Christmas Events for Kids in Graz (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

10 min read · Auf Deutsch lesen

Rally the corgi has sniffed out the best Christmas events for kids in Graz for 2026, and here is what he found: 14 family events, 3 of them free. The magic runs from November 20 (Fairy-Tale Forest and Advent Wreath at Schlossbergplatz) through January 6, with Beeswax Candle Dipping for Children (from November 20), Christkind Post Office on the Graz Schlossberg (from November 20) and Ice Nativity Scene (Eiskrippe) in the Landhaushof (from November 28) along the way. Every listing links straight to the host. This page is part of our guide to Christmas events for kids in Austria.

What Rally found in Graz

  • 14 Christmas events for kids in Graz
  • 3 free events: Fairy-Tale Forest and Advent Wreath at Schlossbergplatz, Children's Tour of the Franciscan Monastery and Ice Nativity Scene (Eiskrippe) in the Landhaushof
  • Meet Santa: 4 chances, including Christkind Post Office on the Graz Schlossberg (from November 20) and Saint Nicholas Comes to the Graz Schlossberg (December 6)
  • Also on the list: 2 Christmas shows, 1 Christmas light display, 9 Christmas markets and 2 story times
  • Season: November 20 (Fairy-Tale Forest and Advent Wreath at Schlossbergplatz) to January 6 (Ice Nativity Scene (Eiskrippe) in the Landhaushof)

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).

Free 3Ticketed and paid 11

Free Christmas events for kids in Graz

Christmas story timeFree

Fairy-Tale Forest and Advent Wreath at Schlossbergplatz

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From Nov 20 to Christmas Eve, Schlossbergplatz at the foot of Graz's Schlossberg turns into a small fairy-tale forest. It is designed together with Frida & freD, the Graz children's museum. You stroll through the forest of stories between lit Christmas trees with lovingly made ornaments, and a large Advent wreath on the square is part of it.

Children can listen to fairy tales here and take part in a prize draw. Because it is a public square, there are no opening hours and no admission. You can drop by on a whim after a stroll through the Advent markets downtown, without planning anything. For families with younger children, it is a pleasantly calm stop that combines well with the Hauptplatz or a trip up the Schlossberg.

Parent tip: The square is freely accessible around the clock, ideal as a short detour between the downtown markets.

Host
Holding Graz Eventmanagement (opens in a new tab)
Where
Schlossbergplatz, 8010 Graz (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Holding Graz Eventmanagement (opens in a new tab)

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Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 13 more Graz events researched for you.

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Coming up on this page

  • 9 Markets
  • 4 Santa
  • 3 Crafts
  • 2 Story time
  • 3 Free

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Family Christmas eventFree

Children's Tour of the Franciscan Monastery

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See a monastery in the middle of the city from the inside: on five Sundays before Christmas, children can get to know Graz's Franciscan monastery on a free tour. It starts each time at 4 pm at the Kinder-Advent on Kleine Neutorgasse, right in front of the Franciscan Church. The dates are Nov 22 and 29 and Dec 6, 13 and 20.

A maximum of 20 people can take part in each tour, and there is no registration. Once the group is full, you cannot join, so it is worth being at the meeting point a few minutes early. Afterward, a stroll through the Kinder-Advent with its carousel and Ferris wheel is a natural next step, and on Dec 6 Saint Nicholas also stops by there at 4 pm.

Parent tip: Maximum 20 people per tour and no registration: come to the meeting point in good time. Expect the tour to be in German.

Host
Holding Graz Eventmanagement (opens in a new tab)
Where
Treffpunkt Kinder-Advent, Franziskanerkloster (meeting point at the Kinder-Advent), Kleine Neutorgasse, 8010 Graz (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Holding Graz Eventmanagement (opens in a new tab)

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Family Christmas eventFree

Ice Nativity Scene (Eiskrippe) in the Landhaushof

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The ice nativity scene in the Landhaushof is one of the best-known images of the Graz Advent and celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. From almost 35 tons of clear ice, the Finnish ice artist Kimmo Frosti and his team model a nativity scene about five meters high and seven meters long with life-size figures. Children are usually amazed at how big Mary, Joseph and the animals are in ice.

