Landstuhl hosts run, Christmas market

by Petra Lessoing
435th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

Landstuhl holds its traditional Christmas market, called St. Andreas Markt, Nov. 29 and 30 in the center of town.

The first St. Andreas Markt was celebrated 448 years ago on the day of the patron saint. Ever since, the market history shows interruptions of the event. But since 1986, this Christmas market has been held the same way. A Santa Claus market, which was smaller, was held before.

More than 130 vendors’ booths and stands will be set up at Alten Markt, Lothar-Sander-Platz, in Poststrasse, in Stadthalle and on Kaiserstrasse, which will be closed to motorized traffic. The whole center of town will be decorated with Christmas ornaments and bulbs to bring across the Advent atmosphere.

Mayor Klaus Grumer will officially open St. Andreas Markt at 2 p.m. Nov. 29 on Lothar-Sander-Platz in front of Stadthalle. The fanfare ensemble Sickinger Herolde Landstuhl will provide the musical entertainment. The booths and stands will be open until 9 p.m.

The market will start at 11 a.m. Nov. 30. The traditional Christmas market run of the Landstuhl running association LLG will start at 12:30 p.m. at the public swimming pool. Runners interested in participating in the 20th annual Christmas Market Run can register at www.LLG-Landstuhl.de. The main run is 7,600 meters and the students’ run is 1,300 meters. Each runner will receive an anniversary present. The starting fee is €6 for the main run and €3 for the students’ run.

Also on the first Advent Sunday, Nov. 30, stores will be open from 1 to 6 p.m.
On both Christmas market days, Santa Claus and his helper will walk through the streets to surprise children.

A special arts and crafts market can be found in Stadthalle. Numerous exhibitors will present their diversified handcrafted items.

The Sickingen bus will travel on an hourly basis between the center and the Atzel and Melkerei housing districts. The shuttle will be available from 8 a.m. to
11 p.m. Nov. 29 and from 10 a.m. to
9 p.m. Nov. 30.