Canceled Christmas Markets

it sounds like it will be a bit quiet for the vendors this year.... My money is on most or almost all cancelling this year...

The city of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler has now finally canceled the fair
in Bad Neuenahr, which normally takes place at the beginning of
October during the year, for 2020. The city council was also informed
about this in its session on Monday evening (7 September 2020) .
According to the current Corona Control Ordinance in
Rhineland-Palatinate, the opening and implementation of a fair, a folk
festival or a similar facility is currently prohibited. Due to the
agreement between the federal government and the states, the ban on
holding major events was extended until December 31, 2020.

Although they are speaking about the October Fair, the wording hints to me that a Christmas Market might be a "similar facility", and that is currently banned in Rhineland-Palatinate until the end of the year...

They have also cancelled the traditional fest for St Martin in November, including the spectacular Martinsfeuer.

At the moment a very short Christmas market is still on the city calendar for the one weekend of 18th, 19th and 20th of December.

It looks like a lot of towns and cities will simply have some smaller events, which may be kind of nice. Lack of commercialism, though the vendors this year have suffered tremendously. A year of no festivals.

Some of the larger cities like Köln, Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, may just have smaller markets scattered through the city, but even those may not happen.

Nuremberg overnight reported an increase in new cases at 83, an increase of 2.97%. Its seven-day average is now 1.99%. As far as I know the Nuremberg Christmas Market 2020 is still scheduled, but will be much different than traditional years before. I pulled this from the Nuremberg website a few weeks ago when things were optimistic:

Nuremberg's Economics Officer Dr. Michael Fraas emphasizes: "The Christmas Market 2020 will become more decentralized. It will not only take place on the main market, but some of the market stalls will be moved to Lorenzer Platz, Jakobsplatz and the island of Schütt. This will give us more space and allow for greater distances. People can then stroll from square to square. Streams of visitors will be distributed throughout the old town. Our old town will become the Christmas town". In the stall alleys between the stands, there will be compulsory masks and a one-way street system. The culinary stands are to be moved to the edge of the respective square, so that the sale and consumption of, for example, Nuremberg bratwursts outside the stalls alleys can take place in public areas and thus without a mask. The sale of alcoholic beverages such as mulled wine will not be "to go", but will take place in a controlled sale in limited areas under the same conditions as for the catering trade, for example by recording personal data. For the street sale of alcoholic beverages outside the market, for example within the framework of special uses or from restaurants and retail outlets, the same requirements will apply as for the market. However, all plans are subject to the proviso that there is no dramatic change in the incidence of infection. König and Fraas stress in unison: "We have to reassess the situation every day and make the appropriate decisions if the situation changes.

Current Bavarian restrictions do not allow for outside alcoholic beverage sales and limits groups. Restaurants closed by 21:00 in risk/lockdown areas. Personally I do not see how the market can go on with the current coronavirus situation. Not sure in risk areas leaving one's home if there are good reasons includes the Christkindlesmarkt. Certainly do not need a Super Spreader event!
You could make a Zwetschgenmännla at home: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWTM0CWKYIY

Frankfurt just canceled their Christmas market last night.
Most of the markets in Köln have been canceled

Nürnberg cancelled the Christkindlesmarkt two hours ago. This will be a sad Christmas for all market traders.

Just heard on Bayern 3 that The Nürnberg Christkindlesmarkt is canceled due to the Corona pandemic. The Weihnachtsmarkt in Augsburg is also cancelled.

Some of the smaller markets in Hessen that have been canceled:
Fritzlar
Bad Wimpfen
Kronberg
Langen
Viernheim
Schoneck
Hessen Park
Bad Soden

Also:
Aachen

Esslingen
Hanau
Augsberg
Freiburg
Karlsrühe
Tollwood

Michelstadt
Idstein

Based on the growing current COVID 19 numbers we see I cannot imagine any Chirstmas market in Germany to be allowed to operate.

These strongly growing numbers of new infected people will continue until mid / end of November - despite lockdown because some health authorities lost control over following up the infection chains. In two districts of Berlin this number is higher than 70% of infections which means that possible infected people still run around instead of self-isolating and infect othr people.

