Christmas Events for Kids in Hanover (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

14 min read · Auf Deutsch lesen

Rally the corgi has sniffed out the best Christmas events for kids in Hanover for 2026, and here is what he found: 24 family events across Hanover and 7 nearby towns, 9 of them free. The magic runs from November 4 (Stars and Other Christmas Crafts) through February 2, with ZooLights: Magical Worlds of Light (from November 17), Christmas Village on the Lindener Berg (from November 20) and Hanover Christmas Market (from November 23) along the way. Every listing links straight to the host. This page is part of our guide to Christmas events for kids in Germany.

What Rally found in Hanover

  • 24 Christmas events for kids in Hanover and 7 nearby towns, including Neustadt am Rübenberge, Laatzen and Gehrden
  • 9 free events, including Christmas Village on the Lindener Berg, Hanover Christmas Market (Weihnachtsmarkt Hannover) and Christmas Market Lister Meile
  • Meet Santa: Christmas Market at the Bennigsen Manor (Rittergut Bennigsen), from December 5
  • Also on the list: 6 Christmas shows, 4 Christmas light displays, 10 Christmas markets and 2 story times
  • Season: November 4 (Stars and Other Christmas Crafts) to February 2 (ZooLights: Magical Worlds of Light)

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 9Ticketed and paid 15

Free Christmas events for kids in Hanover

Christmas craftsFree

Christmas Village on the Lindener Berg

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On the Advent weekends, the Linden beer garden at the Lindener Turm turns into a wintry Christmas village. There are changing exhibitors, a small choir program, a fire pit for Stockbrot (dough baked on a stick over the fire), plus waffles, punch and hot chocolate. Exhibitors pay no stall fee and instead donate to the Hanover-Linden volunteer fire department.

For kids there is a hands-on fire department activity every Saturday from 2:30 to 4:30 pm: the Nutcracker fire department edition on Nov 28, fire department bingo at the fire engine on Dec 5, Christmas crafts with the junior fire brigade on Dec 12 and the rescue of the Santa who had an accident on Dec 19. On the fourth Advent Saturday, the winter walking act Die Nebelschwingen performs. Entry is free.

Parent tip: The fire department activities run only on Saturdays from 2:30 to 4:30 pm. The village is outdoors, so warm clothes make sense.

Host
Lindener Turm (opens in a new tab)
Where
Lindener Turm, Am Lindener Berge 29A, 30449 Hanover (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Lindener Turm (opens in a new tab)

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Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 23 more Hanover events researched for you.

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Coming up on this page

  • 10 Markets
  • 8 Crafts
  • 6 Shows
  • 4 Lights
  • 9 Free

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Christmas marketFree

Christmas Market Lister Meile

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On the Lister Meile in Advent, festively decorated huts sell wooden toys, tree ornaments, candles, ceramics, wool socks and Christmas treats from all over Germany. According to the city, various rides for kids are back, and the tourism board's 2026 brochure also lists a traditional Kasperle puppet theater (Kasper is the classic German hand puppet).

The market is open daily from Nov 23 to Dec 22, 11 am to 9 pm, and entry is free. Because the Meile is a little away from the old town, it is usually more relaxed here, which is nice with smaller kids or strollers. The pedestrian zone is north of the main station (Hauptbahnhof) and easy to reach on foot or by light rail.

Parent tip: Easy to combine with a stroll through the shops of the List. For the puppet show, it is best to ask on site about showtimes. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Hannover Marketing und Tourismus GmbH (opens in a new tab)
Where
Lister Meile (pedestrian zone), 30161 Hanover (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Hannover Marketing und Tourismus GmbH (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas marketFree

Hanover Christmas Market (Weihnachtsmarkt Hannover)

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Around the Marktkirche, at Ballhofplatz and along the Leine riverbank, the old town turns into a Christmas market for four weeks. For families there are carousels for kids and adults, a small Ferris wheel, a Kasper puppet theater and the Wunschbrunnenwald (wish fountain forest) with about 50 fir trees at the Oskar-Winter-Brunnen on the Holzmarkt, where legend says you may turn the wish ring.

As a guide for 2026, the city lists last year's program: a fairy tale storyteller at 3:30 and 4:30 pm, Kasperle at 4, 5 and 6 pm, Santa (the Weihnachtsmann) at 5:30 pm and a Christmas baking activity from 11 am to 7 pm for €3. Entry to the market itself is free, and it is open daily from 11 am to 9 pm. It gets very crowded on weekends and in the evening, and weekday mornings are much calmer with a stroller.

Parent tip: Check the exact times for the 2026 kids' program on hannover.de shortly before you go. Santa most recently came every day at 5:30 pm.

Host
Landeshauptstadt Hannover / Hannover Marketing und Tourismus (opens in a new tab)
Where
Altstadt rund um die Marktkirche, Am Markte, 30159 Hanover (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Landeshauptstadt Hannover / Hannover Marketing und Tourismus (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas craftsFree

Wichtelwerkstatt (Elf Workshop)

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The Wichtelwerkstatt at the Lister Turm neighborhood center is an open workshop where kids ages six and up make Christmas gifts themselves. They craft, mold with clay and try things out. At each session there are four free hands-on activities.