The nativity scene can be seen from Nov 28 to Jan 6, and the Landhaushof is open daily from 8 am to 9 pm. Because ice is fleeting, a lot depends on the weather, and in a thaw replacement figures step in. The courtyard is at Herrengasse 16, right next to the tourist information office, and combines well with a stroll through the markets on the Hauptplatz.

Parent tip: The Landhaushof is open until 9 pm and only a few steps from the Hauptplatz. In a thaw the nativity scene can suffer.

Host
Graz Tourismus (opens in a new tab)
Where
Landhaushof, Herrengasse 16, 8010 Graz (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Graz Tourismus (opens in a new tab)

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Ticketed and paid Christmas events for kids in Graz

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

Event hosts: free events are listed first. The #1 spot puts your event at the top of this page.Inquire about the #1 spotAdd your event for free

Christmas crafts

Beeswax Candle Dipping for Children

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For many families, candle dipping is simply part of Advent, and on the Graz Schlossberg you can do it in an especially beautiful setting. At the Aufsteirern Christmas market on the Kasematten, children can dip their own beeswax candles and take home a handmade keepsake. It is offered from 4 to 7 pm on the Advent weekends from Friday to Sunday, plus Dec 7 and 8.

There is no child care, and supervision stays with parents or accompanying adults. Take tram lines 3 and 5 to the Schloßbergbahn stop, and from the bottom station ride the funicular up. Right next door, the Christkind Post Office (where children can send wishes to the Christ Child) is open on the same afternoons.

Parent tip: Parents stay with the children, as there is no supervision provided. It combines well with the Christkind Post Office at the same market.

Host
Holding Graz Eventmanagement (opens in a new tab)
Where
Aufsteirern-Weihnachtsmarkt, Kasematten am Schlossberg, 8010 Graz (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Holding Graz Eventmanagement (opens in a new tab)

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Visit with Santa

Christkind Post Office on the Graz Schlossberg

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At the Aufsteirern Christmas market on the Kasematten on Graz's Schlossberg, a Christkind Post Office awaits young visitors. Everything here revolves around wishes to the Christkind (the Christ Child, who brings gifts in Austria) and the anticipation of Christmas. The post office is open from 4 to 7 pm on the Advent weekends from Friday to Sunday, and also on Dec 7 and 8.

It runs from Nov 20 to Dec 20. To get up there, take tram lines 3 and 5 to the Schloßbergbahn stop, then the funicular straight up the Schlossberg. At the same market, children can also dip beeswax candles on the same afternoons, so it combines well into a cozy Advent outing. The view over the lit-up city comes free on top.

Parent tip: Take tram 3 or 5 to Schloßbergbahn, then ride the funicular up. The same afternoon there is also candle dipping for children there.

Host
Holding Graz Eventmanagement (opens in a new tab)
Where
Aufsteirern-Weihnachtsmarkt, Kasematten am Schlossberg, 8010 Graz (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Holding Graz Eventmanagement (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas market

Kinder-Advent Kleine Neutorgasse (Children's Advent)

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In the middle of Graz's old town, on Kleine Neutorgasse in front of the Franciscan Church, there is an Advent market focused entirely on children. Instead of punch stands, a carousel, a nostalgic Ferris wheel, a giant snowman and stalls with sweets are the main attraction. The market is open daily from Nov 20 to Dec 23: Monday to Thursday from 12 to 8 pm, Fridays until 9:45 pm and on weekends from 11 am to 8 pm.

