Christmas Events for Kids in Linz (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

10 min read · Auf Deutsch lesen

For 2026, we confirmed 14 Christmas events for kids in Linz. The season opens on November 21 with Children's Program at Advent am Dom and runs until December 24 with Omamas Weihnachtskekse (Grandma's Christmas Cookies). Of these, 2 are free. Every listing links straight to the host. This page is part of our guide to Christmas events for kids in Austria.

The short version

  • Kids’ Christmas events confirmed for 2026 in Linz and Leonding: 14
  • First: Children's Program at Advent am Dom, Linz, November 21
  • Free events: Children's Program at Advent am Dom and Saint Nicholas (Nikolaus) at the Domplatz

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 Linz

Kids’ Christmas events
14 confirmed for 2026
Towns
Linz and Leonding
Season
November 21 to December 24
Free events
2
Last checked

Free 2Ticketed and paid 12

Free Christmas events for kids in Linz

Christmas craftsFree

Children's Program at Advent am Dom

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At the Advent market in front of the Mariendom (St. Mary's Cathedral), there is a free children's program on every Saturday and Sunday in Advent and on Dec 8. From 2 to 5 pm, the Katholische Jungschar, a Catholic children's group, spreads the magic of the pre-Christmas season at various craft stations. Together the children make Christmas things for themselves, for their homes and to give as gifts.

Children should come with a supervising adult, though the team is happy to help at the stations and answer questions. It starts on Nov 21 and the last date is Dec 20. The Domplatz is in the middle of downtown Linz. On Dec 6, Saint Nicholas (Nikolaus) also comes to the Domplatz at 4 pm, so crafts and the Nikolaus visit combine well that day.

Parent tip: Please come with an accompanying adult. On Dec 6 at 4 pm, Saint Nicholas (Nikolaus) also visits the Domplatz.

Host
Katholische Jungschar bei Advent am Dom (Catholic children's group) (opens in a new tab)
Where
Linzer Domplatz (Advent am Dom), Domplatz 1, 4020 Linz (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Katholische Jungschar bei Advent am Dom (Catholic children's group) (opens in a new tab)

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Rally’s Christmas research

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

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Coming up on this page

  • 7 Shows
  • 5 Crafts
  • 5 Zoos and museums
  • 4 Santa
  • 2 Free

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Saint Nicholas visitFree

Saint Nicholas (Nikolaus) at the Domplatz

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On Sunday, Dec 6, Saint Nicholas (Nikolaus) comes to Advent am Dom on the Linzer Domplatz from 4 to 5 pm. Instead of just handing out little bags, he tells what he has experienced and why we still celebrate Saint Nicholas so many years later.

The team of the Katholische Jungschar, a Catholic children's group, welcomes all children who want to ask questions and join in, as well as those who just want to listen and be there. Admission is free. Anyone who comes earlier can craft at the children's program on the Domplatz from 2 pm, and candle dipping at the Mariendom is also open that afternoon. Around the Mariendom, the Advent am Dom stalls also invite you to linger, with punch, music and lots of lights.

Parent tip: From 2 pm there are craft stations for children in the same square, so coming earlier is worthwhile.

Host
Advent am Dom (opens in a new tab)
Where
Linzer Domplatz (Advent am Dom), Domplatz 1, 4020 Linz (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Advent am Dom (opens in a new tab)

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Ticketed and paid Christmas events for kids in Linz

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 crafts

Linz Candle Dipping at Advent am Dom

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Candle dipping is one of the loveliest hands-on traditions of Advent, and at Advent am Dom in Linz you can try it almost every day. Starting from a candle wick, you build your own candle from fragrant beeswax step by step, as a gift for others or for yourself. Children in particular are often amazed at how the candle gets a little thicker with every dip.

It is open from Nov 21 to Dec 23, Wednesdays to Saturdays from 11 am to 5:30 pm and Sundays from 1 to 5:30 pm. You pay by weight, €1 per 10 grams. Afterward you can wind down your visit at the Advent market on the Domplatz. On weekends there are also free craft stations for children there.

Parent tip: There is no candle dipping on Mondays and Tuesdays, or on Dec 8.