The workshop takes place in the center's hall, each time from 3 to 6 pm, on Nov 24 and on Dec 2, 8 and 15. Entry is free and no registration is needed. You can join in while supplies last. Besides the Förderverein Lister Turm (the center's support association), other Hanover organizations and groups take part.

Parent tip: Come early in the afternoon, because materials are only available while supplies last. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Stadtteilzentrum Lister Turm (opens in a new tab)
Where
Stadtteilzentrum Lister Turm, Saal, Walderseestraße 100, 30177 Hanover (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Stadtteilzentrum Lister Turm (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas story timeFree

Free Children's Book Reading for Ages 3 and Up (Reading and Baking Afternoon)

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The Göing bakery in Hanover-Linden invites children ages three and up to a free reading and baking afternoon. The picture books Ein Fest für alle and Funkelfenster, both with a Christmas theme, are read aloud.

After the reading, the kids get to decorate cookies and take their creations home. It suits children from about three to eight years old. Entry is free and no registration is needed. If you like, you can enjoy coffee, cake and other baked goods at the bakery. It starts on Dec 17 from 4 pm.

Parent tip: No registration is needed. No end time is given, so plan on about an afternoon. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Bäckerei Göing (opens in a new tab)
Where
Bäckerei Göing, Limmerstraße 28, 30451 Hanover (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Bäckerei Göing (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas events for kids in Laatzen

Christmas story timeFree

Bilderbuchkino: Wie feiern Wiesel Weihnachten? (Picture Book Cinema: How Do Weasels Celebrate Christmas?) (Laatzen)

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Vince Weasel loves winter, but Christmas is not really a weasel holiday for him. When the glittering Christmas tree outside his window makes him wonder, his friends explain what makes the holiday special to them, and Vince sets off to find his own secret ingredient for the perfect weasel Christmas. The picture book by Kerstin Hau is read aloud while the pictures are shown large.

Afterward there is a craft activity. The event is for children ages 3 and up and takes place twice: on Wednesday, Dec 2, and on Friday, Dec 11, each at 3:30 pm. The library's events are free, and registration by email at stadtbuecherei.veranstaltungen@laatzen.de is requested. The library is on the first floor of the town hall, and with a stroller the team will meet families at the elevator if you call. If you want to be sure of a spot, register early.

Parent tip: Register by email beforehand. With a stroller, call 0511 8205-4000 and someone will meet you at the elevator. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Stadtbücherei Laatzen (opens in a new tab)
Where
Stadtbücherei Laatzen (1st floor of the Rathaus, town hall), Marktplatz 13, 30880 Laatzen (opens in maps) (near Hannover)
Registration
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Stadtbücherei Laatzen (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas events for kids in Gehrden

Christmas marketFree

Christmas Village Gehrden

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On the third weekend of Advent, the market square in Gehrden turns into a Christmas village for two days. Among fir trees and lights, craftspeople show their work, and there are one-of-a-kind gift ideas and a big selection of sweet and savory specialties. There is also music and, for the kids, Christmas stories.

It is open on Saturday, Dec 12, from noon to 10 pm and on Sunday, Dec 13, from noon to 6 pm, and entry is free. On Saturday evening a DJ takes over and it becomes more of a party for adults, while Sunday is calmer for families. At 4 pm on Sunday, the winners of the Gehrden Christmas prize riddle are drawn. Gehrden lies on the Gehrdener Berg about 15 kilometers west of Hanover and is easy to reach by light rail.

Parent tip: With kids, come during the day or on Sunday. The exact times of the Christmas stories are not listed.

Host
Stadt Gehrden (opens in a new tab)
Where
Marktplatz Gehrden, Am Markt, 30989 Gehrden (opens in maps) (near Hannover)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Stadt Gehrden (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas events for kids in Ronnenberg

Christmas marketFree

Advent Market in Ronnenberg

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On the first Sunday of Advent, the church hill around the Michaeliskirche in Ronnenberg gets into the Christmas spirit. The Ronnenberg clubs, Stafero and the Michaelis parish invite you together and offer a colorful program with savory and sweet food, mulled wine (Glühwein), Advent arrangements and crafts.

There are special activities for kids, plus music and Advent events in the church. The market is open on Sunday, Nov 29, from 2 to 6 pm, and entry is free. Ronnenberg lies just southwest of Hanover. If you want more on other days of Advent, the Ronnenberg districts have more small markets, for example in Empelde, Linderte, Benthe and Weetzen, which the region lists on the same page.

Parent tip: A good tip for the first Sunday of Advent near Hanover.