On Dec 24 you can still stop by from 11 am to 4:30 pm, a nice way to shorten the wait for the Christkind (who brings gifts in Austria). Special programs also take place around the Kinder-Advent, such as a Saint Nicholas visit on Dec 6 and free children's tours of the Franciscan monastery on the Advent Sundays. The market is only a few minutes' walk from the Hauptplatz.

Parent tip: On Christmas Eve it is open until 4:30 pm. The children's tours of the monastery start right here at 4 pm on the Advent Sundays.

Host
Holding Graz Eventmanagement (opens in a new tab)
Where
Kinder-Advent vor der Franziskanerkirche (in front of the Franciscan Church), Kleine Neutorgasse, 8010 Graz (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Holding Graz Eventmanagement (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas crafts

Children's Saturdays at the Kids Pavilion on Hauptplatz

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The Christkindlmarkt in front of the Graz town hall (Rathaus) has its own Kids Pavilion, and on five Saturdays in Advent it is creative time there. From 1 to 4 pm each day, there is Christmas crafting, drawing and playing while the market spreads its festive mood all around. The dates are Nov 21 and 28 and Dec 5, 12 and 19.

Good to know: this is not child care, and supervision stays with parents or accompanying adults. So you stay with your child, but you can take turns while one parent strolls through the market for a moment. The pavilion is right on the Hauptplatz and easy to reach by tram. On Sundays there is a separate stage program with clowns, theater and magic at the same market.

Parent tip: No child care, so parents stay on site. On Sundays it is worth coming back for the Children's Sundays with a stage program.

Host
Holding Graz Eventmanagement (opens in a new tab)
Where
Kids-Pavillon, Christkindlmarkt am Hauptplatz, Hauptplatz 1, 8010 Graz (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Holding Graz Eventmanagement (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas market

Children's Sundays at the Christkindlmarkt on Hauptplatz

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On five Sundays until Christmas, the Christkindlmarkt on Graz's Hauptplatz has its own children's program. It starts at 2 pm each time, and the show usually runs until 3:30 pm. On Nov 22, Clown Jako presents his Christmas show, and on Nov 29, Rudolfine comes with her living fir tree. On Dec 6, the Kuddel Muddel Theater plays “Lorenz Bücherwurm” (Lorenz the Bookworm), and on Dec 13 “Drachenschmaus” (Dragon Feast), which runs until 4 pm.

To close on Dec 20, Clown Jako and magician Patrick share the stage. Every Sunday offers something different, so a second visit is worthwhile. The market is right on the Hauptplatz and easy to reach by tram. If you would like to craft on Saturday, the Kids Pavilion at the same market has its own creative afternoons.

Parent tip: On Dec 6 the show combines well with the Saint Nicholas visits in the old town in the afternoon. Expect the shows to be in German.

Host
Holding Graz Eventmanagement (opens in a new tab)
Where
Christkindlmarkt am Hauptplatz, Hauptplatz 1, 8010 Graz (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Holding Graz Eventmanagement (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas crafts

Christmas Workshops on the Graz Schlossberg

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The Aufsteirern Christmas market on the Graz Schlossberg again offers workshops in 2026 where homemade Christmas gifts take shape. Two offerings stand out for families: the glass engraving with Silvia Hashold on Nov 29 and Dec 6, each from 2 to 4 pm, is for children and adults, and the materials fee is €15.

On Dec 13, Angela Kroboth hosts the chocolate workshop especially for children from 11 am to 4 pm, with materials costing €10. The finished pieces can go home with you. Because places are limited, registration by email to info@ivents.at is required for all workshops. The market is reachable by tram lines 3 and 5 to the Schloßbergbahn and then by funicular up the hill.

Parent tip: Be sure to register beforehand by email at info@ivents.at, as places are limited. Expect it to be in German.

