The cities of Dresden and Chemnitz have recorded 2025 as a good year for their own Christmas markets. Dresden's Striezelmarkt, which only ends on Christmas Eve, once again expected up to 2.2 million visitors and an increase on the previous year.
"The festivals at the weekends in particular attracted tens of thousands of people. The Great Mountain Parade last Saturday - back in Dresden for the first time since 2011 - attracted over 120,000 visitors. For me, that was the absolute highlight of the year," emphasized Jan Pratzka, Mayor of Economic Affairs.
150,000 liters of mulled wine, cups often taken as souvenirs
According to the Dresden city administration, 150,000 liters of mulled wine were served at the Striezelmarkt - slightly more than last year. This year's mulled wine cups - decorated in great detail with angels and miners - once again proved to be a popular souvenir: 65,000 cups are now on their way around the world.
Dresden referred to the great national and international response to one of Germany's oldest Christmas markets. Media from Japan, the Czech Republic and Great Britain, among others, have reported extensively and the "New York Times" has also repeatedly recommended Dresden as a travel destination - especially at Christmas time.
Show bakery delivers around 2,580 Christmas stollen
The bakers' guild is also satisfied and spoke of a good market season with sales at the previous year's level. Around 2,580 Christmas stollen had been produced in the show bakery by the day before Christmas Eve, which corresponds to a total weight of almost three tons. Children baked around 180,000 pieces in the Christmas bakery.
In the hustle and bustle of the market, 130 items were handed in to the lost and found office, including purses and a baby carriage, according to the city. Three children were briefly missing, but were quickly handed over to their parents.
420,000 visitors to the Chemnitz Christmas market
In Chemnitz, the market closes the day before Christmas Eve. According to the city administration, more than 420,000 visitors came over 26 days. "The market was very well attended throughout this year, even despite the mild double-digit temperatures at times," it said. The fact that Chemnitz was the European Capital of Culture at the end of the year accounted for a certain proportion of the number of visitors.
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