Host
Ronnenberger Vereine, Stafero und Michaelisgemeinde (opens in a new tab)
Where
Kirchhügel an der Michaeliskirche, Am Kirchhofe, 30952 Ronnenberg (opens in maps) (near Hannover)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Ronnenberger Vereine, Stafero und Michaelisgemeinde (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas events for kids in Wunstorf

Christmas marketFree

Christmas Market in Wunstorf

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Around the Wunstorf town church (Stadtkirche), market vendors and food sellers set up their decorated stalls in the pedestrian zone. Besides gift items, the focus is on classic Christmas treats, with a program of events throughout Advent.

For families with small children, Tuesday is especially worth planning around: Kasper comes at 3, 4, 5 and 6 pm. On Thursdays there is live music from 6 pm. The market runs from Nov 23 to Dec 30, Monday to Saturday from 11 am to 8 pm and Sunday from 1 to 8 pm, and entry is free. The town notes that exact opening hours and possible closures are still to be announced, so a quick look before your visit does not hurt. Wunstorf is about 20 minutes from Hanover by S-Bahn.

Parent tip: For the puppet show, plan on a Tuesday afternoon. Opening hours may change over Christmas. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Stadt Wunstorf / Region Hannover (opens in a new tab)
Where
Fußgängerzone rund um die Stadtkirche, Lange Straße 2, 31515 Wunstorf (opens in maps) (near Hannover)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Stadt Wunstorf / Region Hannover (opens in a new tab)

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Ticketed and paid Christmas events for kids in Hanover

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

Stars and Other Christmas Crafts

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The Hanover city library invites you to craft with paper together on two Wednesday afternoons in November. The team shows how different stars, Christmas cards and other holiday decorations are made, so you go home with finished pieces for the window, the tree or your holiday mail.

The session is for kids and adults who like working with paper, and it suits a parent and child afternoon after school or daycare. The dates are Wednesday, Nov 4, and Wednesday, Nov 18, each from 3 to 4:30 pm at the central library on Hildesheimer Straße. If in doubt, ask at the library about the price and registration. The same place also regularly hosts Bilderbuchkino (picture book cinema) and Kamishibai (Japanese paper theater) for kids.

Parent tip: The dates fall early in the season, so your homemade decorations will be ready in time for the first Sunday of Advent. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Stadtbibliothek Hannover (opens in a new tab)
Where
Stadtbibliothek Hannover (Zentralbibliothek), Hildesheimer Straße 12, 30169 Hanover (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Stadtbibliothek Hannover (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas show

Jim Knopf und die Wilde 13: Das Kindermusical (Jim Button and the Wild 13: The Children's Musical)

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This Christmas season, the GOP Varieté-Theater is showing the brand new show Jim Knopf und die Wilde 13, the sequel to last year's musical based on Michael Ende's famous children's book. It is already the 13th production of the popular KinderWeihnachtsMusical (children's Christmas musical) series, under the patronage of Hanover's mayor. The theater stresses that you do not need to know last year's show.

It runs from Nov 8, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027. If you like, you can book a breakfast or lunch from the Jim Knopf menu in advance, so the family is fed before or after the show. Tickets are available online or by phone at (05 11) 30 18 67 10. For every regularly sold ticket, 50 cents go to Down-Syndrom Hannover e.V. For morning shows, the theater visit combines nicely with a stroll through the Christmas markets in the nearby city center.

Parent tip: Book popular weekend dates early. The breakfast or lunch you can book ahead saves stress with hungry kids. Expect it to be in German.

Host
GOP Varieté-Theater Hannover (opens in a new tab)
Where
GOP Varieté-Theater Hannover, Georgstraße 36, 30159 Hanover (opens in maps)
Registration
Required
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with GOP Varieté-Theater Hannover (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas lights

ZooLights: Magical Worlds of Light (Magische Lichterwelten)

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At ZooLights the Erlebnis-Zoo turns into a sea of lights in the evening: along a path of about two kilometers, more than 750 objects glow, including flamingos, meerkats, a peacock, lions and giant moose. At many interactive stations, kids can change the installations themselves by touching and moving, for example making a chameleon change color or wolves howl. Two sound-to-light shows make the lights dance to music.

For kids, the zoo says the Brodelburg becomes a magical place of light, play and imagination, and there is also a walk-through light train that makes a good photo spot. It is open from Nov 17 to Dec 23, Tuesday to Sunday, and daily after Christmas, 5 to 10 pm each day. Tickets are sold in the zoo's online shop. Warm clothes and sturdy shoes matter, because the whole walk is outdoors through the zoo in the evening.

Parent tip: Buy tickets online ahead of time. The light world is closed on Dec 24 and 31, and on Mondays before Christmas as well.

Host
Erlebnis-Zoo Hannover (opens in a new tab)
Where
Erlebnis-Zoo Hannover, Adenauerallee 3, 30175 Hanover (opens in maps)
Registration
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Erlebnis-Zoo Hannover (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas lights

Roncalli Christmas Village at the Main Station (Hauptbahnhof)

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The Roncalli Christmas Village opens in 2026 from Nov 23 to Dec 30 on Ernst-August-Platz. It is open daily from 11 am to 9 pm, only until 2 pm on Dec 24, and closed on Dec 25. More than 50 vendors offer crafts and specialties in half-timbered style huts.

