Christmas Events for Kids in Dortmund (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

13 min read · Auf Deutsch lesen

For 2026, we confirmed 21 Christmas events for kids in Dortmund, running from November 19 to December 30. Of these, 11 are free. Every listing links straight to the host. This page is part of our guide to Christmas events for kids in Germany.

The short version

  • Kids’ Christmas events confirmed for 2026 in Dortmund: 21
  • First: Weihnachtsstadt Dortmund 2026 (Dortmund Christmas City), Dortmund, November 19
  • Free events: Weihnachtsstadt Dortmund 2026 (Dortmund Christmas City), Baking and Crafts in the Weihnachtsdorf (Christmas Village), Hohnsteiner Kaspertheater (Hohnstein Kasper Puppet Theater), Familiensonntag des Dortmunder U (Family Sunday at the Dortmunder U), Bilderbuchkino “Das große Weihnachtsfest im Zoo” (The Big Christmas Party at the Zoo), Kamishibai: “Wichtel Emil und der Weihnachtswirbel” (Elf Emil and the Christmas Whirl) and more

Below is every event we could confirm, grouped by town, with the date, time, cost and the small things parents ask about (registration, ages, what is included).

At a glance: Christmas events for kids in Dortmund

Kids’ Christmas events
21 confirmed for 2026
Towns
Dortmund
Season
November 19 to December 30
Free events
11
Last checked

Free 11Ticketed and paid 10

Free Christmas events for kids in Dortmund

Christmas marketFree

Weihnachtsstadt Dortmund 2026 (Dortmund Christmas City)

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Dortmund's Weihnachtsstadt (Christmas city) stretches through the city center with more than 250 stalls. The centerpiece is the 45-meter (148-foot) Christmas tree on Hansaplatz with around 138,000 LED lights and a four-meter (13-foot) angel at the top. The tree is lit for the first time at the official opening on Nov 23 at 7 pm, and after that there is a light show every half hour from 5 pm. Ten light installations also tell the story of the city.

For kids, the program includes the Weihnachtsdorf (Christmas village) with a bakery, a free Kasper puppet show (Kasper is the classic German hand-puppet clown), a magic show and daily story moments. It is open Monday to Thursday from 11 am to 9 pm, Friday and Saturday until 10 pm, and Sunday from noon. On Totensonntag (the Sunday of the Dead) and on Christmas Day the Christmas city is closed, and on Christmas Eve only some stalls are open from 11 am to 2 pm.

Parent tip: The light show at the tree runs every half hour from 5 pm. It is closed on Nov 22 and Dec 25.

Host
Markthandel- und Schausteller-Verband Westfalen e.V. (opens in a new tab)
Where
Dortmunder Innenstadt, Hansaplatz (Dortmund city center, Hansaplatz), 44137 Dortmund (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Markthandel- und Schausteller-Verband Westfalen e.V. (opens in a new tab)

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Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 20 more Dortmund events researched for you.

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Coming up on this page

  • 8 Story time
  • 8 Shows
  • 5 Crafts
  • 3 Zoos and museums
  • 11 Free

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Christmas craftsFree

Baking and Crafts in the Weihnachtsdorf (Christmas Village)

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The Weihnachtsdorf on Hansaplatz is one of the most popular attractions of Dortmund's Christmas city. From Nov 23 to Dec 23, kids bake cookies there together with Santa (the Weihnachtsmann), angels and baking elves, and make the matching packaging. There are also visits from Santa and the Christkind (the gift-bringing Christ child), a chance to phone the Christkind, and other Christmas activities.

On Mondays from 4 to 6 pm, EMMA, the mascot of Borussia Dortmund, helps with the baking, which by experience draws especially many families. It is free and needs no registration. On weekdays it is open from 9:15 am to 6 pm, on Saturdays from 10:30 am and on Sundays from noon. Afternoons and weekends suit families.

Parent tip: On Mondays between 4 and 6 pm the BVB (Borussia Dortmund) mascot EMMA bakes along, and it is often crowded then.

Host
Weihnachtsdorf e.V. (opens in a new tab)
Where
Weihnachtsdorf auf dem Hansaplatz (Christmas Village on Hansaplatz), 44137 Dortmund (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Weihnachtsdorf e.V. (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas showFree

Hohnsteiner Kaspertheater (Hohnstein Kasper Puppet Theater)

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In the historic little house on the north side of St. Reinold's Church (Reinoldikirche), the Hohnsteiner Kaspertheater performs again this year. From Nov 23 to Dec 30, Kasper visits the Christmas city every day. Traditional Kasper plays are performed with original Hohnstein hand puppets, by a family that has made puppet theater for seven generations.