Host
Advent am Dom (opens in a new tab)
Where
Neuer Dom (Mariendom), Advent am Dom, Domplatz 1, 4020 Linz (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Advent am Dom (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas show

Frohe Weihnachten, Topolina! (Merry Christmas, Topolina)

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At the Landestheater Linz, Topolina celebrates Christmas during Advent, and the young audience is right in the middle of it. Cookies are baked and packages are tied up, but Topolina's celebration takes an unusual turn: a friendly Christmas donkey appears, reports from the stable and sings along with great enthusiasm.

It is performed at the Musiktheater am Volksgarten. The shows of most interest to families are on Friday, Dec 4, at 3 pm and on Saturday, Dec 5, and Sunday, Dec 6, each at 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm. On Tuesday, Dec 1, there are also two morning shows at 9 and 10:30 am. Tickets come in various price categories at the Landestheater box office. The Musiktheater sits right at the Volksgarten, where a Christmas market also takes place.

Parent tip: On Saint Nicholas weekend there are three shows per day. Tickets at the theater box office, tel. +43 732 7611400. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Landestheater Linz (opens in a new tab)
Where
Musiktheater am Volksgarten, Am Volksgarten 1, 4020 Linz (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Landestheater Linz (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas show

Omamas Weihnachtskekse (Grandma's Christmas Cookies)

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Kasperl (the classic Austrian hand-puppet clown), Seppy and the little dragon Basti are really looking forward to Grandma's Christmas cookies. But before they can taste any, the cookies have mysteriously disappeared. Are a witch and a wizard behind it, or was it perhaps a hungry reindeer? With Basti's help, Kasperl finally solves the mystery.

The play by the Linzer Puppentheater is for children ages 3 and up and is performed at the children's culture center Kuddelmuddel at Langgasse 13. Shows run from Dec 2 to 23 on many afternoons at 3 pm, and on Christmas Eve even twice, at 1:30 and 3 pm. Tickets cost €7.50 to €8. Especially on Dec 24, this is a good way to shorten the wait for little children.

Parent tip: On Dec 24 there are two shows to fill the wait for the Christkind (the Christ Child, who brings gifts in Austria). Reserve at the Kuddelmuddel at +43 732 600444. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Linzer Puppentheater im Kuddelmuddel (opens in a new tab)
Where
Kinderkulturzentrum Kuddelmuddel, Langgasse 13, 4020 Linz (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Linzer Puppentheater im Kuddelmuddel (opens in a new tab)

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Saint Nicholas visit

Kasperl and Nikolo

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Kasperl & Co, Vienna's TV Kasperl (the traditional Austrian hand-puppet clown), is coming back to Linz's children's culture center Kuddelmuddel. Which play will be performed stays a surprise. What is certain is that Saint Nicholas (Nikolaus) comes along too. He has a small Nikolaus goodie bag (Sackerl) in his luggage for every child.

Kasperl & Co are known for their lovingly made stage sets and familiar puppet characters. Performances are on Friday, Dec 4, at 10 am, 3 pm and 4:30 pm and on Saturday, Dec 5, at 11 am, 3 pm and 4:30 pm at Langgasse 13. Tickets cost €9 to €9.50, and the Kuddelmuddel is also a redemption point for the Linz-Card's Donau-Kultur-Bonus. The Kuddelmuddel on Langgasse is Linz's children's culture center, and more Christmas plays are on the program there during Advent.

Parent tip: Every child gets a small bag from Saint Nicholas. It is best to reserve tickets in advance at the Kuddelmuddel, tel. +43 732 600444. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Kinderkulturzentrum Kuddelmuddel (opens in a new tab)
Where
Kinderkulturzentrum Kuddelmuddel, Langgasse 13, 4020 Linz (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Kinderkulturzentrum Kuddelmuddel (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas show

Pippi plündert den Weihnachtsbaum (Pippi Plunders the Christmas Tree)

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At Pippi's Christmas party, all the children of the town are meant to dance along, and only Mrs. Finkvist gets no cake. But before the big plundering party can begin, Pippi still has plenty to do: she needs about 18 kilos of candy, a freckle cream, perfume and perhaps also the hand of a mannequin. Then at last the big Christmas day arrives.

Theater Tabor performs the play after Astrid Lindgren for children ages 5 and up at Theater Maestro at Bismarckstraße 18. The shows last one hour and take place on Saturday, Dec 5, at 3 pm, on Sunday, Dec 6, and Tuesday, Dec 8, each at 11 am, and on Saturday, Dec 12, at 3 pm. Tickets cost €13. A good pick for children who already know Pippi from books.