There is no separate program for kids, but there is the historic Ferris wheel and the VR reindeer sleigh, which the organizers describe as fun for young and old. Every day a projection plays on the historic facade of the main station, at 5, 6:30 and 8 pm according to the most recently published times. A historic restaurant-café invites you to warm up.

Parent tip: Prices for the Ferris wheel and VR sleigh are not on the page, so check weihnachtsdorf-hannover.de beforehand. The projection starts in the early evening, which fits well with a visit after kindergarten.

Host
Roncalli Marktteam (opens in a new tab)
Where
Ernst-August-Platz vor dem Hauptbahnhof, Ernst-August-Platz, 30159 Hannover, 30159 Hanover (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Roncalli Marktteam (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas crafts

Christmas Tree Decorating Event

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Shortly before the first Sunday of Advent, the team at the KroKuS neighborhood center in Kronsberg invites all visitors to decorate the big Christmas tree in the foyer together. Kids can make their own tree ornaments on site and then hang them on the tree themselves, so that over Advent the tree becomes a community project of the neighborhood.

There are waffles and calm, reflective music. The event is part of the Hanover city library program, whose Kronsberg branch is based in the KroKuS. It takes place on Friday, Nov 27, from 4 to 6 pm. The program gives no details on cost or registration, so it seems you can simply drop in. The KroKuS is on the Thie in the Kronsberg district, near the light rail terminus.

Parent tip: A nice start to Advent for families in southeast Hanover. Later in Advent you can visit the tree you decorated together once more.

Host
Stadtteilzentrum KroKuS mit Stadtbibliothek Hannover (opens in a new tab)
Where
Stadtteilzentrum KroKuS (Kronsberg), Thie 6, 30539 Hanover (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Stadtteilzentrum KroKuS mit Stadtbibliothek Hannover (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas show

Die rote Zora (Red Zora)

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This season the Junges Schauspiel (the theater's young audiences ensemble) is showing Die rote Zora, based on the novel by Kurt Held, as a big family play. Zora, Nicola, Pax and Dex live without parents and without a permanent home, but they stick together. When they take in the boy Bran, who has gotten into trouble through no fault of his own, they stand up against injustice together. Director Liesbeth Coltof stages it with lots of music and movement.

The play is recommended for ages 7 and up. Public performances are on the Sundays in Advent and on Dec 25 and 26, usually at 2 and 5 pm at the Schauspielhaus. The performance on Dec 6 at 2 pm is interpreted simultaneously into German Sign Language. Depending on the date, tickets cost €14 to €31, reduced from €6.

Parent tip: The Christmas holiday dates sell out quickly. Weekday mornings are mostly school performances. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Schauspiel Hannover (Niedersächsisches Staatstheater) (opens in a new tab)
Where
Schauspielhaus, Prinzenstraße 9, 30159 Hanover (opens in maps)
Registration
Required
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Schauspiel Hannover (Niedersächsisches Staatstheater) (opens in a new tab)

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Carol concert

Advent Concert for Families

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The Knabenchor Hannover, led by Jörg Breiding, gives an Advent concert for families on the third Sunday of Advent in the festively lit Marktkirche. The program features well-known Advent and Christmas songs.

Nils Ole Peters leads lively through the afternoon, so the concert is meant to suit kids and adults alike. It starts on Dec 13 at 3:30 pm. Advance ticket sales began in mid-October.

Parent tip: Tickets are sold in advance, so ask ahead about prices and remaining tickets.

Host
Knabenchor Hannover (opens in a new tab)
Where
Marktkirche Hannover, Hanns-Lilje-Platz 2, 30159 Hanover (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Knabenchor Hannover (opens in a new tab)

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Carol concert

Lena & die Flummibande: Christmas Concert for Singing Along, Dancing and Listening

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On Sunday, Dec 20, 2026, at 3:30 pm, Lena & die Flummibande give a Christmas concert for the whole family at the Kulturzentrum Pavillon. Doors open at 2:30 pm.

The concert is aimed especially at children up to age 6. There are well-known Christmas songs to sing along to and Lena Bender's own songs about childhood, feelings, friendship and courage, sometimes loud and playful, sometimes quiet. Kids and parents are invited to join in. Tickets start at €12.50 through Reservix, and discounts are possible.

Parent tip: With small children, it is worth arriving when doors open and finding a spot calmly.

Host
Kulturzentrum Pavillon (opens in a new tab)
Where
Kulturzentrum Pavillon, Lister Meile 4, 30161 Hannover, 30161 Hanover (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Kulturzentrum Pavillon (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas show

Der Nussknacker (The Nutcracker), Ballet Fairy Tale with Narrator

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On the second day of Christmas, Saturday, Dec 26, 2026, the Bohemia Ballett Ústí performs the Nutcracker at the Theater am Aegi. It starts at 4 pm, with doors opening at 3 pm.