Munich Christkindlmarkt
Mainz
Berlin "Christmas Garden"
Berlin "Xmas in Tierpark"

And those which are not cancelled so far are in most cases not allowed to open before Dec. 1st.

Wiesbaden canceled now too.

Mrs. Jo,
thanks for your updates, and all of the valuable info you have provided in the past. My daughter and I went to Switzerland, [Luzern, Bern, Basel], France [Strasburg/Colmar,] and Germany [Esslingen, Stuttgart, Rothenburg ] Dec 2019, using so much of your advice. It was a fabulous experience!
I just want to let you know you are so appreciated, and hope to use more of your advice in future years.
Best wishes for good health and a better 2021.

Thanks Pat for expressing your appreciation for Ms Jo. I second those sentiments. It was because of Jo's posts that convinced me to spend 3 nights in Frankfurt on my Central Europe trip. I loved my time there and I loved my day trip to Budingen (at her suggestion), one of the best experiences of that trip. I also have her lists of her favorite daytrips and favorite Christmas markets in Germany saved for future reference. I appreciate all that she has contributed to this forum.

Berlin at Charlottenburg Palace

Just FYI... I heard on the radio yesterday that the Weihnachtsmarkt in Regensburg at Schloss Thurn und Taxis is planned to open now 1 December through 10 January (restrictions allowing). Normally the market would open 20 November, but opening 1 December it will be extended through 10 January. Apparently, they have some “elaborate hygiene and safety concept” for the outside market that is controllable within the walled Schloss gardens. This is not a public market and you have to pay to get in.

My small town of Weiden canceled their Weihnachtsmarkt yesterday. It usualy ran from the first Advent through 23 December and even had a small ice skating rink last year. We also had 36 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours.
Also heard yesterday that the famous "Fastnacht in Franken" from Veitshöchheim is to be broadcast for the first time as a recording and without an audience, because the risk of participants becoming infected with the virus would be too great (Fasching broadcast 5 Feb 2021). This is usually attended by the Bayerischer Ministerpräsident and other Bavarian politicians and celebrities.

"For most Germans, there will be no Christmas market stroll this year. According to a survey, almost 80 percent of the markets will be cancelled due to the Corona pandemic, another 13 percent are unclear, while seven percent of the markets will be open. This was announced by the German Retail Association.

The association expects serious consequences for the stores. "Christmas markets are an important factor in bringing customers into pedestrian zones and city centers". If this event were to disappear virtually across the board, it would mean a severe blow to downtown retail. In November and December, it usually makes a quarter of its annual turnover."

Source: Tagesschau

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Berlin Rotes Rathaus (Alexanderplatz)
Berlin Potsdamer Platz

With the growing numbers in Berlin it is unlikely that any market will get permission to open.

NYE party at Brandenburg Gate will not open for visitors.

Also Green Week fair in January will be digital.

Today, a year ago, I was leaving for my xmas markets trip, in Switzerland, France, and Germany. I'm so sorry folks won't have that wonderful experience this year. I'm so lucky I went last year.
Just another sad reminder of what a year 2020 has been. I sure hope things can't get much worse for the remainder of this year.
Stay safe and healthy!

@Pat - I was leaving on my Christmas market trip to Munich, Salzburg and Vienna. Was lucky to score a seat on the top deck of one the BA 747s - now a thing of the past, I believe. And, I was in Hallstatt for the Krampuslauf!

I have a Dallmayr chocolate bar hidden in the fridge. If we had a little snow, I could heat some red wine, roast up some sausages, and break out that chocolate. Not the same as Munich, but I can close my eyes and dream. Next year: South Tyrol markets, I hope. Although, I could be swayed by the RS Rome in 7 days over Christmas.

PS, I see on the Innichen webcam that they are putting up Christmas decorations, another way to live vicariously...

Also the Union Berlin Christmas singing in soccer stadium "An der Alten Försterei" is cancelled for this year. Hopefully they show the video stream from lst year or 2018.