Glittering lights & fairground magic

When the dark season arrives, hoar frost lies on the meadows and ice flowers bloom on window panes, the desire for warmth, light and togetherness awakens in people. People bake biscuits together, sing Christmas carols and, of course, visit Christmas markets. In the
Every year, numerous visitors from near and far stroll along the tranquil village green of Altkötzschenbroda in the soft glow of lanterns to enjoy the pre-Christmas season with its twinkling lights and the magic of the stalls.

Accompanied by atmospheric live music and the smell of mulled wine and biscuits, they leave the hustle and bustle of everyday life behind them and experience the most wonderful time of the year in contemplation and childlike anticipation of the forthcoming festive season.

To get into the Christmas spirit, Father Christmas, the Dresden Stollen Girl and Lord Mayor Bert Wendsche invite you to cut the two-metre-long giant stollen from the Dolze confectionery on 30 November. After a taste of the Christmas treat, fairy tales, stories and adventures will entice visitors to the puppet show and the "Prunk & Plunder" tent theatre. Ursula von Rätin tells of her exciting youth as a theatre rat and the Volkmar Funke puppet stage tells the well-known fairy tale of Rumpelstiltskin.
On the second weekend of Advent, the three little pigs of the Kranewit Theatre hide in their houses from the evil wolf, while Mother Hulda loses control of her good-for-nothing heavenly helper on the village green. The lizard of puppeteer Michael Hatzius has been with us since time immemorial and is now finally visiting the Christmas market in Altkötzschenbroda. The grumpy reptile shares the wisdom he has collected over the millennia with visitors, but also demonstrates clairvoyant abilities with a glimpse into the future.

Mr Arnold Böswetter, a true veteran of the Christmas market, will be a guest on the third weekend of the Christmas market. In his usual endearingly rude manner, he single-handedly saves the white Christmas. Meanwhile, in the theatre tent, Katja Erfurth and her puppet Käthy dance through the world behind the mirrors in the footsteps of little Alice. Christmas carols and popular evergreens can be heard on the Christmas trees. To the music of Wirbeley, Krambambuli, ein Gramm Glück and many others, not only will you be able to shake a leg, but also sing along cheerfully to many a song.

On 14 December, there won't be much sign of a silent night as the Jindrich Staidel Combo presents the Bohemian Christmas tradition of jazz polka. Christmas music in a more classical sense can be heard from the Friedenskirche, whether at the concert of the Radebeul choirs or at the family Christmas concert of the Meißen district music school. The third Advent is traditionally celebrated with cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach at the Christmas Oratorio.

Visitors will find a place of peace and inner contemplation on Bärbel Haage's "Feste dieser Welt" (Festivals of the World) light trail. Twelve artistic lanterns bathe the path across the village green in warm light and provide an insight into the festive calendar around the world.

Another speciality of the market is the variety of Saxon mulled wines. Eleven wineries and winegrowers' co-operatives from the region offer their own white and red mulled wines
and provide cosy warmth on cold winter evenings.