Host
ivents (Aufsteirern-Weihnachtsmarkt) (opens in a new tab)
Where
Aufsteirern-Weihnachtsmarkt, Kasematten am Schlossberg, 8010 Graz (opens in maps)
Registration
Required
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with ivents (Aufsteirern-Weihnachtsmarkt) (opens in a new tab)

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Visit with Santa

Children's Surprise with Saint Nicholas on Saint Nicholas Day

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On Saint Nicholas Day, Sunday, Dec 6, Saint Nicholas (Nikolaus) makes his entrance at 4 pm at the Kinder-Advent on Kleine Neutorgasse and at the Altgrazer Christkindlmarkt on Franziskanerplatz. He looks forward to greeting the young visitors and has small surprises in his bag. The event calendar lists the visit from 4 to 5 pm.

The two markets are in Graz's old town, only a few minutes' walk from the Hauptplatz. The same day at 4 pm, the free children's tour of the Franciscan monastery also starts there, though you have to decide quickly, because only 20 people can join. Anyone who still has energy afterward can move on at 5 pm to the Nikolo visit at the nearby Glockenspielplatz. That turns Saint Nicholas Day into a small walk through the old town.

Parent tip: On Dec 6 there are several Saint Nicholas visits in the old town: 4 pm Kleine Neutorgasse, 5 pm Glockenspielplatz.

Host
Holding Graz Eventmanagement (opens in a new tab)
Where
Kinder-Advent Kleine Neutorgasse and Altgrazer Christkindlmarkt am Franziskanerplatz, 8010 Graz (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Holding Graz Eventmanagement (opens in a new tab)

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Visit with Santa

Saint Nicholas Comes to the Graz Schlossberg

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On Sunday, Dec 6, the Aufsteirern Christmas market on the Graz Schlossberg becomes especially festive. From 4:30 pm, Saint Nicholas (Nikolaus) walks the market grounds and looks forward to greeting the young visitors. He does not come empty-handed, of course. What he brings stays a surprise.

The market sits high above the rooftops of the city on the Kasematten. Take tram lines 3 and 5 to the Schloßbergbahn stop, and from the bottom station ride the funicular up. On the same afternoon, the Christkind Post Office (for wishes to the Christ Child) and candle dipping for children are also open at the market, so you can come a little earlier and combine the Saint Nicholas visit with a small hands-on program. The Schloßbergbahn is again handy for the ride back down.

Parent tip: Come a little earlier: the Christkind Post Office and candle dipping are open from 4 pm on Dec 6.

Host
Holding Graz Eventmanagement (opens in a new tab)
Where
Aufsteirern-Weihnachtsmarkt, Kasematten am Schlossberg, 8010 Graz (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Holding Graz Eventmanagement (opens in a new tab)

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Saint Nicholas visit

Visit from Nikolo at the Glockenspielplatz

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On Dec 6, Nikolo (Saint Nicholas) comes to the Advent market at the Glockenspielplatz and stays from 5 to 6 pm. The market is known for local crafts and Styrian customs, and on Saint Nicholas Day families can meet Nikolo in person here. For the children it is a nice end to an Advent afternoon downtown.

The Glockenspielplatz is in Graz's old town and an easy walk from the Hauptplatz. If you like, you can turn Saint Nicholas Day into a small tour: at 4 pm Saint Nicholas is at the Kinder-Advent on Kleine Neutorgasse, from 4:30 pm on the Schlossberg and at 5 pm here. That way the children meet him several times, and in between there is time for punch and cookies at the stalls.

Parent tip: The square is a few minutes' walk from the Hauptplatz, and there are parking garages downtown.

Host
Holding Graz Eventmanagement (opens in a new tab)
Where
Adventmarkt am Glockenspielplatz, 8010 Graz (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Holding Graz Eventmanagement (opens in a new tab)

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Carol concert

Suli Puschban & Kiri Rakete: Ein Keks für zwei (One Cookie for Two)

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At the Popella X-mas Special, two well-known names of the children's music scene come to Graz together: Suli Puschban and Kiri Rakete. Their program is called “Ein Keks für zwei” and is full of songs about supergirls, avocados, construction sites and convertible bunnies. Big questions are also debated, such as whether the horn of an ice unicorn is made of icicles, and of course there is a Christmas song or two.