The shows last about 20 minutes and take place even in bad weather. On weekdays they start at 3 and 5 pm, and on Saturday and Sunday there is an additional show at 1 pm. Admission is free. Especially for preschoolers, it is a good break between stalls and carousels, short enough for small spectators and pleasantly old-fashioned with Kasper, the crocodile and company.

Parent tip: About 20 minutes long and free, ideal as a break while strolling the market with toddlers. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Hohnsteiner Kaspertheater (opens in a new tab)
Where
Altes Haus an der Nordseite der Reinoldikirche (Old House on the north side of St. Reinold's Church), Stand 604, Ostenhellweg 2, 44135 Dortmund (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Hohnsteiner Kaspertheater (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas craftsFree

Familiensonntag des Dortmunder U (Family Sunday at the Dortmunder U)

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On Dec 6, Saint Nicholas Day (Nikolaustag), the Dortmunder U invites families all day to a Family Sunday with free creative activities. In the art workshop “Kling, Glöckchen, KlingelingelKunst” (Ring, Little Bell, Ring-a-ling Art), participants go in search of sounds in the museum that put them in a festive mood. Then they make their own KlingelKlang object (a jingle-sound object). The workshop takes place in the KunstAktionsRaum (art activity room) in the Museum Ostwall on level 4, with access via level 5.

From 3 to 4 pm there is also a public tour for children and adults through the collection presentation “let’s talk.” Small and big art fans get talking about the works. The meeting point is the entrance area on level 5. All activities are free, and no registration is needed.

Parent tip: Access to the workshop room is via level 5. The family tour begins at 3 pm in the entrance area on level 5. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Museum Ostwall im Dortmunder U (opens in a new tab)
Where
Museum Ostwall im Dortmunder U, Leonie-Reygers-Terrasse 2, 44137 Dortmund (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Museum Ostwall im Dortmunder U (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas story timeFree

Bilderbuchkino “Das große Weihnachtsfest im Zoo” (The Big Christmas Party at the Zoo)

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The Huckarde district library has a Bilderbuchkino (picture book cinema) in Advent. A picture book is read aloud while the illustrations are projected large onto a screen. This time it is “Das große Weihnachtsfest im Zoo”: Ignaz the hedgehog and the other zoo residents want to do a Wichteln (a secret gift swap), and it turns into a funny story full of mix-ups.

To match the movie feeling, there is popcorn. It is for children ages three and up and is free. Seats are limited, so the library asks you to register by email at bibliothek.huckarde@stadtdo.de or by phone at 0231 50-28480. For preschoolers it is a wonderful first trip to the movies in a small setting. It starts at 4 pm, conveniently after daycare (Kita) or school.

Parent tip: Register at 0231 50-28480 or bibliothek.huckarde@stadtdo.de. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Stadt- und Landesbibliothek Dortmund, Stadtteilbibliothek Huckarde (opens in a new tab)
Where
Stadtteilbibliothek Huckarde, Parsevalstr. 170, 44369 Dortmund (opens in maps)
Registration
Required
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Stadt- und Landesbibliothek Dortmund, Stadtteilbibliothek Huckarde (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas story timeFree

Kamishibai: “Wichtel Emil und der Weihnachtswirbel” (Elf Emil and the Christmas Whirl)

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At the Brackel district library, stories are told in December with the Kamishibai, a small picture theater from Japan in which large picture cards are slid one after another into a wooden frame. This time it is about Christmas elf Emil. It is already early December, and so high time for him to move in with a family.

So the nimble Nisse (a Scandinavian-style house elf) sets off through the snowy winter landscape, but his elf footprints reveal what he got up to along the way. The children discover the Christmas story together with the library team. Admission is free. The calendar gives no age, but Kamishibai is typically aimed at kindergarten and elementary-school children. It starts on Wednesday afternoon at 4 pm, easy to reach after daycare (Kita) or school.

Parent tip: Free. If you have questions about seats, it is best to ask the Brackel library beforehand. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Stadt- und Landesbibliothek Dortmund, Stadtteilbibliothek Brackel (opens in a new tab)
Where
Stadtteilbibliothek Brackel, Oberdorfstr. 23, 44309 Dortmund (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Stadt- und Landesbibliothek Dortmund, Stadtteilbibliothek Brackel (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas story timeFree

Bilderbuchkino: Wie feiern Wiesel Weihnachten? (How Do Weasels Celebrate Christmas?)

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The Lütgendortmund district library shows the Bilderbuchkino (picture book cinema) “Wie feiern Wiesel Weihnachten?” twice in December. Vince Weasel loves winter, but Christmas is not a weasel holiday for him, because weasels would rather celebrate fur-coloring and summer-night daydreaming. When the Christmas tree outside his window glitters so invitingly, he starts to wonder after all.