Parent tip: Tickets and info from Theater Tabor, tel. +43 650 7784-783 or theater.tabor@gmx.at. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Theater Tabor (opens in a new tab)
Where
Theater Maestro, Bismarckstraße 18, 4020 Linz (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Theater Tabor (opens in a new tab)

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Saint Nicholas visit

Family Sunday: Nikolo & Nativity Magic (Krippenzauber)

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On Saint Nicholas Day, Schlossmuseum Linz invites families to a Family Sunday. All day, from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm, a search game runs in the nativity exhibition: anyone who solves the tricky tasks around the nativity scenes (Krippen) and their figures has earned a Nikolo goodie bag (Nikolo-Sackerl, a small bag of treats from Saint Nicholas).

At 1:30 pm, the theater group Bärenstark performs “Eine Geschichte vom Nikolaus,” based on the book of the same name by Mira Lobe. In it, the wind carries off Saint Nicholas's bishop's hat just before his trip to earth, and the search turns into a real journey around the world. The play lasts 40 minutes and is for children ages 4 and up. Seats are limited, and free theater tickets are available one hour before the start at the museum box office. With the OÖ Familienkarte, admission is free.

Parent tip: The free theater tickets are available from 12:30 pm at the museum box office, so be there in good time. Free admission with the OÖ Familienkarte. Expect the play to be in German.

Host
OÖ Landes-Kultur GmbH (opens in a new tab)
Where
Schlossmuseum Linz, Schlossberg 1, 4020 Linz (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with OÖ Landes-Kultur GmbH (opens in a new tab)

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Visit with Santa

Saint Nicholas Visits the Zoo

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On Sunday, Dec 6, Saint Nicholas (Nikolaus) himself comes to Zoo Linz. Between 1 and 3 pm he hands out treats to the little zoo visitors. Then everyone goes on a special search together: for the animals that give Saint Nicholas's companion, the Krampus (a fearsome horned figure who traditionally accompanies him), his looks.

No registration is needed, and it takes place in any weather. The program itself is free, and you only pay zoo admission: adults €13, children ages 6 to 13 €7. With the Linz-Card there is a small discount, and since much of it happens outdoors, warm clothing is a good idea. The zoo is at Windflachweg 1. For families with small children, the afternoon is a manageable outing that combines well with a walk around the other animals.

Parent tip: No registration needed, and it takes place in any weather. With the Linz-Card, adults pay €12.50 and children €6.50.

Host
Zoo Linz (opens in a new tab)
Where
Zoo Linz, Windflachweg 1, 4040 Linz (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Zoo Linz (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas crafts

Family Sunday: Building a Nativity Scene (Krippenbauen)

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On the third Sunday of Advent, there is building to do at Schlossmuseum Linz. First comes a short tour of the exhibition on Upper Austrian nativity art, where there are plenty of ideas to discover. Then participants make their own Christmas nativity scenes (Krippen), which they can take home.

The tour with workshop runs twice, from 10:15 am to 12 pm and from 1:15 to 3 pm. Because the number of participants is limited, registration is required at kulturvermittlung@ooelkg.at or by phone at +43 732 7720 52222 (9 am to 3 pm). With the OÖ Familienkarte, admission is free. The museum sits on the Schlossberg above the old town. On Dec 6 there is also a Family Sunday in the same building with Nikolo and a nativity search game.

Parent tip: Registration required at kulturvermittlung@ooelkg.at or +43 732 7720 52222. Expect it to be in German.

Host
OÖ Landes-Kultur GmbH (opens in a new tab)
Where
Schlossmuseum Linz, Schlossberg 1, 4020 Linz (opens in maps)
Registration
Required
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with OÖ Landes-Kultur GmbH (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas crafts

Family Sunday: Christmas Angels (Weihnachtsengerl)

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Angels are everywhere at Christmastime, as fantastic flying beings that stand for joy and protection. On Sunday, Dec 20, personal Christmas angels take shape at Schlossmuseum Linz. The creative station is open from 11 am to 2 pm, so you can drop in at any point.

At 11 am and again at 2 pm there is also a short tour of traditional nativity scenes (Krippen), matching the nativity exhibition in the building. With the OÖ Familienkarte, admission is free. It is a calm program for the last Sunday before Christmas, when the markets outside are busy. The finished angels can of course go home with you and may decorate the Christmas tree just a few days later. The museum sits on the Schlossberg above Linz's old town and is a few minutes' walk from the Hauptplatz.

