Press release -
Christmas time in Potsdam
Brandenburg’s state capital transforms into a fairytale landscape for the festive season as Bohemian crafts meet Finnish mulled wine and the Dutch Santa Claus meets Polish starlight magic – in the run up to Christmas, Potsdam reflects its diverse history, characterised by immigrants to the city.
Overview of Christmas markets:
Blauer Lichterglanz – City centre
21st November to 29th December 2022
Blauer Lichterglanz lights up the city’s old town. Festively decorated stalls sell local delicacies and Christmas gifts, while young visitors can enjoy a ride on the huge wheel and indulge in puppet shows.
The market was officially opened at Luisenplatz on 21 November. The opening included Mayor Mike Schubert continuing the tradition of cutting the five-metre-long Christmas fruit loaf – the Christmas Stollen. It was locally produced by Potsdam bakers and confectioners Schröter & Sohn.
Bohemian Christmas Market – Weberplatz, Babelsberg
On the weekends of 25th until 27th November and 2nd until 4th December 2022
At Weberplatz square, Bohemian weavers settled 270 years ago. Today it is the site of the traditional Bohemian Christmas Market. Craftspeople, retailers, artists and restaurateurs present lots of local traditions. Visitors to the market include the Bohemian Christmas Fairy and Santa Claus. An orchestra from Prague will perform the Bohemian Shepherd Mass in the Friedrichskirche church.
Sternenmarkt and Sternenfest (Star Market and Star Festival) – Kutschstallhof
2nd until 4th December 2022
Sternenmarkt (Star Market) offers Polish crafts and typical specialities. The classic vaulted hall is turned into a German-Polish cultural exchange, while Santa’s workshop welcomes all young visitors. The market is accompanied by the Sternenfest (Star Festival) with circus acts, choral music, plays and concerts.
Sinterklaas-Fest (Santa Claus Festival) – Dutch Quarter
10th until 11th December 2022
Dutch and local retailers and restaurateurs make for a colourful medley of all sorts of tasty treats, fine things and fascinating craft demonstrations. Sinterklaas (the Dutch Santa Claus) and his ship dock in Potsdam Harbour on 10th December. From here, by horse and carriage will ride through the city centre and towards his destination the Dutch Quarter.
Other events over the Christmas period
The festive period in Potsdam isn’t just Christmas markets. Concerts, city tours and theatre performances all add to the magical atmosphere.
The ‘Potsdam Christmas Tales’ tour will take you on an entertaining walk through the wintry city. Kicking off at the Old Market, the guided tour then makes its way through the city’s old town and into the Dutch Quarter, topped off with colourful Christmas-related anecdotes. This stroll through an illuminated Potsdam rounds off with a small culinary surprise.
Gifts for friends of Potsdam
The run up to Christmas is a time for cosy treats and small pleasures. Potsdam’s tourist information centres offer a wide range of gift ideas for all friends of Potsdam:
Warming Havel punch - The captivating name, ‘Pear kissing raspberry’, melts on the tongue just like this delicious alcohol-free punch.
Aromatic Dutch gabled houses - The red-brick gabled houses adorn the four blocks of the Dutch Quarter, the largest building ensemble of its kind outside of the Netherlands. ‘Giebelhaus’ (‘gabled house’) soap is made by hand in a local soap factory using pure olive, coconut and rapeseed oil as well as shea butter.
Brandenburg Christmas coin - For years the Brandenburg Christmas coin (‘Brandenburger Weihnachtstaler’) has been decorated with iconic buildings from around the state. This year the coin depicts Flatow Tower in Babelsberger Park.
2023 postcard calendar - A visit to Potsdam is like a trip around Europe. Each month of the calendar whisks you away to locations that define the city’s history. All of the pages in the calendar can be pulled out and sent as postcards.
These and more products are all available in the online shop ‘Dein Potsdam’.
All published information and dates are subject to change. Find up-to-date information on https://www.potsdam-tourism.co...
For any questions, please contact our Service Centre – by phone on: +49 (0) 331 2755 88 99 or by email at: info@potsdamtourismus.de. You can experience even more of Potsdam at Christmas time on our social media channels at @deinpotsdam.
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PMSG Potsdam Marketing und Service GmbH is entrusted with the tourism and culture marketing of the state capital Potsdam. This includes advising guests in the Tourist Information centres and via the service hotline as well as the broad portfolio of public and private tours. The PMSG congress office provides advice on all aspects of meetings, congresses and company events in Potsdam. The tourism marketing activities also include the publication of the travel magazine and podcast, but also the daily exchange on social media channels and websites.