The story follows Clara, who is given a nutcracker that comes to life. It leads from the battle with the Mouse King to the realm of the Sugar Plum Fairy. A narrator guides you through the plot, and LED elements in some costumes create light effects. Tickets start at €31.40, and every child needs their own ticket regardless of age.

Parent tip: Groups of 10 or more get a discount. Wheelchair spaces are marked on the seating plan.

Host
Theater am Aegi (opens in a new tab)
Where
Theater am Aegi, Aegidientorplatz 2, 30159 Hannover, 30159 Hanover (opens in maps)
Registration
Required
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Theater am Aegi (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas events for kids in Neustadt am Rübenberge

Christmas crafts

Advent Wreath Workshop at the Naturpark-Haus (Neustadt am Rübenberge)

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On Saturday, Nov 21, 2026, you can make an Advent wreath from 3 to 5 pm at the Naturpark-Haus Mardorf on the Steinhuder Meer lake. Forest educator Sina Kruse leads the workshop, and the materials are fir greens, pinecones, nuts and birch stars.

You may bring your own candles or small string lights. The materials cost €15, so please bring exact change in cash. The page does not give an age range. It is an activity for families who enjoy crafting, but not a purely kids' program. Spots are limited and registration is required.

Parent tip: Register by phone at 0511 616 26 81 2 or by email at anmeldung@naturpark-steinhuder-meer.de, Wednesday to Sunday during opening hours. With younger kids, ask whether the age fits. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Naturpark Steinhuder Meer (opens in a new tab)
Where
Naturpark-Haus Mardorf, Uferweg 118, 31536 Neustadt am Rübenberge (opens in maps) (near Hannover)
Registration
Required
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Naturpark Steinhuder Meer (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas market

Christmas Market Neustadt (Neustadt am Rübenberge)

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The Gemeinschaft für Wirtschaftsförderung turns the Marktstraße around the Sparkasse in Neustadt am Rübenberge into a cozy Christmas market under the holiday lights. For the little visitors there is a kids' carousel, and various concerts take place on the stage.

A nice detail for families: the Neustadt kindergartens decorate the fir trees on the market with homemade ornaments, so kids can find their own stars again. It is open from Nov 30 to Dec 23, Monday to Saturday from 11 am to 8 pm and Sunday from 2 to 7 pm, briefly in the morning on Christmas Eve, and again after the holidays until Dec 30. The market is closed on Dec 25 and 26. Neustadt lies a good 25 kilometers northwest of Hanover near the Steinhuder Meer lake. The announcement does not list an admission price.

Parent tip: The town gives the Christmas Eve opening as 11 am to 2 pm. The market is closed on both Christmas holidays.

Host
Gemeinschaft für Wirtschaftsförderung e. V. Neustadt (opens in a new tab)
Where
Marktstraße, 31535 Neustadt am Rübenberge (opens in maps) (near Hannover)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Gemeinschaft für Wirtschaftsförderung e. V. Neustadt (opens in a new tab)

New events in Hanover every week

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Christmas lights

Mein leuchtender Naturstern (My Glowing Nature Star) (Neustadt am Rübenberge)

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On Wednesday, Dec 9, 2026, from 3 to 5 pm you make a glowing nature star at the Naturpark-Haus Mardorf. The kids design a big star on a slice of tree trunk, fill it with natural materials such as moss and light it with a string of lights.

The activity is for children ages 6 and up and is led by forest educator Sina Kruse. Taking part costs €5, so please bring exact change in cash. Spots are limited, so you need to register.

Parent tip: Register at 0511 616 26 81 2 or anmeldung@naturpark-steinhuder-meer.de, Wednesday to Sunday during opening hours. If you cannot come, please cancel in good time so the spot can be given to someone else. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Naturpark Steinhuder Meer (opens in a new tab)
Where
Naturpark-Haus Mardorf, Uferweg 118, 31536 Neustadt am Rübenberge (opens in maps) (near Hannover)
Registration
Required
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Naturpark Steinhuder Meer (opens in a new tab)

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Rally looks for new Christmas events in Hanover every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

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Christmas events for kids in Laatzen

Christmas show

Frau Holle (Laatzen Christmas Fairy Tale 2026)

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The Laatzen Christmas fairy tale 2026 is Frau Holle, directed by Ralf Bettinger. It is performed on Saturday, Nov 28, at 3 pm at the Erich Kästner Schulzentrum on Marktstraße in Laatzen.

It is a musical fairy tale: the sisters Anna-Marie and Marie-Luise travel to Frau Holle, accompanied by the talking squirrel Spring and Frau Holle's servant Herr Frisch. Tickets are available from €10.87 through Eventim. The page does not give an age range, but it calls the show kid friendly.

Parent tip: The ticket page currently shows no available tickets, so check the status on Eventim before you travel. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Tournee Theater Hamburg (opens in a new tab)
Where
Erich Kästner Schulzentrum, Marktstraße, 30880 Laatzen (opens in maps) (near Hannover)
Registration
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Tournee Theater Hamburg (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas events for kids in Barsinghausen

Christmas market

Advent Village in Bantorf (Barsinghausen)

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The Bantorf local fire department and its support association invite you on Saturday, Nov 21, to the popular Advent village on the schoolyard of the former elementary school. It is a typical village festival to get into the Christmas spirit, with drinks and food from the local clubs.

