20th Harzgerode Advent Walks

The downtown area surrounding the magnificent town hall, St. Mary’s Church, and Harzgerode Castle offers a wide variety of experiences:
Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. | Sunday, December 6, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Santa Claus will be out and about daily in the downtown area around the magnificent town hall and St. Mary’s Church . Amid the city’s festive Christmas lights, the following activities are on offer:

• At Elektrohaus Schlink: “Dishwasher Challenge: Score the highest percentage using a fork or plate!” (Saturday and Sunday). A washing machine is up for grabs as a prize.
• At the “Schöne Dinge Lädchen,” an Advent exhibition, along with artistic and culinary offerings.

Around the festively decorated Christmas tree in front of City Hall, there are market stalls offering all kinds of sweet and savory delicacies. A children’s train, “Flying Toys” air-powered planes, a claw machine, and a ball-toss booth on the market square round out the offerings.
On both days, the castle, with its historic courtyard, provides a unique backdrop for all kinds of Christmas delights—music, food, and shopping for anyone looking for some holiday inspiration.
Program for December 5, 2026:
St. Mary’s Church:
2:00 p.m. – Opening of the Advent trails with the children from the Regenbogenland daycare center in the presence of Santa Claus
2:00–6:00 p.m. – Guided tours of the church and tower
Market Square:
12:30–2:00 p.m. – The radio SAW Christmas Angels are on the move: Take a photo with the angels to receive a raffle ticket and a chance to win €1,000 in Christmas bonus money.
3:00 p.m. – Santa Claus arrives
Harzgerode Castle:
4:00 PM – REWE Christmas Challenge: Can the Waldhofverein Silberhütte e.V. to make and light twenty Swedish torches out of tree trunks within 15 minutes—to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the HARZGERÖDER ADVENTSWEGE—and bathe the Christmas market in the inner courtyard of Harzgerode Castle in festive light?
Starting at 4:30 p.m. – Book flea market in the library
4:30 p.m. – Meet Santa in the “Schwarze Küche”
5:00 p.m. – Storytime in the library
St. Mary’s Church:
3:15 p.m. – Christmas program featuring the Männerchor 1947 e.V. and the Volkskunstgruppe Harzgerode e.V.
4:45 p.m. – Advent closing concert with the trombone choir
Program on December 6, 2026:
St. Mary’s Church:
2:00 p.m. – A colorful Advent program presented by the “Weißer Garten” elementary school and after-school care center, with Santa Claus in attendance
2:00–5:00 p.m. – Church and tower tours
4:00 p.m. – Advent music with the choir and orchestra
5:00 p.m. – Church service featuring the “Rainbow Singers” from Gernrode
Market Square:
2:45 p.m. – Santa Claus arrives
Schlink Electronics Store:
4:00 p.m. – Santa Claus draws the winner of the “Scratch with a fork or plate to reveal the biggest discounts!” promotion
Harzgerode Castle:
4:30 p.m. – Meet Santa Claus in the “Schwarze Küche”
We wish you a merry and blessed Christmas and a healthy and successful 2026!
Editorial deadline: October 23, 2026 – Subject to change without notice!

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS: 11th Annual Summer Fairy Tale Festival on July 2–3, 2027!