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Stollenfest, Miner's Parade or Festung Königstein market?

My daughter and I will be visiting Dresden and environs in early December for a Christmas market and more trip. There is not enough time to see and do it all, so we have been choosing priorities.

My quandary is over Saturday, December 6, what to choose to do. From morning to afternoon is the Dresden Stollenfest. The Stollenfest starts around 10 AM, with the parade ending about noon and then the cake cutting lasting a couple of hours until it is gone.

We have already bought tickets for the Christmas Market at Festung Königstein, which goes from 9 AM to 7 PM. The tickets aren't expensive if we miss it. We are not in Dresden any other weekend days to catch it.

Finally, there is the Miner's Parade in Freiberg, which starts around 5 or 6 p.m. I wasn't planning on going to Freiberg otherwise since it didn't pop out to me as being particularly unique. Their Miner's Parade is supposed to be the biggest one. But how crowded? I am 5'2" and I won't be able to see over any heads.

Besides Dresden we will visit Kassel, the Harz Mountains, Meissen, Seiffen, Bautzen, Görlitz and Wroclaw. I admit I am more of a Stollen fan than a mining fan, although I appreciate the history and the development of mining in the wooden toy industry. And my daughter is a real medieval/Renaissance fan.

We can undoubtedly take in two of these but not three. Has anyone been to all three of these events to compare them for me?

Thank you!

Posted by
1563 posts

6 December Nikolaus Tag. Meissen was nice years ago on the Marktplatz early evening. Horse and all. Goose dinner too. Lots of kids. If your daughter is young than make the most out of 5-6 December for her. Add Annaberg-Buchholz to the laundry list too. Glück Auf!

Posted by
69 posts

Thank you, mchpp, I am glad to hear a vote for Meissen. What is the horse? Gänseessen I know and have it whenever I see it. Do you have places to recommend?

My daughter is mid-thirties, but I hope to bring my six-year old granddaughter in the next couple of years. I tried to fit Annaberg-Buchholz in this year but couldn't make the days stretch. I hear it is really beautiful.
I definitely will put it on the list for when I bring my granddaughter.