Parent tip: The creative station is open-format, so you can join at any time between 11 am and 2 pm.

Host
OÖ Landes-Kultur GmbH (opens in a new tab)
Where
Schlossmuseum Linz, Schlossberg 1, 4020 Linz (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with OÖ Landes-Kultur GmbH (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas show

Elfen allein zu Haus (Elves Home Alone)

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Once upon a time there was a little house at the edge of the magical winter forest, where the animals can talk at Christmastime. This is where the elves sneak in who want to help the Christkind (the Christ Child, who brings gifts in Austria). But the cookies smell so good. Would anyone notice if an elf took a nibble or a little peek into the beautiful packages?

Lemour Physical Theatre tells this cheeky story about what happens in the living room when the Christkind is not paying attention for a moment. The play is for children ages 4 and up and runs at the children's culture center Kuddelmuddel on Dec 23 at 3:30 pm and on Christmas Eve at 10:30 am and 3:15 pm. Tickets cost €7.50 to €8. Reserving is advisable, since the dates just before Christmas are in demand.

Parent tip: Two shows on Dec 24, handy for the wait for the Christkind. Reservations at +43 732 600444. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Kinderkulturzentrum Kuddelmuddel (opens in a new tab)
Where
Kinderkulturzentrum Kuddelmuddel, Langgasse 13, 4020 Linz (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Kinderkulturzentrum Kuddelmuddel (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas crafts

Christmas at the Zoo

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Waiting for the Christkind (the Christ Child, who brings gifts in Austria) becomes a little adventure at Zoo Linz. On Dec 24 from 10 am to 1 pm, children make Christmas packages for the zoo animals over cookies, warm tea and a festive mood. Afterward they get to play Christkind themselves and hand out the food packets to the animals, and who knows, maybe the Christkind will fly by too.

The program takes place in any weather and is free, with regular zoo admission applying. Important for planning: on Dec 24 the zoo is open only until 2 pm, with last entry at 1 pm. A lovely morning before the gift-giving begins at home. Zoo Linz is at Windflachweg 1, and no registration is given for the program.

Parent tip: On Dec 24 the zoo closes at 2 pm, with last entry at 1 pm.

Host
Zoo Linz (opens in a new tab)
Where
Zoo Linz, Windflachweg 1, 4040 Linz (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Zoo Linz (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas events for kids in Leonding

Christmas show

Kasperl & sein Wunschzettel (Kasperl and His Wish List) (Leonding)

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Only a very few doors of the Advent calendar are still closed, and all of Kasperlhausen is calm and Christmassy. Only at Kasperl's house is it more hectic than ever, because Kasperl (the classic Austrian hand-puppet clown) has been writing his wish list for the Christkind (the Christ Child, who brings gifts in Austria) for weeks, and still not all the wishes fit on the paper. Will the letter be sent in time?

The puppet show is meant for children ages 3 and up and is performed on Saturday, Dec 19, at 10 am at the 44er Galerie at Stadtplatz 44 in Leonding near Linz. Tickets cost €9. The organizer is KUVA, the events and culture service of the city of Leonding. If you like, you can follow the show with a stroll across the Stadtplatz. Since the show is in the morning, the rest of Saturday stays free.

Parent tip: Tickets from KUVA Leonding, tel. +43 732 6878-300108 or office@kuva-leonding.at. Expect it to be in German.

Host
KUVA Veranstaltungs & Kulturservice Leonding (opens in a new tab)
Where
44er Galerie, Stadtplatz 44, 4060 Leonding (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with KUVA Veranstaltungs & Kulturservice Leonding (opens in a new tab)

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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 Linz: questions parents ask

What are the 2026 Christmas events for kids in Linz?

For 2026, we confirmed 14 Christmas events for kids in Linz, each on its host’s own page: Family Sunday: Nikolo & Nativity Magic (Krippenzauber), Kasperl & sein Wunschzettel (Kasperl and His Wish List) (Leonding), Kasperl and Nikolo 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 Linz?

Yes, 2 of the 14 events here are free: Children's Program at Advent am Dom and Saint Nicholas (Nikolaus) at the Domplatz. Some free events still ask you to register, so check each listing.

Where can kids see Santa this year in Linz?

