Picturesque green sandstone churches and historic half-timbered houses frame around 100 lovingly decorated stalls at the Soest Christmas market, offering gifts and handicrafts from all over the world, Christmas decorations in a wide variety of shapes, colors and materials, craft demonstrations and, of course, culinary delights for every taste. Every day, the Christmas angel hands out sweets to the waiting children and the tower wind player plays familiar melodies in the evening. At the weekend, children make phone calls to Santa Claus and from the 2nd weekend in Advent you can marvel at the Westphalian crib in St. Patrokli.
From the end of November to 22 December, the unique green sandstone ensemble "Altstadt Soest" forms the impressive backdrop for one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in the whole country. While countless stars provide the entire market square with its pretty half-timbered houses with an indescribable firmament and add an extra sparkle to the cathedral square next to the impressive Romanesque tower of St. Patrokli, elsewhere the tower of St. Petri and the historic town hall form the impressive backdrop for the Christmas market. In the romantic Vreithof, the stalls wind their way along quaint, invitingly illuminated rows of half-timbered houses.
Each of the historic squares creates a beautiful and atmospheric panorama in its own way, which complements the Soest Christmas market in a special way. This atmosphere gives the event its special charm and has made it famous far beyond the region's borders. Traditionally, the Soest retail trade also invites shoppers to an open Sunday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the second weekend in Advent.
Environmental awareness and sustainability
More than ten years ago, Wirtschaft und Marketing Soest GmbH, the organizer of the event, set out to switch to energy-saving LED lighting. This was achieved within just a few years and has now been implemented 100%.
When it comes to the plastic cup taboo for cold and hot drinks, Soest was one of the first in Germany in the mid-1990s with its various major events. The use of reusable crockery is now mandatory for stall operators at the Soest Christmas market.
25.11. - 22.12.2024
Daily from 11 am to 8 pm
Fri/Sat until 9 pm
*Gastronomy stands may open until 10 pm at their own discretion and may close earlier depending on weather conditions