November is the start of a fun time here in Germany for festivals as the Christmas Markets start! This will be a list of November Festivals and Events, there are many to chose from, this list has 17! We had a great time checking out the October Festivals, if you missed them add them to your calendar for next year. Again these are generally no more than 3 hours away, although I may throw in one or two further away ones if I think that they are something to consider.
There are festivals for everyone! From Hobbit ice sculptures, Hunting Festivals with game to eat, to endless Christmas Markets! There has got to be one that you will find interesting and want to check out!
I’ve also included a printable file at the bottom so that you can print it out and easily see what festivals are available. Some of the festivals are this weekend so if you don’t get to them this year you can always add them to your list for next year. I’ll also be blogging about the ones that we get to visit so check back and see if they are worth taking a trip to.
Below is a list of upcoming festivals, please note many of the websites are in German only so use Google Chrome and it will translate the page for you. It will include the festival, website, dates, and how far from Spangdahlem. Please note these are just some of the bigger festivals there will be TONS of Christmas markets and I’d be here all year if tried to list them for each village.
Here is the link for the German Christmas Markets from A to Z and Christmas Markets there are lots on here and too many to list individually. I will include some below as well. One of my FAVORITE Christmas Markets will be coming up in Dec, so check back for that list as well! If you have a Christmas Market that you think we MUST see please leave a comment or send me a message 🙂
2014 November Festivals
German & Dutch Fabric Market – in Darmstadt, Germany Nov. 7th – 9th
Find many patterns & colors of German and Dutch fabrics, more info on website We have also visited Darmstadt as well for other things to do there.
Approximately 2 hours from Spangdahlem, 1 hour from Ramstein
http://www.expo-concept.de/stoffmaerkte/termine/
Hunting Festival & Large Game Market – in Bouillon, Belgium Nov. 11th
See a parade made up of hunters, horses, hunting dogs & more! Then check out the market to find items like deer, boar, and some things less gamey, more info on website
Approximately 2 hours from Spangdahlem, 2 hours 25 minutes from Ramstein
http://www.opt.be/informations/events-bouillon-hunting-festival-and-a-large-game-market-in-bouillon/en/E/22494.html
International Christmas Beer Festival – in Stembert, Belgium Nov. – Dec. (dates to be determined)
Try several beers as you walk along checking out the nativity scenes, more info on website
Approximately 1 hour from Spangdahlem, 2 hours from Ramstein
http://www.opt.be/informations/events-stembert-international-christmas-beers-festival-in-stembert/en/E/58761.html
Ice Sculpture Festival – in Bruges, Belgium Nov. 21st to Jan 4th.
This year it will be the Ice Magic Land of the Hobbits at the festival, more info on this website, you can also find info here, and sculpture’s website as well.
Approximately 3 hours from Spangdahlem, 4 hours from Ramstein. GPS Address: Buitenbegijnenvest, 8000 Bruges
http://www.sculpturedeglace.be/?lang=en
Koblenz Christmas Market – in Koblenz, Germany Nov. 21st to Dec. 22nd
This Christmas market covers 6 areas in the old part of Koblenz with over 100 stalls to visit, more info on website & the Christmas Market website
Approximately 1 hour from Spangdahlem, 1.5 hours from Ramstein
http://www.weihnachtsmarkt-koblenz.de/en/welcome.html
Bernkastel-Kues Christmas Market – in Bernkastel-Kues, Germany Nov. 22nd – Dec. 21st
The highlight of this festival is watching the 100 swimmers plunge into the chilly water holding a torch to accompany the arrival of St. Nick, more info on Christmas Market website it says this is happening Nov. 29th, but on the official website program here it is listed as Dec. 6th. I know my friends went last year on Dec. 7th to see the swimmers. So you may want to save this Christmas Market for next month. Official website here
Approximately 30 minutes from Spangdahlem, 1 hour and 11 minutes from Ramstein.