His friends explain to him what makes the holiday special for them, from the scent to the stillness to the food and the party, and Vince looks for his own secret ingredient for the perfect weasel Christmas. The book is read aloud while the pictures appear large on the screen. Admission is free, and the library asks you to register at 0231 50-28976 or by email at bibliothek.luedo@stadtdo.de. No age is given, but the format suits daycare and preschool children well.

Parent tip: Register at 0231 50-28976 or bibliothek.luedo@stadtdo.de. The library is in the Heinrich-Böll-Gesamtschule building. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Stadt- und Landesbibliothek Dortmund, Stadtteilbibliothek Lütgendortmund (opens in a new tab)
Where
Stadtteilbibliothek Lütgendortmund (in the Heinrich-Böll-Gesamtschule building), Volksgartenstraße 19, 44388 Dortmund (opens in maps)
Registration
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Stadt- und Landesbibliothek Dortmund, Stadtteilbibliothek Lütgendortmund (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas story timeFree

Am Samstag vorgelesen (Read Aloud on Saturday): Winter and Christmas Time

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In the series Am Samstag vorgelesen, the Wirtschaftsjunioren (Junior Chamber of commerce) together with the Stadt- und Landesbibliothek invite everyone to a cozy morning of stories. On Dec 12 the focus is on winter and Christmas time. Coffee and cookies are served.

The program runs under the motto Frech, wild und wunderbar (Cheeky, Wild and Wonderful), which celebrates Astrid Lindgren's birthday. The event takes place in Studio B on the entrance level of the library, with step-free access. Admission is free.

Parent tip: The room is reachable without steps. Ask the library briefly if you need to know from what age the stories fit. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Wirtschaftsjunioren Dortmund Kreis Unna Hamm und Stadt- und Landesbibliothek Dortmund (opens in a new tab)
Where
Stadt- und Landesbibliothek Dortmund, Studio B, Max-von-der-Grün-Platz 1-3, 44137 Dortmund (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Wirtschaftsjunioren Dortmund Kreis Unna Hamm und Stadt- und Landesbibliothek Dortmund (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas craftsFree

Weihnachtslesung & Kreativwerkstatt (Christmas Reading and Creative Workshop)

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At the Theater Fletch Bizzel there is a reading on the theme of winter for children and families. Hot chocolate and cookies are served. The event lasts about an hour and a half and is free.

After the reading comes a creative workshop: the children make their own little artwork out of what they heard. The activity is recommended for ages 4 and up.

Parent tip: Seats are limited, so please reserve beforehand by email at karten@fletch-bizzel.de. You can reach the theater by phone at 0231 142525. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Theater Fletch Bizzel (opens in a new tab)
Where
Theater Fletch Bizzel, Olpketalstr. 90, 44229 Dortmund (opens in maps)
Registration
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Theater Fletch Bizzel (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas story timeFree

Bilderbuchkino: Das Weihnachtswuschel (The Christmas Fluffball)

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The Bilderbuchkino Das Weihnachtswuschel is about Fiete the fox, who is annoyed on Christmas Eve that the animals in the forest keep quarreling. Then he hears a soft whimper in the bushes, and together they find a trembling, fluffy dog in the snow. The animals take him home. When the dog runs away, Fiete notices that he leaves no paw prints in the snow.

The show takes place on Dec 16 at 4 pm at the Brackel district library, Oberdorfstraße 23. Admission is free. The event calendar gives no minimum age and does not mention registration either. The event is filed under the category children, youth and family. For questions, you can reach the library at 0231 50-16866.

Parent tip: No age is given. For questions, the library can help by phone at 0231 50-16866. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Stadt- und Landesbibliothek Dortmund, Stadtteilbibliothek Brackel (opens in a new tab)
Where
Stadtteilbibliothek Brackel, Oberdorfstraße 23, 44309 Dortmund (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Stadt- und Landesbibliothek Dortmund, Stadtteilbibliothek Brackel (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas story timeFree

Bilderbuchkino: Lieselotte Weihnachtskuh (Lieselotte the Christmas Cow)

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Christmas Eve has finally come, but Lieselotte discovers the wish lists that she was supposed to take to the post office weeks ago. They should have been with Santa (the Weihnachtsmann) long since. So she steps in as the Christmas cow herself, wants to find out what the others wish for and to quickly make the presents herself. Unfortunately, quite a lot goes wrong, but her friends can be counted on.