For kids there is a kids' carousel, a raffle and craft activities supervised by the junior fire brigade. The organizers also hint that Santa (the Weihnachtsmann) may want to stop by, but this is not confirmed. The Advent village is open on Nov 21 from 3 to 7 pm. Bantorf is part of Barsinghausen am Deister, a good 25 kilometers southwest of Hanover, and makes a good short family outing for an afternoon. The announcement does not list an admission price, so bring some small change for the carousel and the raffle.

Parent tip: Come early in the afternoon while the craft activities are running, and bring a few coins for the carousel and raffle.

Host
Ortsfeuerwehr Bantorf und Förderverein (opens in a new tab)
Where
Schulhof der ehemaligen Grundschule Bantorf, Lüttringhäuser Str. 11, 30890 Barsinghausen (opens in maps) (near Hannover)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Ortsfeuerwehr Bantorf und Förderverein (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas events for kids in Springe

Christmas market

Christmas Market at the Bennigsen Manor (Rittergut Bennigsen) (Springe)

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On the second weekend of Advent, Bennigsen holds its Christmas market at the manor estate. When dusk falls over the grounds on the street Am Gut, the church and the big Christmas tree in front of it glow from afar. Regional craftspeople, clubs and associations open their stalls, and there is a wintry food offering and a varied program.

For the youngest guests there is a historic kids' carousel and Santa (the Weihnachtsmann), which fits nicely with Saint Nicholas Day (Nikolaustag) on Sunday. It is open on Saturday, Dec 5, from 3 to 9 pm and on Sunday, Dec 6, from 2 to 7:30 pm. Bennigsen is part of the town of Springe and lies about 20 kilometers south of Hanover, and the S-Bahn stops in the village. The announcement does not list an admission price. If you drive, allow some time to find parking that weekend.

Parent tip: With small children, Sunday afternoon is the better choice. The lit-up church looks especially beautiful after dark.

Host
Gut Bennigsen (opens in a new tab)
Where
Gut Bennigsen, Am Gut 6, 31832 Springe (opens in maps) (near Hannover)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Gut Bennigsen (opens in a new tab)

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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 Hanover: questions parents ask

What are the 2026 Christmas events for kids in Hanover?

For 2026, we confirmed 24 Christmas events for kids in Hanover, each on its host’s own page: Jim Knopf und die Wilde 13: Das Kindermusical (Jim Button and the Wild 13: The Children's Musical), ZooLights: Magical Worlds of Light (Magische Lichterwelten), Bilderbuchkino: Wie feiern Wiesel Weihnachten? (Picture Book Cinema: How Do Weasels Celebrate Christmas?) (Laatzen) and 21 more. Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.

Are there free Christmas events for kids in Hanover?

Yes, 9 of the 24 events here are free: Bilderbuchkino: Wie feiern Wiesel Weihnachten? (Picture Book Cinema: How Do Weasels Celebrate Christmas?) (Laatzen), Hanover Christmas Market (Weihnachtsmarkt Hannover), Christmas Village on the Lindener Berg and 6 more. Some free events still ask you to register, so check each listing.

Where can kids see Santa this year in Hanover?

Where to see Santa: Christmas Market at the Bennigsen Manor (Rittergut Bennigsen) (Springe). Check the listings above for times and booking.

Where are there Christmas story times for kids in Hanover?

Christmas story times on this page: Bilderbuchkino: Wie feiern Wiesel Weihnachten? (Picture Book Cinema: How Do Weasels Celebrate Christmas?) (Laatzen) and Free Children's Book Reading for Ages 3 and Up (Reading and Baking Afternoon). 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 Hanover

On Hanover's Holzmarkt a big iron ring is set into the grille of a fountain, and a child who turns it may make a wish. In Advent 50 fir trees stand around it like a little forest, and a few steps away the city's Christmas market, which has been held since 1813, fills the Old Town. It is a good place for a family that likes lights, stories and a bit of make-believe.

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

Hanover does not have one Christmas market but a handful of little worlds in the Old Town, each with its own feel. The main market around the Marktkirche has been going since 1813, and the city has added new corners over the years: a market on the Lister Meile pedestrian street in 1989, a Finnish Christmas village in 2000 and the wish-fountain forest in 2009.

For a visiting family this is helpful. You can pick the part that suits your children: puppet theater and a baking workshop at the main market, a real Lapland tent in the Finnish village, a historic village with jugglers and craftspeople, or the quiet wish forest.

The market is free to enter. Children's shows were free in 2025, and only the baking workshop cost 3 euros. Carousels, food and drinks are paid at the stalls.

What your child will meet: wishing rings, a Lapland tent and the Santa visit

The Wunschring is Hanover's most charming custom for children. It is a large ring in the iron grille of the Oskar Winter fountain on the Holzmarkt, in front of the Leibniz House. Hanoverians say that whoever turns it will have a wish come true. In Advent the fountain stands in the Wunschbrunnenwald, a small forest of 50 firs on about 400 square meters.

