the children's bauble tree | The children of the Cusanus elementary school decorate the children's bauble tree. |
| 4:30 p.m | Karlsbad Square | Magician Hamid | Magician show "Magical Encounters" with Hamid Mostofi - Magic & Entertainment | ||
| 30. November | Saturday | 10 am | opposite Backhaus Ruf | Homemade baked goods and handicrafts | The Friends of Burg Landshut School offer home-baked goods and handicrafts. |
| 4 p.m | Vinotheque Cusanus Hospital | Good thoughts - lecture on Cusanus | Over wine, coffee or tea, you can play the Cusanus ball game with Sebastian Quint. Duration: 45 minutes, cost: €10. Registration: sebastian@sq-quintessenz.de | ||
| 4. December | Wednesday | 9 am | Kueser Moselufer | Traditional St. Nicholas market | The St. Nicholas market on the banks of the Moselle in Kues invites you to visit. |
| 4:30 p.m | Karlsbad Square | Magician Hamid | Magician show "Magical Encounters" with Hamid Mostofi - Magic & Entertainment | ||
| 5. December | Thursday, December | 4:30 pm | Marketplace | St. Nicholas comes to the Christmas market | St. Nicholas visits the Christmas market. All children receive a chocolate Santa Claus and St. Nicholas stands ready for photos. |
| 7. December | Saturday | 14:30 | Bernkasteler Moselufer | Wine tasting on the Moselle | Experience the Moselle from a different perspective and enjoy a wine tasting on the boat. You will be served 7 wines, water, bread and regional dips. Duration: 2 hours, cost: €34 per person, registration: 06531 6432 or wein@kochan-platz.de |
| 4 p.m | Vinotheque Cusanus Hospital | Good thoughts - lecture on Cusanus | Over wine, coffee or tea, you can play the Cusanus ball game with Sebastian Quint. Duration: 45 minutes, cost: €10. Registration: sebastian@sq-quintessenz.de | ||
| 8. December | Sunday | 3 p.m | Kueser Plateau Spa Center | Children's theater | Visit the children's theater "Gloria the high-spirited Christmas angel" with your children. |
| 11. December | Wednesday | 4:30 p.m | Karlsbad Square | Magician Hamid | Magician show "Magical Encounters" with Hamid Mostofi - Magic & Entertainment |
| 14. December | Saturday | 4 pm | Vinotheque Cusanus Hospital | Good thoughts - lecture on Cusanus | Over wine, coffee or tea, you can play the Cusanus ball game with Sebastian Quint. Duration: 45 minutes, cost: €10. Registration: sebastian@sq-quintessenz.de |
| 18. December | Wednesday | 4:30 p.m | Karlsbad Square | Magician Hamid | Magician show "Magical Encounters" with Hamid Mostofi - Magic & Entertainment |
| 21. December | Saturday | 4 pm | Vinotheque Cusanus Hospital | Good thoughts - lecture on Cusanus | Over wine, coffee or tea, you can play the Cusanus ball game with Sebastian Quint. Duration: 45 minutes, cost: €10. Registration: sebastian@sq-quintessenz.de |
Boat trips on the icy Moselle
The boats also sail on the Moselle in winter. So come on board and see the Moselle landscape from an interesting perspective. Choose between the winter cruises towards Lieser and Mülheim or the romantic Advent cruises between Traben-Trarbach. There you can also visit the Christmas market in Trarbach, which takes place underground in large wine cellars.
Winter round trips
- Route: Round trip from Bernkastel
- Duration: 1 hour
- Weekday: always Saturdays
- Dates: 23. november 7 and 30, December 7 and 14 and 21
- Journey times from Bernkastel: 11 a.m., 12.30 p.m., 2 p.m., 3.30 p.m
- Group offer: possible with mulled wine/punch and Christmas stollen
Romantic Advent cruises
- Route: between Bernkastel and Traben-Trarbach
- Duration: 2 hours
- Weekday: always on Saturdays
- Dates: 23. november 7 and 30, December 7 and 14 and 21
- Travel time from Traben-Trarbach to Bernkastel: 11.15 a.m
- Journey time from Bernkastel to Traben-Trarbach: 3.20 pm
(no return journey to Bernkastel afterwards)
Why not visit the underground Moselle Wine Night Market in Traben-Trarbach?
As soon as you enter the cellars, some of which date back to the 16th century, the cozy, warm scent of mulled wine, roasted almonds and fir greenery wafts towards you. Let yourself be enchanted by this atmospheric and mystical semi-darkness of the Traben-Trarbach underworld. International and national exhibitors will be presenting high-quality decorations, gift ideas, culinary specialties, wine products, antiques and creative fashion and jewelry designs in a Christmassy atmosphere from 22.11.-01.01.25 at weekends and on special opening days.