The Hörde district library shows the story as a Bilderbuchkino (picture book cinema): the book is read aloud while the pictures are shown large on a screen. The event on the last Friday before the Christmas break is free. The Lieselotte books are very popular with preschoolers, and the event suits that age group especially well. It starts at 3:30 pm.

Parent tip: A nice date just before the Christmas break. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Stadt- und Landesbibliothek Dortmund, Stadtteilbibliothek Hörde (opens in a new tab)
Where
Stadtteilbibliothek Hörde, Hermannstr. 33, 44263 Dortmund (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Stadt- und Landesbibliothek Dortmund, Stadtteilbibliothek Hörde (opens in a new tab)

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Ticketed and paid Christmas events for kids in Dortmund

Admission, tickets or a fee apply. Where a host has not posted a price yet, the listing says so.

The #1 spot Event hosts: free events are listed first. One featured spot puts your event at the very top of this page.Ask about the #1 spot

Christmas show

Charles Dickens’ Weihnachtsmärchen (Charles Dickens's Christmas Tale)

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The Nostalgisches Puppentheater in Westfalenpark shows its Christmas tale after Charles Dickens on the Advent weekends. Old Scrooge is an embittered miser who would most like to cancel Christmas. But this year he is visited by three ghosts who show him the past, present and future, and an extraordinary journey begins.

It is performed with marionettes and music, runs about 70 minutes and is suitable for ages 5 and up. Shows are on Saturdays and Sundays at 3 pm, from Nov 21 to Dec 20. Tickets cost between €10 and €14. The theater is considered one of the most beautiful puppet theaters in Germany and is worth a visit for its lovingly made sets alone.

Parent tip: Running time about 70 minutes. Get tickets in good time, the weekend dates are popular. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Nostalgisches Puppentheater (opens in a new tab)
Where
Nostalgisches Puppentheater im Westfalenpark (Nostalgic Puppet Theater in Westfalenpark), An der Buschmühle 3, 44139 Dortmund (opens in maps)
Registration
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Nostalgisches Puppentheater (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas show

Hänsel und Gretel: Das Märchen (Hansel and Gretel: The Fairy Tale)

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This season the Kinder- und Jugendtheater Dortmund (Dortmund Children's and Youth Theater) shows “Hänsel und Gretel” as a family play for the Christmas season. The story begins in the here and now, at a birthday party just before Christmas with warmth, presents and good food, and then asks what would happen if there were not enough. Suddenly you are in the middle of the fairy tale with its dark forest, gingerbread house and witch.

Andreas Gruhn wrote and directed the play, with atmospheric images and music. It is recommended for ages six and up, and the show runs about 75 minutes without an intermission. Many dates are morning shows for schools and daycares. Especially suitable for families are the weekend and holiday dates, such as Nov 22, Dec 13 and the first and second day of Christmas. The Oper Dortmund shows Humperdinck's fairy-tale opera at the same time.

Parent tip: The weekend and holiday dates suit families, while on weekdays mostly school groups attend. The theater gives notes on sensitive content online. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Kinder- und Jugendtheater Dortmund (KJT) (opens in a new tab)
Where
Fritz-Henßler-Haus, Geschwister-Scholl-Straße 33, 44135 Dortmund (opens in maps)
Registration
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Kinder- und Jugendtheater Dortmund (KJT) (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas show

Salasas magische Bibliothek (Salasas's Magic Library)

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In the Theater der Magie on Hansaplatz, Salasas opens the magic library. In this show books come alive, wonders happen and a little magic can be felt everywhere. Together with Salasas and Paulito, young and old spectators become sorcerer's apprentices themselves and get to join in, marvel and laugh along.

The show runs from Nov 23 to Dec 26. Monday to Friday it starts at 3:30 and 5:30 pm, on Saturdays and Sundays at 1, 3 and 5 pm. On Totensonntag (the Sunday of the Dead), Nov 22, the entire Christmas city is closed. If you are at the Christmas market with kids anyway, the times combine well with the Kasper puppet theater at St. Reinold's Church.

Parent tip: Several shows a day, on weekends from as early as 1 pm. Combines well with the Kasper puppet theater. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Salasas & Paulito (opens in a new tab)
Where
Theater der Magie, Hansaplatz (Theater of Magic, Hansaplatz), 44137 Dortmund (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Salasas & Paulito (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas story time

“Lese-Sterne” (Reading Stars) by the Qualitätsroute Dortmund

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With the “Lese-Sterne,” the Qualitätsroute Dortmund, an association of owner-run shops and service providers, brings a few quiet minutes of reading into the bustle of the Christmas city. From Nov 24 to Dec 22, there is a short story every afternoon in the Weihnachtsdorf (Christmas village) on Hansaplatz, deliberately for all generations.