The concert takes place on Friday, Dec 18, at 4 pm at the Postgarage at Dreihackengasse 42. It is recommended for children ages 4 to 12 and their grown-ups. Tickets are available online at oeticket.com and directly at popella.at, the music festival for young and old that hosts the concert. The Postgarage is near the Rösselmühlpark in the Gries district.

Parent tip: Buy tickets online in advance, via oeticket.com or popella.at. Expect the songs to be in German.

Host
Popella, Musikfestival für Klein und Groß (music festival for young and old) (opens in a new tab)
Where
Postgarage, Dreihackengasse 42, 8020 Graz (opens in maps)
Registration
Required
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Popella, Musikfestival für Klein und Groß (music festival for young and old) (opens in a new tab)

New events in Graz every week

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Christmas story time

Christmas Walking Tour for Children

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Why do we light candles on the Advent wreath, who invented the Advent calendar, and why does the Christkind bring the presents here? On the Christmas walking tour for children on Dec 24, kids discover old customs and funny stories around Christmas, from Saint Nicholas and the Krampus (a fearsome horned figure who accompanies him) through the nativity scene and Christmas tree to the Sternsinger (carol singers who go door to door around January 6) and the Rauhnächte (the old midwinter nights).

The tour lasts one hour and starts at 1 and 2:30 pm at the gate with the Styrian panther in the small Landhaushof, Herrengasse 16. It is meant for children ages 5 to 10, and only one adult should come along per child. Children ages 5 and up and adults each pay €8.50. The number of participants is limited, and you can register at the tourist information office at Herrengasse 16, by phone at +43 316 8075-0 or by email.

Parent tip: Registration required, and please bring only one adult per child. The tour is in German.

Host
Graz Tourismus, Tourismusinformation Region Graz (opens in a new tab)
Where
Treffpunkt kleiner Landhaushof (Tor mit dem Steirischen Panther) (meeting point: small Landhaushof, gate with the Styrian panther), Herrengasse 16, 8010 Graz (opens in maps)
Registration
Required
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Graz Tourismus, Tourismusinformation Region Graz (opens in a new tab)

New events in Graz every week

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More Christmas events for kids in Austria

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 Graz: questions parents ask

What are the 2026 Christmas events for kids in Graz?

For 2026, we confirmed 14 Christmas events for kids in Graz, each on its host’s own page: Christmas Walking Tour for Children, Kinder-Advent Kleine Neutorgasse (Children's Advent), Suli Puschban & Kiri Rakete: Ein Keks für zwei (One Cookie for Two) and 11 more. Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.

Are there free Christmas events for kids in Graz?

Yes, 3 of the 14 events here are free: Ice Nativity Scene (Eiskrippe) in the Landhaushof, Fairy-Tale Forest and Advent Wreath at Schlossbergplatz and Children's Tour of the Franciscan Monastery. Some free events still ask you to register, so check each listing.

Where can kids see Santa this year in Graz?

Where to see Santa: Saint Nicholas Comes to the Graz Schlossberg, Children's Surprise with Saint Nicholas on Saint Nicholas Day, Christkind Post Office on the Graz Schlossberg and 1 more. Check the listings above for times and booking.

Where are there Christmas story times for kids in Graz?

Christmas story times on this page: Christmas Walking Tour for Children and Fairy-Tale Forest and Advent Wreath at Schlossbergplatz.

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 Graz

In Graz, the nativity scene is made of ice. Every Advent since 1996, ice artists have built Mary, Joseph and the animals from clear blocks in the courtyard of the Landhaus, and a small office on Sporgasse helps people around the world find forgotten Christmas songs. This guide explains the traditions a visiting family will meet and how the 2026 season is laid out.

