Season opening Bonn Christmas market kicks off the festive season
Bonn · With the help of the International Voices Choir, Bonn’s Christmas market got off to a warm and festive start. It will run for 35 days.
The weather gods were quite kind for the kick-off of Bonn’s Christmas market season. With near winter temperatures, a little sunshine and only a short rain shower, everyone felt fine. Visitors started coming already in the morning to browse through the Christmas stands. The International Voices Choir of the Bonn International School helped with the official launch, along with district Mayor Helmut Kollig.
Heidrun Schneider and her husband Frank said, “We come to the Christmas market mainly to eat.” With so many choices and food stands to try out, it’s good there’s several weeks ahead where visitors can succumb to all the temptations. The market is open for 35 days this year, longer than in the past. According to Günter Dick, the man in charge of the Christmas market, the opening is dependent on when “Sunday of the Dead” happens to fall on the calendar. It’s a religious holiday and on that day, the Christmas market is closed (Nov. 21). 189 booths fill the market this year.
Karin Aldenhövel normally sews baby shoes but said she couldn’t manage to make enough for 35 days so she opened a “Bratapfel” (baked apple) stand instead. The apples have a home-made filling of nuts, a little sugar, lemon juice and is served with cranberries. A chocolate stand put up by two 22-year-olds takes advantage of their grandmother’s recipes. Opening hours: daily from 11 am - 9 pm, food and beverage stands are open Sun. - Thurs. 11 am - 9:30 pm, Fri./Sat. 11 am - 10:30 pm. Runs until Dec. 23, (closed on Nov. 21). Child supervision: at the Aktionshaus on Münsterplatz, children ages 6 and up can be dropped off to do some arts & crafts while their parents shop.
Eröffnung des Bonner Weihnachtsmarkts 2016
The service is available Mon. - Fri. 4 - 7 pm, Sat./Sun. 1 - 7 pm. Free of charge. Prices: have remained steady. A glühwein (hot spiced wine) costs €2.50 and up, bratwurst €3 and up and salmon cooked on open flames from €7. A bratapfel costs €2.80. Police and security: Police are patrolling in uniform and undercover. They have set up a mobile unit at Münsterplatz where visitors can go for help or advice “Wache Weihnachtsmarkt”. People should be aware of potential pickpockets who operate typically in big crowds.
This year again, police will distribute an “Alarm-Glöckchen” which is a little alarm bell to put in a handbag. It sounds when someone tires to get in a purse or handbag. Advice from the police chief Ursula Brohl-Sowa is to keep valuables in inner pockets, not in a purse or other type of bag. (Orig. text: Lisa Inhoffen)