At the lectern stand very different people from Dortmund, from a shopkeeper to a singer, a hotel manager and a university professor. New this year is the Thalia bookstore as a reading partner. The Qualitätsroute publishes the exact times on its own website. Families can combine the reading time with baking and crafts in the Weihnachtsdorf, which is right next door. Each story lasts only a few minutes, so even younger children can listen well.

Parent tip: The exact reading times are on qr-dortmund.de. Combines well with cookie baking in the Weihnachtsdorf. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Qualitätsroute Dortmund (opens in a new tab)
Where
Weihnachtsdorf auf dem Hansaplatz (Christmas Village on Hansaplatz), 44137 Dortmund (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Qualitätsroute Dortmund (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas crafts

Advents-Atelier (Advent Studio): Was duftet denn da? (What Smells So Good?)

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Cinnamon, anise and cloves: for many people that is what the Christmas season smells like. At the mondo mio! children's museum in Westfalenpark, kids and their families learn on the Advent weekends where these Christmas spices actually come from. Afterward they use their favorite scents to make little spice sachets that they can take home.

The Advents-Atelier is open Saturdays and Sundays from Nov 28 to Dec 20, each day from 11 am to 5 pm. It is recommended for ages four and up. There are three time slots, 11 am to 12:30 pm, 1:30 to 3 pm and 3:30 to 5 pm, for which a reservation on the museum's website is recommended. For families who are in Westfalenpark, the activity is free and supported by DEW21.

Parent tip: Reserve a time slot ahead on mondomio.de. It is free for families who are in Westfalenpark, so plan for the park admission. Expect it to be in German.

Host
mondo mio! Kindermuseum im Westfalenpark (opens in a new tab)
Where
mondo mio! Kindermuseum im Westfalenpark, Florianstr. 2, 44139 Dortmund (opens in maps)
Registration
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with mondo mio! Kindermuseum im Westfalenpark (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas show

Hänsel und Gretel (Hansel and Gretel)

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Humperdinck's “Hänsel und Gretel” belongs to the Christmas season in Germany like the Advent wreath. The Oper Dortmund shows the fairy-tale play in three scenes, in German with surtitles. Folk-style children's songs combine with a big orchestral sound shaped by Wagner, and of course the tempting gingerbread house in the forest is there.

The theater recommends the opera for ages eight and up. The performance on Dec 6 lasts about two and a half hours with one intermission, and an introduction begins 45 minutes beforehand. For families, the afternoon dates are the best fit, that is Nov 29 and Dec 6 at 4 pm or Dec 20 at 2:30 pm. The Kinder- und Jugendtheater shows its own version at the same time for younger children ages six and up.

Parent tip: The afternoon shows suit children best. Before every performance there is an introduction. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Oper Dortmund (opens in a new tab)
Where
Opernhaus Dortmund, Platz der Alten Synagoge, 44137 Dortmund (opens in maps)
Registration
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Oper Dortmund (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas crafts

Adventsbasteln (Advent Crafts)

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Under the motto Weihnachtszeit ist Bastelzeit (Christmastime is Craft Time), the Naturmuseum Dortmund invites visitors to craft on two Advent Saturdays. Participants make their own Christmas cards and trees, small bells and other things. The event calendar files the activity under children, teens and families.

The dates are Dec 5 and Dec 12, each from 11 am to 3 pm, at the Naturmuseum on Münsterstraße 271. For the price, the museum's general admission information applies. Registration is not mentioned. The museum answers questions at 0231 50-24856 or by email at naturmuseum@stadtdo.de.

Parent tip: Check with the museum beforehand about admission and material costs. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Naturmuseum Dortmund (opens in a new tab)
Where
Naturmuseum Dortmund, Münsterstraße 271, 44145 Dortmund (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Naturmuseum Dortmund (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas show

Knusperkeks und Glitzerstern (Crunchy Cookie and Glitter Star)

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Die Märchenbühne (the Fairy-Tale Stage) shows a Christmas play of about 45 minutes at the Berghofen parish, with puppetry, music and a story to join in on. Bromm the bear is just baking Christmas cookies when he discovers a wish list that may be meant for someone else.

The fairy Glitzerstern (Glitter Star) tells him about a telescope that lets you see what people wish for. That is how Bromm finds the right mailbox. The play is recommended for children ages 3.5 to 8. The ticket costs €8.