How Graz celebrates Christmas, and what is different for a visiting family

Graz spreads its Christmas over the old town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. More than a dozen Advent markets stand within walking distance of each other, so a family can visit several in one afternoon. The markets have their own personalities: the Old Graz Christmas Market in the Franciscan Quarter is considered the oldest, and the Aufsteirern Christmas Market in the casemates on the Schlossberg is the highest.

What makes Graz different for visitors is the ice. The Ice Nativity Scene in the Landhaus courtyard has been built every Advent since 1996, from about 35 tons of crystal clear ice, and is one of the city's signature sights with more than 160,000 visitors a year. Its figures are swapped for new sets during Advent, so a second visit is worth it.

The other local specialty is songs. A Christmas song office on Sporgasse, founded in 1991, looks up forgotten lyrics and sheet music for free.

What a child will meet at a Graz Christmas: the Christkind, Saint Nicholas and Krampus

The Christkind, which means Christ Child, is the figure Austrian children write wish letters to and wait for on Christmas Eve. In Graz, there is a Christkind post office in the casemates on the Schlossberg where children share their wishes.

Saint Nicholas, called Nikolo or Nikolaus, visits on December 6. In 2026 he comes to three places in town that day: the Schlossberg market, the Kinder-Advent in the old town and the Advent market on Glockenspielplatz. His companion is Krampus, a shaggy helper character. Graz has a Krampus run on Freiheitsplatz in November, with many groups and a children's program. It helps younger children to know that under the furs and masks are ordinary people from Styria.

Other things children do: dip beeswax candles at the Schlossberg, ride the Advent-Bim, a decorated historic tram, and walk through a fairy-tale forest of lit Christmas trees at Schlossbergplatz.

The nativity here is not made of wood but of ice, with Mary, Joseph and the animals carved from clear blocks.

Planning a Christmas visit to Graz with kids

The season on this page starts on Friday, November 20, 2026, when the Kinder-Advent, the Schlossberg market and the fairy-tale forest all open, and runs to Christmas Eve. The ice nativity scene follows on Saturday, November 28, and stays open until January 6, daily from 8 am to 9 pm, with free entry. In 2026 it celebrates its 30th anniversary.

Many things are free: the fairy-tale forest, the ice nativity scene, the children's tours of the Franciscan monastery and free access to the Kinder-Advent. Rides and workshops cost extra. Glass engraving is 15 euros and the chocolate workshop is 10 euros, and both need registration.

There are regular children's programs: crafts at the Hauptplatz pavilion on Saturdays, clown shows, children's theater and magic on Sundays, and Saint Nicholas on December 6. Most events are in German, so check with the host if you need English. The Schlossberg events cluster on Advent weekends, so plan those days for the casemates.

A tree that became a campfire bench

In 2025 the Hauptplatz tree was a spruce about 28 meters tall and 150 years old, from the St. Oswald forest at the foot of the Koralpe. Workers from the city's energy company hung 25,000 LEDs, 90 strings of lights and 100 baubles by hand.

The tree from the year before, about 29 meters tall, was not thrown away. A designer named Raimund Gamerith turned it into a seat called Am Lagerfeuer, which means by the campfire, for a project called Re:tree. Since January 2026 it has stood in a kindergarten and after-school care center in Algersdorf.

The Advent-Bim, a decorated historic tram from the Graz Tramway Museum, also rolls through the old town.

Traditions today

  • The Ice Nativity Scene in the Landhaus courtyard: A nativity scene made of ice blocks in the Renaissance courtyard of the Landhaus, built every year since 1996. During Advent three sets of figures and animals are exchanged.
  • The Christmas tree on the Hauptplatz: A giant tree from Styria stands there every year. In 2025 it was a 28 meter spruce from the Koralpe with 25,000 LEDs.
  • The Christmas song office: An information office of the Styrian Folk Song Society on Sporgasse that looks up forgotten lyrics and sheet music for free.
  • Advent-Bim and Bummelzug: A decorated historic tram runs for free, with a voluntary donation requested. The Advent-Bummelzug costs 2 euros for children.
  • Kinder-Advent on Kleine Neutorgasse: A children's market next to the Franciscan church with a carousel and a Ferris wheel.
  • Fairy-tale forest on Schlossbergplatz: Lit Christmas trees and a fairy-tale trail beside the Advent wreath, created with the Frida & freD children's museum.