The Finnish Christmas village on the Ballhofplatz has a real Lapland tent, called a kota, with Finnish crafts and salmon cooked over an open fire. In 2025 a second tent was added. Around the Historical Museum you will find the historic village with jugglers, music and a craftspeople's lane, where children could try crossbow and bow shooting in 2025. A fire show took place there every evening at 6 and 8 p.m.

At the main market in 2025 the Weihnachtsmann, the German Santa figure, came every day at 5:30 p.m. A storyteller visited at 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. and the Kasperle puppet show ran at 4, 5 and 6 p.m. Kasperle is a cheeky hand puppet in the style of Punch and Judy.

Planning a Christmas visit to Hanover with kids

This page lists the confirmed events. Nine are free, eight are ticketed and seven do not state a price, so check before you go. The season starts early with the ZooLights evening trail at the zoo on November 17 and the Christmas village on the Lindener Berg on November 20. The Old Town market and the Lister Meile market both open on November 23, and the Old Town market ran to December 22 in 2025.

There is a good mix of formats. Besides markets there are village Advent fairs in towns around Hanover, craft workshops, children's theater such as The Red Zora and the Jim Button musical, a family Advent concert on December 13 and a Nutcracker ballet on December 26. Several Hanover events listed here run well into January.

Most events are held in German. Markets, light trails and concerts are easy for non-German speakers, while the puppet shows, read-alouds and theater are best for families who speak some German.

A wish that came from an ironware shop

The fountain with the wishing ring has a business story. It was built in 1896 for the 100th anniversary of an ironware wholesaler, and the merchant Oskar Winter paid for it as advertising for his firm. The grille with the wishing ring was added in 1914.

Hanover's Christmas pyramid is 18 meters high and is described as the largest of its kind in the world. Each street of the Old Town is lit differently, with shooting stars, lanterns in the trees or chandeliers.

Traditions today

  • Christmas market at the Marktkirche: The traditional Old Town market, held around the Marktkirche since 1813, with a big Christmas tree and a children's program.
  • Finnish Christmas village: Since 2000 a real Lapland tent has stood on the Ballhofplatz, with Finnish crafts and salmon cooked over an open fire.
  • Wish forest and wishing ring: Fifty firs on the Holzmarkt surround the Oskar Winter fountain, where you can turn the wishing ring in its grille.
  • Historic village: Craftspeople show their skills around the Historical Museum, with jugglers, music and an evening fire show.
  • Christmas market on the Lister Meile: Since 1989 the pedestrian street in the List district has had its own Christmas market.
  • ZooLights at the zoo: An evening walk of about 2 kilometers through the zoo, with more than 750 glowing figures and a light train you can walk through.

A fact for kids

Hanover has a fountain with a wishing ring. Turn it and, so people say, a wish comes true. In Advent 50 fir trees stand around it like a tiny forest.

Questions about Christmas in Hanover

Is Hanover worth visiting at Christmas with kids?

Yes, especially for families who like variety. There are several small markets, a wishing ring, a Lapland tent, a historic village and an evening light trail at the zoo. The Old Town market is free to enter, and many of the events are free.

When does the Christmas market in Hanover open in 2026?

The Old Town market around the Marktkirche opens on Monday, November 23, 2026. Since 2019 it has always started on the Monday before the first Advent Sunday. The row for the market lists it as open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. through December 22.

When do the ZooLights at Hanover Zoo start in 2026?

They start on November 17, 2026. The trail is about 2 kilometers long with more than 750 glowing figures such as flamingos, meerkats, lions and elk. It also has a light train you can walk through and stations where kids change the lights by touch and movement. Kids aged 5 to 17 pay from 14.80 euros and adults from 23.80 euros.

When is the Christmas market on the Lister Meile in 2026?

It begins on November 23, 2026, the same day as the Old Town market. It runs through December 22 and is free to enter. The pedestrian street in the List district has had its own market since 1989.

When does the Christmas village on the Lindener Berg open?

From November 20 to December 20, 2026 at the Lindener Turm. It opens Fridays from 4 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 2 p.m. On Saturdays from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. the fire brigade runs activities for kids, with the last one on December 19. Entry is free.

How old is the Hanover Christmas market?

It has been held since 1813, and at first the stalls stood only around the Marktkirche. Later came the Lister Meile in 1989, the Finnish Christmas village in 2000 and the wish forest in 2009.

How long was the Christmas market in Hanover open in the beginning?

Only three days before Christmas. Today it lasts nearly a month. In 2025 it ran from November 24 to December 22.

What is the wishing ring in Hanover?

It is a large ring in the iron grille of the Oskar Winter fountain on the Holzmarkt, in front of the Leibniz House. In Hanover people say that a wish comes true if you turn the ring. In Advent the fountain stands in the middle of the wish forest, surrounded by 50 firs.

