Christmas market in Kaiserslautern starts Nov. 26 near Stiftskirche

by Petra Lessoing
Kaiserslautern American


***image1***Traditional and modern Christmas decorations, impressive lights, gingerbread scent and nice ideas for gifts: a visit to the Christmas market in Kaiserslautern turns stress into joy, and the hunt for gifts becomes a pleasant shopping trip with everything in one location.

Children can have fun in the Christmas bakery or on the merry-go-round. Adults might enjoy their lunch break drinking a cup of tea or call it a day tasting glühwein. Pretty wooden huts, nicely decorated stands and a diversified entertaining program help to turn the Kaiserslautern Christmas market into an adventure for the whole family.

Lord Mayor Dr. Klaus Weichel will officially open the Kaiserslautern Christmas market at 6 p.m. Nov. 26 from a stage on Schillerplatz. To the tick of the 18th hour coming from Stiftskirche, the festive illumination of the market and all lights in the center streets will be turned on.

Until Dec. 23, vendors will sell typical Christmas items such as ornaments, candles, angels, nutcrackers and Advent wreaths. Shoppers will also find wooden toys, leather items, glass products, jewelry and pottery.

Culinary specialties being offered include Thüringer bratwurst, pizza, roasted chestnuts, cinnamon waffles and the typical winter drink, “glühwein,” a heated red wine spiced with cloves and cinnamon sticks.

 “Just like last year we try to offer a traditional entertaining program,” said Alexander Hess from the project office for city events. “The musical highlights include performances by the bands Crime and Passion, Nimm 2, gospel choirs and brass music bands.”  Each Tuesday night, the so-called King of Soul, Waymond Harding, will perform on Schillerplatz.

Also, local singer Stephan Flesch will be part of musical entertainment. Renowned artists, choirs, singing associations, children and youth groups create the daily alternating stage program with festive Christmas music to hot rhythm from all over the world.

A highlight is the Christmas bakery in front of Deutsche Bank, where children, under the supervision of professional bakers, learn to bake their own Christmas cookies.
For the fourth year, the German-American Community Office will participate in the Christmas market on a stage on Schillerplatz Dec. 6 .

“For the fourth year we present American bands, singers, dancers and school groups at the Kaiserslautern Christmas market,” said Sissi Kösling from the GACO office. “We will be on a stage on Schillerplatz from noon to 9 p.m. As a novelty a play will be presented.”

The full program for the Kaiserslautern Christmas market can be found in a flyer laid out in stores, restaurants, banks and the tourist information office on Fruchthallstrasse, across from the city hall.

The Kaiserslautern Christmas hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, and 1 t o 9 p.m. Sundays.

Christmas markets in KMC, nearby
Following is a listing of Christmas markets in the KMC and nearby. A listing with Christmas markets outside this area will appear in next week’s special edition of the Kaiserslautern American.
TAlsenborn, Dec. 1 and 2
TAlsenz, Dec. 8 and 9
TAltleiningen, Dec. 1 and 2; Dec. 8 and 9
TBann, Dec. 15 and 16
TBruchmühlbach, Dec. 2
TDannenfels, Dec. 1 and 2
TEnkenbach, Dec. 8 and 9
TErzenhausen, Dec. 2
TEulenbis, Dec. 9
TFrankelbach, Dec. 2
TFrankenstein, Dec. 1 and 2
TGlan-Münchweiler, Dec. 1
THauptstuhl, Dec. 15
THeiligenmoschel, Nov. 24
THirschhorn, Dec. 1
THochspeyer, Dec. 8 and 9
THomburg, Nov. 30 to Dec. 9
THütschenhausen, Dec. 9
TKaiserslautern, Nov. 26 to Dec. 22
TKatzweiler, Dec. 8
TKindsbach, Dec. 9
TKirchheimbolanden, Dec. 7 to 9
TKollweiler, Dec. 15
TKusel, Dec. 4; Dec. 7 to 9
TKusel, Lichtenberg Castle,Dec. 1 and 2
TLandstuhl, Dec. 1 and 2; Dec.14 to 17
TMackenbach, Dec. 1
TMehlbach, Dec. 2
TMehlingen, Dec. 1 and 2
TMiesau, Dec. 8
TNeuhemsbach, Dec. 8 and 9
TNeunkirchen/Potzberg,
   Nov. 27
TNeuleiningen, Dec. 1 and 2; Dec. 8 and 9
TNiederkirchen, Dec. 8
TObermoschel, Dec. 1 and 2
TOtterbach, Dec. 1 and 2
TOtterberg, Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22
TQueidersbach, Dec. 1 and 2
TRamsen, Dec. 8 and 9
TRamstein-Miesenbach, Dec. 8 and 9
TRockenhausen, Nov. 30 to Dec. 2
TRodalben, Dec. 1 and 2
TRodenbach, Dec. 1
TSchallodenbach, Dec. 8, 9
TSchneckenhausen, Dec. 1, 2
TSchönenberg-Kübelberg, Dec. 15 and 16
TSchopp, Dec. 8
TSchwedelbach, Dec. 8 and 9
TStelzenberg, Dec. 1
TSulzbachtal, Dec. 2
TTrippstadt, Klug’sche Mühle, Dec. 2 and 9
TWaldfischbach-Burgalben,Dec. 1 and 2
TWaldleiningen, Dec. 15, 16
TWaldmohr, Dec. 1 and 2
TWeilerbach, Dec. 1 and 2
TWinnweiler, Dec. 1 and 2
TWolfstein, Dec. 1