Parent tip: The three 3 pm dates are marked as sold out in the calendar. The second date on Dec 20 at 4:30 pm was last listed without any note of being sold out, so ask the Märchenbühne (phone 0231 4271126). The time on Dec 20 is not clearly stated on the page. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Die Märchenbühne (opens in a new tab)
Where
Ev. Kirchengemeinde Berghofen (Berghofen Protestant parish), Fasanenweg 22, 44269 Dortmund (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Die Märchenbühne (opens in a new tab)

New events in Dortmund every week

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Christmas show

Turbo Prop Theater: Weihnachten bei den Schmuddels (Christmas with the Schmuddels)

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At the Theater Fletch Bizzel, a broom, a brush and a shaggy mop have been celebrating Christmas together for 40 years. The Turbo Prop Theater shows the pre-Christmas bustle with house cleaning, shopping, roast and Christmas tree as puppet comedy, and at the end lets the Christkind burst into the basement.

The theater calls the play a Christmas classic for everyone from 4 to 104. There are shows on Sunday, Dec 6, at 11 am and 3 pm and on Dec 23 and 24. The show on Dec 8 at 10 am is a group performance.

Parent tip: Tickets are available at karten@fletch-bizzel.de or by phone at 0231 142525. The reduced price of €8 applies only on Dec 8. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Theater Fletch Bizzel (opens in a new tab)
Where
Theater Fletch Bizzel, Olpketalstr. 90, 44229 Dortmund (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Theater Fletch Bizzel (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas show

The Nutcracker and I

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Pianist Alexandra Dariescu plays 15 piano versions from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker while dancer Désirée Ballantyne dances behind a transparent screen. Hand-drawn animations run on it, telling E. T. A. Hoffmann's Christmas story. You can hear the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Waltz of the Flowers, among other pieces.

On Saturday, Dec 19, there are two shows, at 3 and 6 pm. For children ages 6 to 12, the Konzerthaus offers a child-friendly introduction at 2 pm.

Parent tip: For the introduction at 2 pm, sign up by phone at 0231 22 696 200. The building is in the pedestrian zone and cannot be reached by car. It has elevators and is step-free.

Host
Konzerthaus Dortmund (opens in a new tab)
Where
Konzerthaus Dortmund, Brückstraße 21, 44135 Dortmund (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Konzerthaus Dortmund (opens in a new tab)

New events in Dortmund every week

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More Christmas events for kids in Germany

A story for the trip home

Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents. It is a cozy story to share on the way home after a big day out.

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolour corgi peeking from a red train

A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor. Ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon.de (opens in a new tab)

Christmas events for kids in Dortmund: questions parents ask

What are the 2026 Christmas events for kids in Dortmund?

For 2026, we confirmed 21 Christmas events for kids in Dortmund, each on its host’s own page: Weihnachtsstadt Dortmund 2026 (Dortmund Christmas City), Hänsel und Gretel: Das Märchen (Hansel and Gretel: The Fairy Tale), Bilderbuchkino: Wie feiern Wiesel Weihnachten? (How Do Weasels Celebrate Christmas?) and 18 more. Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.

Are there free Christmas events for kids in Dortmund?

Yes, 11 of the 21 events here are free: Weihnachtsstadt Dortmund 2026 (Dortmund Christmas City), Bilderbuchkino: Wie feiern Wiesel Weihnachten? (How Do Weasels Celebrate Christmas?), Familiensonntag des Dortmunder U (Family Sunday at the Dortmunder U) and 8 more. Some free events still ask you to register, so check each listing.

Where are there Christmas story times for kids in Dortmund?

Christmas story times on this page: Bilderbuchkino: Wie feiern Wiesel Weihnachten? (How Do Weasels Celebrate Christmas?), “Lese-Sterne” (Reading Stars) by the Qualitätsroute Dortmund, Kamishibai: “Wichtel Emil und der Weihnachtswirbel” (Elf Emil and the Christmas Whirl) and 5 more. Library story times are usually free; ones with a meal or show are ticketed.

How do you confirm these events?

We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city, library or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 9, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.

Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.

The story of Christmas in Dortmund

In Dortmund the Christmas tree is not cut down, it is built: 1,700 separate red spruces make up a tree 45 meters tall with an angel on top. It has stood on the Hansaplatz every year since 1996, in the middle of a Christmas market that celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2024. For families, that makes Dortmund a city where the big sights are easy for kids to understand.

How Dortmund celebrates Christmas, and what makes it special for visitors

Dortmund's Christmas season centers on the Weihnachtsstadt, the Christmas city, which fills the downtown from the Hansaplatz over the Alter Markt to the Reinoldikirche with more than 250 stalls. The market is much older than its famous tree. It celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2024, while the giant tree has stood on the Hansaplatz only since 1996.

What makes it different for a visiting family is the scale and the spectacle. The tree is described as the largest Christmas tree in the world, and a light show switches it on. In 2025 about 1.5 million visitors came during a season of about six weeks.