Who was Oskar Winter?

A merchant who ran an ironware wholesale business in Hanover together with Wilhelm Meier. For the firm's 100th anniversary on June 7, 1896, he had the fountain on the Holzmarkt built as advertising for his business and as a monument to himself. The grille with the wishing ring was added in 1914.

What is the Wunschbrunnenwald?

It is a small forest of 50 tall firs on about 400 square meters on the Holzmarkt, in front of the Leibniz House. It has existed since 2009, and the trees come to the Old Town at the end of November. In the middle stands the fountain with the wishing ring, and there are two forest huts to warm up in.

What is the Finnish Christmas village in Hanover?

It has been part of the market since 2000 and stands on the Ballhofplatz. It has a real Lapland tent, a kota, and a second one was added in 2025. You will find Finnish crafts, Finnish specialties and salmon cooked over an open fire.

How tall is the Christmas pyramid in Hanover?

It is 18 meters high and described as the largest of its kind in the world. It has been part of the market for almost 30 years. It stands in the Old Town, where every street is lit differently, for example with shooting stars or chandeliers.

How big was the Christmas tree at the Marktkirche in 2025?

It was a Nordmann fir from the Sauerland, 19 meters tall and 3.2 tons, with about 3,000 lights on 1.5 kilometers of light chains. In 2019 the tree was over 20 meters tall and weighed 5 tons. The lights were switched on at 4 p.m. on November 24, 2025.

How long does the Christmas tree at the Marktkirche stay up?

In 2025 the market ended on December 22, but the tree stayed lit until Epiphany on January 6, 2026. So families who miss the market can still see the tree between the holidays. Check ahead for 2026, as this page does not give that date.

When does Santa come to the Hanover Christmas market?

In 2025 the Weihnachtsmann came every day at 5:30 p.m. Before that a storyteller visited at 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. and Kasperle puppet shows ran at 4, 5 and 6 p.m. All of these were free for children in 2025, and only the baking workshop cost 3 euros.

Is there a children's program at the Hanover Christmas market?

Yes. In 2025 there was a daily storyteller, Kasperle shows, the Weihnachtsmann and three carousels. In the baking workshop children could bake from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. for 3 euros. On Advent Sundays the stage hosted children's days with a gift crafting workshop and songs by Thommi Baake.

What is the historic village at the Hanover Christmas market?

It lies around the Historical Museum, along the Burgstraße, the Roßmühle and the Pferdestraße down to the Leine river. There are jugglers, music and a craftspeople's lane with demonstrations. In 2025 kids could try crossbow and bow shooting, and a fire show ran every evening at 6 and 8 p.m.

How many people visit the Hanover Christmas market?

About 1.8 million visitors came in recent years, and the city expected the same number in 2025. That year there were 188 stalls in four areas: the traditional market, the Finnish village, the wish forest and the historic village. The traditional part alone had 125 stalls.

Do you have to pay to enter the Hanover Christmas market?

No, the Old Town market is free to enter. Children's shows and the Santa visit were free in 2025, and only the baking workshop cost 3 euros. You pay for carousels, food and drinks at the stalls.

Where can kids see a Christmas show or concert in Hanover?

Options include the family play The Red Zora at the Schauspielhaus on Advent Sundays and on December 25 and 26, and the Jim Button children's musical at the GOP variety theater from November 8 to January 10. There is a family Advent concert by the Hanover boys' choir on December 13 at the Marktkirche and a Nutcracker ballet with narrator on December 26 at the Theater am Aegi. Tickets start at 31.40 euros for the ballet.

Are Christmas events in Hanover in English?

Most events are in German. The sources do not say which ones offer English, so check with the host. Visual experiences like the ZooLights, the Finnish village and the wishing ring do not depend on language.

Are there Christmas events near Hanover worth the trip?

Yes, several nearby towns hold their own events. Wunstorf has a market from November 23 with a Kasper show every Tuesday afternoon, and the Gehrden Christmas village is on December 12 and 13 with free entry. The Bennigsen manor market on December 5 and 6 has a historic children's carousel and a Father Christmas.

What can kids make at Christmas workshops in Hanover?

Several workshops are listed. At the Naturpark house in Mardorf kids can make a glowing nature star on December 9 for 5 euros, and there is an advent wreath workshop on November 21 for 15 euros in materials. The Lister Turm community center holds a free elf workshop for ages 6 and up on four dates between November 24 and December 15.

Sources

  1. Zehn Fakten zur Weihnachtszeit in Hannover, Hannover.de
  2. Weihnachtsmarkt Hannover startet am Montag, Landeshauptstadt Hannover
  3. Im Wunschbrunnenwald verabreden, Hannover.de
  4. Weihnachtsmarkt Hannover, Hannover.de (Tourismus)
  5. Magische Lichterwelten im Zoo, Hannover.de
  6. Oskar-Winter-Brunnen, Hannover.de
  7. Erlebnis-Zoo Hannover startet in die Wintersaison: ZooLights ab November, Freizeitpark-Welt.de

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