A fact for kids

Graz has a nativity scene made entirely of ice. It weighs about 35 tons and is up to 5 meters tall, and it was built by an ice artist from Finland.

Questions about Christmas in Graz

Is Graz worth visiting at Christmas with kids?

Yes. Graz has a nativity scene made of ice, a Christkind post office, Saint Nicholas visits in three places on December 6 and several children's markets within walking distance. Many things are free, and the old town is easy to explore on foot.

When do the Christmas markets in Graz open in 2026?

The Kinder-Advent, the Aufsteirern market on the Schlossberg and the fairy-tale forest on Schlossbergplatz all start on November 20, 2026. The Hauptplatz kids' Saturdays begin on November 21, and the ice nativity scene opens on November 28. The region lists more than a dozen Advent markets in the old town.

Where can kids meet Saint Nicholas in Graz?

On Sunday, December 6, 2026, Saint Nicholas visits the Aufsteirern market on the Schlossberg from 4:30 pm. At 4 pm he brings small surprises to the Kinder-Advent and the Old Graz Christmas Market, and from 5 pm to 6 pm he visits the Advent market on Glockenspielplatz.

Are there free Christmas events in Graz?

Yes, many. The fairy-tale forest on Schlossbergplatz and the ice nativity scene are free, as are the children's tours of the Franciscan monastery on Advent Sundays. Access to the Kinder-Advent is free too, but rides cost extra. The Advent-Bim tram is free, with a voluntary donation requested.

Are Christmas events in Graz in English?

Most events are in German, the local language. The ice nativity scene, the lights and the markets are easy to enjoy in any language, but check with the host for tours, theater and workshops if you need English.

When does the Graz ice nativity scene open in 2026?

It opens on Saturday, November 28, 2026, and stays open until January 6, daily from 8 am to 9 pm, with free entry. It marks its 30th anniversary that year, because it first stood in the Landhaus courtyard in 1996.

How is the Graz ice nativity scene made?

A team builds it from about 35 tons of clear ice. In 2025 it used around 180 small and 12 large blocks on a base of 6 by 3 meters, up to 5 meters high. The ice is made from purified water, and a double back wall protects it from the weather.

Who builds the ice nativity scene in Graz?

The Finnish ice artist Kimmo Frosti designs it and builds it with his team. The organizer is Holding Graz, together with the regional tourism association. Three different sets of figures and animals are swapped during Advent.

How many people visit the Graz ice nativity scene?

More than 160,000 visitors a year, according to the region's tourism texts. That makes it one of the city's best-known Christmas sights.

Can kids write to the Christkind in Graz?

Yes. A Christkind post office at the Aufsteirern market in the Schlossberg casemates is open from November 20 to December 20, 2026, on Advent weekends from Friday to Sunday and on December 7 and 8, from 4 pm to 7 pm. Children can leave wish letters there. The same hours apply to beeswax candle dipping for kids.

What is the Christkind?

The Christkind, or Christ Child, is the figure Austrian children write wish letters to and wait for on Christmas Eve. In Graz the Christkind post office on the Schlossberg gives children a place to hand in those letters.

Who are Nikolo and Krampus in Graz?

Nikolo is Saint Nicholas, whose day is December 6. Krampus is his shaggy helper. The Graz Krampus run on Freiheitsplatz, held on November 16 in 2025, has many groups and a children's program. For younger kids it helps to explain that ordinary people from Styria are under the masks.

What is the Kinder-Advent in Graz?