For children there is more than looking: a village with baking and crafts, a free puppet show and a magic show are part of the program.

What your child will meet: a puzzle tree, a mug and a Kasper

The giant tree is really many trees. About 1,700 red spruces are put together like a puzzle, and together they weigh roughly 90 tons. At the top stands a four-meter angel that weighs about 200 kilograms. Since 2024 the tree carries 138,000 lights, up from 40,000 in 2023, and each light can change color, so the tree does not look the same every evening.

Another tradition is the Christmas mug. Since 2002 the Weihnachtsstadt issues a new mug design every year, and many families collect them. The 2024 mug showed a penguin in a red and white scarf in front of the Reinoldikirche, with a deposit of 3.50 euros. In 2023 the mug was sold out after three weeks, and in 2025 the last ones went on December 16.

Kasper is the cheeky hand puppet of German puppet theater, much like Punch and Judy. In 2026 the Hohnsteiner Kaspertheater plays a free 20-minute show every day at the market.

Planning a Christmas visit to Dortmund with kids

This page lists the confirmed events. Eleven are free, seven are ticketed and three do not state a price. The Weihnachtsstadt opens on November 19, 2026 and runs to December 30, with the tree lighting from November 23. Many events run through the Advent weekends and end between December 20 and 30.

At the market itself, the village on the Hansaplatz offers free baking and crafting with Santa, angels and baking elves from November 23 to December 23. The magic show Salasas' Magic Library runs from November 23 to December 26, and daily read-alouds by local personalities run from November 24 to December 22.

Further afield you will find marionette theater in the Westfalenpark, Hansel and Gretel as an opera and as a children's play, a free family Sunday at the Dortmunder U on December 6 and many library picture-book cinemas. Most events are held in German.

Lights that tell Dortmund's story

The Kampstraße has been a pedestrian street since 2024 and belongs to the Weihnachtsstadt in Advent. Light installations there tell the story of Dortmund: mining, beer and steel. It is a good excuse to talk with kids about miners, breweries and steelworks in a city's past.

At the 2024 switch-on, children of showmen carried a light to the tree, as they had the year before. The mayor spoke, and the celebration was streamed live.

Traditions today

  • The giant Christmas tree on the Hansaplatz: 45 meters tall, built from 1,700 red spruces and crowned by an angel. It has stood there every year since 1996.
  • The Dortmund Christmas mug: A new design every year since 2002. Many people collect them, and they often sell out before Christmas.
  • The tree lighting: The tree is lit for the first time with a small show. In 2024 children of showmen carried a light to the tree.
  • Strolling through the Weihnachtsstadt: More than 250 stalls spread from the Hansaplatz over the Alter Markt to the Reinoldikirche.
  • Light stories on the Kampstraße: Light installations tell of mining, beer and steel, the things that made Dortmund big.
  • Magic shows for kids: In 2025 Salasas performed with the toy chest, a show with magic and humor for children.

A fact for kids

Dortmund's Christmas tree is really lots of trees. 1,700 small red spruces are put together like a puzzle to make a giant 45 meters tall.

Questions about Christmas in Dortmund

Is Dortmund worth visiting at Christmas with kids?

Yes. The giant tree is easy to explain to kids, there are free baking and puppet shows at the market, and the Weihnachtsstadt has more than 250 stalls. Many of the events are free.

When does the Christmas market in Dortmund open in 2026?

The Weihnachtsstadt Dortmund opens on November 19, 2026, and is listed through December 30, with the tree lighting from November 23. Entry is free. In 2025 it ran from November 20 to December 30, about six weeks.

How tall is the Christmas tree in Dortmund?

It is 45 meters tall and is described as the largest Christmas tree in the world. It is built every year on the Hansaplatz from 1,700 red spruces that together weigh about 90 tons. An angel on top weighs about 200 kilograms.

Since when has the giant Christmas tree stood in Dortmund?

Since 1996. It has been rebuilt on the Hansaplatz every year since, while the Christmas market around it is much older. That market celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2024.

How many trees is the Dortmund Christmas tree made of?

Of 1,700 individual red spruces, put together into a single tree 45 meters tall. From far away it looks like one giant spruce, but up close it is a kind of puzzle of smaller trees. Together they weigh about 90 tons.

How many lights does the Dortmund Christmas tree have?

According to the city of Dortmund, 138,000 LED lights hang on the tree since 2024. The year before it was 40,000. Each light can be controlled individually and can change color.

What is on top of the Dortmund Christmas tree?

An angel, four meters tall and weighing about 200 kilograms. It looks small from below because it stands on a tree 45 meters high. The tree has stood on the Hansaplatz since 1996.