http://www.weihnachtsmarkt-bernkastel-kues.de/cms/front_content.php?idcat=94
Winterlights Festival – in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg Nov. 22nd – Jan 12th
A Christmas festival with lights, parades, an Advent circus, international food and more! More info on website
Approximately 1 hour from Spangdahlem, 1.5 hours from Ramstein
http://www.visitluxembourg.com/en/place/specialevents/winterlights
Cologne Christmas Market – in Cologne, Germany Nov. 24th – Dec. 23rd
7 different Christmas markets line the streets of Cologne’s Old Town, more info on website
Approximately 1 hour 45 mins from Spangdahlem, 2.5 hours from Ramstein
http://www.cologne-tourism.com/whats-on/christmas/christmas-markets.html
Trier Christmas Market – in Trier, Germany Nov. 24th – Dec. 22nd
Here you can visit 95 decorated wooden booths in this historic city, more info on website & also the Christmas Market website
Approximately 30 minutes from Spangdahlem, 1 hour from Ramstein.
http://www.trierer-weihnachtsmarkt.de/en/
Saarbrücken Christmas Market – in Saarbrücken, Germany Nov. 24th – Dec. 23rd
Highlights include a bell tower with life sized figures, a huge Advent wreath & an Alpine hut, more info on website, as well as the Christmas Market website
Approximately 1 hour 40 minutes from Spangdahlem, 40 minutes from Ramstein.
http://www.saarbruecker-christkindl-markt.de
Cochem Christmas Market – in Cochem, Germany Nov. 27th to Dec. 21st.
Set among a half timbered village with a fairy tale castle you can enjoy this christmas market & festivities, more info on website & the Christmas Market website
Approximately 55 minutes from Spangdahlem, 1 hour 40 minutes from Ramstein
http://www.romantic-germany.info/Cochem.4267.0.html
Mainz Christmas Market – in Mainz, Germany Nov. 27th – Dec. 23rd
The Christmas market is set up in the square with the cathedral of Saint Martin as the backdrop, more info on website & Christmas Market website
Approximately 1 hour 45 mins from Spangdahlem, 1 hour from Ramstein
http://www.mainz.de/WGAPublisher/online/html/default/christmas-market
Winter Wonders – in Brussels, Belgium Nov. 28th – Jan 4th.
Christmas market with over 250 vendors, fairground attractions & an ice skating rink, more info on website
Approximately 2 hours 12 minutes from Spangdahlem, 3 hours 16 minutes from Ramstein
http://www.brussels.be/artdet.cfm?id=4843&agendaid=59
Leige, the Christmas City – Christmas Village – in Liege, Belgium Nov. 28th – Dec. 30th
This market has 4 themed houses, sledding slope & ice skating rink, and a Russian Christmas market! more info on website
Approximately 1 hour 20 minutes from Spangdahlem, 2 hours 20 minutes from Ramstein
http://www.belgium-tourism.be/informations/events-liege-liege-the-christmas-city-christmas-village/en/E/19420.html
Saint Nicholas Christmas Train Ride – in Selfkant, Germany Nov. 29th & 30th (also some dates in Dec)
This steam train will take you and your family on a ride to meet Saint Nicholas, more info on website
Approximately 2 hours from Spangdahlem,
http://www.selfkantbahn.de/fahrplaene-angebote/veranstaltungen/nikolausfahrten-2
Weihnatchsmarket in Dudeldorf (Christmas Market) – in Dudeldorf, Germany Nov. 29th & 30th
This a neat little Christmas market that is close to the base, we visited it last year, you can read about it HERE, more info on website (use Google Chrome).
Approximately 6 minutes from Spangdahlem, 1 hour and 16 minutes from Ramstein.
http://www.weihnachtsmarkt-deutschland.de/weihnachtsmarkt-dudeldorf.html
Bad Hönningen Christmas Market – in Bad Hönningen, Germany Nov. 29th & 30th
This Christmas market has a nostalgic atmosphere as well as a historic merry go round, more info on village website also on the Christmas Market Site
Approximately 1.5 from Spangdahlem, 2 hours from Ramstein
http://bad-hoenningen.de/weihnachtsmarkt/
The printable has the list of the 7 festivals/events that are within 3 hours or less from Spangdahlem, so many I had to make it on 2 pages, you can download it HERE
We will be checking out the some of these, I’m excited about crossing some of them off our list! If you know of a great festival that I missed that you think should be added please email me or leave a comment 🙂 I’d also love to hear your experience if you get a chance to visit any of the festivals!
Leave a Reply