Overview
- Augsburg’s Christkindlesmarkt now blocks midday through‑traffic in front of the Rathaus, using movable Pitagone barriers staffed by security, with trams and emergency vehicles allowed during set windows.
- Temporary police video surveillance is operating on Augsburg’s Rathausplatz to speed response to incidents and will be removed after the market ends.
- Rotenburg expands its Adventsleuchten into a closed Christmas village on the Pferdemarkt with about 50 exhibitors, protected by water‑filled Indutainer barriers and multiple street closures, and opens Friday to Sunday with adjusted evening hours.
- Late openings are widespread: Augsburg trades until 21:30 on Fridays and Saturdays, Neu‑Ulm’s medieval market runs to 21:30/22:00, and Aichach extends to 21:00 on weekends including December 26.
- Essen powers stands with green electricity and enforces reusable tableware and a plastic‑bag ban, while Nürnberg’s Christkindlesmarkt is cited as Germany’s top market in a new Casino.org ranking.