How old is the Dortmund Christmas market compared with the giant tree?

The market celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2024. Today it is called Weihnachtsstadt Dortmund and spreads over the downtown with more than 250 stalls, from the Hansaplatz over the Alter Markt to the Reinoldikirche. The tree has stood there only since 1996.

What is the Dortmund Christmas mug?

Since 2002 the Weihnachtsstadt has issued a new mug design every year, and many families collect them. The 2024 mug showed a penguin with a red and white scarf in front of the Reinoldikirche, with a deposit of 3.50 euros. The 2023 mug sold out after three weeks, and the last 2025 ones sold on December 16.

How many stalls does the Dortmund Christmas market have?

More than 250. They are spread over the downtown, from the Hansaplatz with the giant tree over the Alter Markt and the Kleppingstraße to the Reinoldikirche. Almost 20 new stalls were added in 2024. They sell crafts, decorations, unusual toys and plenty of treats.

How many people visit the Dortmund Christmas market?

According to the year-end summary of the Weihnachtsstadt on December 30, 2025, about 1.5 million visitors came in 2025. The figure comes from the organizer. The season lasted about six weeks and had more than 250 stalls.

Where is the giant tree in Dortmund?

On the Hansaplatz in the Dortmund downtown. Every year the tree is built there from 1,700 red spruces, and the stalls of the Weihnachtsstadt stand around it. In the village on the Hansaplatz there are offers for kids, such as baking and crafts.

How do I explain the giant tree to small children?

Tell them the tree is built like a puzzle: 1,700 smaller spruces are fitted together until a tree as tall as a building with many floors stands there. An angel sits on top, and in the evening 138,000 lights go on that can even change color.

What can kids do at the Dortmund Christmas market?

In 2025 Salasas performed a magic show with the toy chest. In 2026 there are free baking and crafting sessions with Santa, angels and baking elves in the village on the Hansaplatz, and the free Hohnsteiner Kaspertheater shows at 3 and 5 p.m. daily, with an extra show at 1 p.m. on weekends. The magic show Salasas' Magic Library runs from November 23 to December 26.

Where can kids meet Santa in Dortmund?

In the village on the Hansaplatz, where free baking and crafting with Santa, angels and baking elves is listed from November 23 to December 23. It is open Monday to Friday from 9:15 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. and Sundays from noon, with no registration needed.

What do the lights on the Kampstraße tell?

Light installations there tell of Dortmund's history: mining, beer and steel. The Kampstraße has been a pedestrian street since 2024 and is part of the Weihnachtsstadt in Advent. It is a good chance to talk with kids about miners, breweries and steelworks.

What can you eat at the Dortmund Christmas market?

Besides the classics there are regional specialties. The Münsterland ham house on the Alter Markt sells sausage, ham and bread from the region. In 2024 there were also rice pudding bowls, Dubai chocolate on the Kleppingstraße and Dubai waffles in front of the Reinoldikirche. The Stamperltreff from Übersee on Lake Chiemsee has been there for more than 30 years.

How is the Dortmund Christmas tree switched on?

With a small show on the Hansaplatz. In 2024 it began at 5:45 p.m., and the lights went on at 6 p.m. As the year before, children of showmen carried a light to the tree. The mayor spoke, and the event was streamed live.

Are there free Christmas events in Dortmund for families?

Yes, many of the events are free. They include the baking and crafting village, the Hohnsteiner Kaspertheater, the family Sunday at the Dortmunder U on December 6 and picture-book cinemas at the district libraries. Some library events need registration.

Are Christmas events in Dortmund in English?

Most events are in German, especially puppet shows and read-alouds. The sources do not say which events offer English, so check with the host. The tree, the lights and the stalls do not depend on language. The Nutcracker and I concert at the Konzerthaus on December 19 comes with a child-friendly introduction for ages 6 to 12.

What Christmas shows can children see in Dortmund?

Options include Charles Dickens' Christmas story as a marionette show in the Westfalenpark on Saturdays and Sundays at 3 p.m. from November 21 to December 20, and Hansel and Gretel at the opera house and as a children's play. The Konzerthaus has The Nutcracker and I on December 19, with tickets for children and teens under 17 at 15 euros.

Sources

  1. Dortmunder Weihnachtsstadt macht die Buden auf: Neue Tanne, neue Tasse, neue Trends, Stadt Dortmund
  2. Dortmunder Weihnachtsstadt, Ausgabe 2025, Festivals in Deutschland
  3. Deutschland hat den höchsten Weihnachtsbaum der Welt, TRAVELBOOK
  4. News, Weihnachtsstadt Dortmund
Kelsey Cecil
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