Altenau Winter Market 2026
The Altenau Winter Market in the Marktgarten welcomes visitors from 18 December 2026 to 2 January 2027, daily from 2.00 pm to 9.00 pm. Look forward to festive stalls, pre-Christmas music and the big New Year’s Eve party with a DJ! With its small, decorated wooden stalls, the traditional winter market in the mountain town of Altenau invites you to visit from 18 December to 2 January. Every day from 2.00 pm to 9.00 pm, a varied programme of entertainment is on offer, accompanied by mulled wine and sweet treats.
On Christmas Eve, Father Christmas visits the winter market, and on 31 December from 9.00 pm to 1.00 am, the popular open-air New Year’s Eve party takes place. A highlight of New Year’s Eve is the traditional torchlight walk organised by the Altenau branch of the Harzklub. The walk starts at 9.00 pm at the Kurgastzentrum Altenau (Hüttenstraße 9) and ends at around 10.30 pm at the HZV Altenau meeting point by the coach park. Torches can be purchased on site for a fee.
Programme
| Friday | 18 December 2026 |
| 4.00 pm | Opening of the winter market |
| from 5.30 pm | Live music with the Zackels |
| 6.00 pm | Festive beer tapping by the Altenau Brewery – free beer for clubs and all visitors |
| Sunday | 20 December 2026 |
| 4.00 pm – 6.00 pm | Baking bread on a stick over a campfire with the Harzklub Altenau Branch Association e.V. |
| Monday | 21 December 2026 |
| 4.00 pm | Performance by the Altenau nursery children, with everyone joining in to decorate the Christmas tree and sing Christmas carols |
| Tuesday | 22 December 2026 |
| 6.00 pm | Living Advent calendar and reading of a Christmas fairy tale |
| Thursday | 24 December 2026 |
| from 3.30 pm | Barrel organ music with Ullrich Schäfers |
| 4.00 pm | Present-giving for children with Father Christmas |
| Saturday | 26 December 2026 |
| 4.00 pm – 6.30 pm | Baking bread on a stick over the fire with the Harzklub Altenau branch |
| Sunday | 27 December 2026 |
| 2.00 pm | Winter walk (perhaps with snow) with the Harzklub Altenau Branch e.V. Start: Meeting point at the bus station in Schultal. Route subject to weather conditions. After the walk, there will be an opportunity to stop for refreshments at the Altenau Herb Park. You can take part in the ‘SPICE QUIZ’. Please register in advance: 05328 8020. The walk is free of charge. |
| 6.00 pm | Music with DJ Harzbeat |
| Monday | 28 December 2026 |
| from 4.00 pm | Barrel organ music with Ullrich Schäfers |
| 6.00 pm | Festive Christmas Concert 2026 – Serge Jaroff’s Don Cossack Choir at St Nikolai Church, Altenau |
| Tuesday | 29 December 2026 |
| 4.00 pm | Live music with ‘B Country Boy’ Bernd Redemann and line dancing for everyone to join in |
| 8.00 pm | Show: ‘The Best of Travesty Meets Musical Revue Show’ at the Altenau Spa Centre |
| Wednesday | 30 December 2026 |
| 4.00 pm – 6.00 pm | Laser shooting at the Marktgarten, followed by the prize-giving ceremony – in the afternoon, anyone aged 6 and over can test their marksmanship! The Altenau Shooting Club (founded in 1525) invites you to compete for the Winter Market Cup. It’s well worth taking part! |
| 6.00 pm | Music with DJ Tiwi |
| 8.00 pm | Christmas raffle draw |
| Thursday | 31 December 2026 |
| from 9.00 pm | Big New Year’s Eve party with DJ Harzbeat |
| 9.00 pm | Torchlight walk with the Harzklub Altenau e.V. – PLEASE NOTE: new meeting point: Kurgastzentrum Altenau (Hüttenstraße 9) | Return at approx. 11.00 pm |
| Saturday | 2 January 2027 |
| 6.00 pm | Closing party with DJ Tiwi |
Subject to change.