It is a children's market on Kleine Neutorgasse by the Franciscan church, open in 2026 from November 20 to December 24. It has a carousel, a vintage Ferris wheel and a giant snowman, and on Sundays there are free children's tours of the monastery.

Which is the oldest Christmas market in Graz?

The Old Graz Christmas Market in the Franciscan Quarter is considered the oldest in the city. It sits next to the Kinder-Advent. The Aufsteirern market on the Schlossberg is considered the highest.

Where is the highest Advent market in Graz?

On the Schlossberg, the Aufsteirern Christmas Market in the casemates above the old town. You can walk up, take the Schlossberg lift or the Schlossberg railway, which ran free on four Advent Saturdays in 2025.

What is the Christmas song office in Graz?

It is an information office of the Styrian Folk Song Society on Sporgasse, said to be the only one of its kind in Europe. If you forgot a verse or want sheet music or a version in another language, you can ask in person, by phone or by email, and the help is free. In Advent it gets up to 50 requests a day.

When was the Christmas song office founded?

In 1991, by Hermann Härtel, at Sporgasse 23 in the old town. It holds more than 30,000 songs, poems, sayings and shepherd and nativity plays.

Where did the Graz Hauptplatz Christmas tree come from in 2025?

From the St. Oswald forest at the foot of the Koralpe, where the spruce grew at about 1,400 meters. It was about 150 years old and 28 meters tall, a gift to the city from the Styrian agricultural workers' chamber for its 75th anniversary. Its lights were switched on on November 29, 2025.

What happened to the 2024 Graz Christmas tree?

It was not thrown away. At about 29 meters it became a seat called Am Lagerfeuer by designer Raimund Gamerith in the Re:tree project. Since January 2026 it has been in a kindergarten and after-school care center in Algersdorf.

Does Graz have a Christmas tram?

Yes, the Advent-Bim, a Christmas-decorated historic tram from the Graz Tramway Museum. It runs between Jakominiplatz and Laudongasse in about 30 minutes, you can hop on and off at any stop, and it is free, with a voluntary donation requested.

What can kids do in Graz on Christmas Eve?

The Kinder-Advent is open from 11 am to 4:30 pm. A one hour Christmas walking tour for children aged 5 to 10 starts at 1 pm and 2:30 pm in the small Landhaus courtyard for 8.50 euros per person. The fairy-tale forest and the ice nativity scene are open too.

Is there a Christmas concert for kids in Graz?

Yes. The children's music stars Suli Puschban and Kiri Rakete play a Christmas special concert called Ein Keks für zwei at the Postgarage on Friday, December 18, 2026, at 4 pm. It is for ages 4 to 12.

What else can kids do in Graz in Advent?

They can walk through the fairy-tale forest at Schlossbergplatz, which was created with the Frida & freD children's museum, ride the Advent-Bummelzug for 2 euros for children, or go to the Graz Winter World, which has about 3,000 square meters of ice below the Schlossberg. Crafts and shows run on the Hauptplatz on weekends.

Sources

  1. Pressetext Advent in der Erlebnisregion Graz 2025, Tourismusverband Region Graz (steiermark.com)
  2. 28 Meter hoch, 150 Jahre alt: Christbaum am Grazer Hauptplatz aufgestellt, 5 Minuten
  3. Eiskrippe: Neue Skulpturen und stärkere Kooperation, Steiermark Tourismus
  4. Advent in Graz 2025 (Folder), Graz Tourismus
  5. Büro für Weihnachtslieder, Austria-Forum (AustriaWiki)
  6. Advent in der Erlebnisregion Graz 2026, Tourismusverband Region Graz (steiermark.com)
  7. Reportage: Auf den Adventmärkten von Graz, Steiermark Tourismus
  8. Advent-Bim, Steiermark Tourismus
  9. Christkindmärkte und Kinderführungen beim Advent in Graz, Mamilade
  10. Krampus run Graz, Steiermark Tourismus

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