Where to see Santa: Family Sunday: Nikolo & Nativity Magic (Krippenzauber), Kasperl and Nikolo, Saint Nicholas Visits the Zoo and 1 more. Check the listings above for times and booking.

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 Linz

Linz at Christmas has a dragon train in a dwarf kingdom, a crypt full of wooden nativity figures and a market with a nativity scene that comes to life every half hour. Families can dip real beeswax candles, meet Saint Nicholas at the zoo and see puppet shows all through Advent. This guide explains the local traditions and how the 2026 season is laid out.

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

Linz does not have one single Christmas market. It has several small ones with their own character. In 2025 the markets on the Hauptplatz, in the Volksgarten park and on the Pfarrplatz all opened on November 22. The Hauptplatz market is known as a market for artists and craftspeople, with stalls around a big tree selling handmade tree decorations, pottery and glassware. Advent am Dom, around the cathedral, had about 30 huts in 2024 and has carried a quality seal for art and handcrafts since 2024, the only market in Upper Austria to do so.

What makes Linz different for a visiting family is how much is made for children rather than for shopping. There are craft stations, candle dipping, a zoo program, museum family Sundays and plenty of puppet theater. In 2025 there was even a free yellow Christmas train that ran between the markets on weekends.

Most of it is hands-on and low cost, which suits a trip with young children.

What a child will meet at a Linz Christmas: Saint Nicholas, the Christkind and nativity scenes

Saint Nicholas, called Nikolaus or Nikolo, visits children on December 6. In Linz he appears on the Domplatz, at the zoo and at the castle museum on that day. At the zoo he hands out treats and the program explores the animals that inspired the Krampus, a helper character who goes with Saint Nicholas. If your child is afraid of him, there is a market on the Pfarrplatz that deliberately has no Christkind, no Santa and no Krampus.

The Christkind, which means Christ Child, is the figure Austrian children write wish letters to and wait for on Christmas Eve. Several shows play with this: a Kasperl puppet show about a wish list to the Christkind, and a physical theater show about the Christkind's elves who sneak into a house. Kasperl is the cheerful hand puppet who stars in Austrian children's theater.

Nativity scenes, called Krippen in German, are a big theme. The cathedral crypt has a crib with more than 80 linden wood figures carved between 1907 and 1913 by the Munich sculptor Sebastian Osterrieder. The Volksgarten has what is probably the largest wooden nativity scene in Austria, which comes to life every 30 minutes. At the castle museum, families can build their own nativity scene.

And for snacks, the Hauptplatz market sells sausages and farmers' doughnuts, called Bauernkrapfen.

Planning a Christmas visit to Linz with kids

The events on this page start on Saturday, November 21, 2026, with the children's program and candle dipping at Advent am Dom, and run until Christmas Eve. One event takes place just outside the city, in Leonding, on December 19.

A handful of events are free, such as the craft stations on the Domplatz, which run on Advent weekends and on December 8 from 2 pm to 5 pm, and the Saint Nicholas visit on the Domplatz on December 6 from 4 pm to 5 pm. Candle dipping costs 1 euro per 10 grams of wax. The zoo programs are free with zoo admission, and the castle museum Family Sundays are free with the Upper Austria family card.

Expect a lot of children's theater. Several puppet and stage shows run in December, mostly in German, so check with the host if you need English. December 6 is the busiest day for Saint Nicholas, so pick one stop in advance.

Dragon trains and tiny icicles at the Grottenbahn

High up on the Pöstlingberg, a dragon train rolled through an old tower as early as 1906, and in 2026 the Grottenbahn celebrates 120 years. It reopened in 1948 after the sculptor Friederike Renate Stolz redesigned its fairy-tale world. On the lower floor is a model of Linz's main square as it looked around 1900, at one seventh of real size. Before every season, 933 colorful LED lights and 1,213 icicles are checked there.

In Advent the Grottenbahn is open on the Advent Sundays and on December 8, from 10 am to 5 pm, and on December 24 until 3 pm. It is a good plan for a cold or wet day.

Traditions today

  • Advent am Dom: About 30 market huts around the cathedral, with a quality seal for art and handcrafts since 2024 and a children's program on weekends.
  • Linz candle dipping: Children dip candles from real beeswax. Since 2025 it has been held in the cathedral crypt, and no advance registration was needed.
  • The nativity scene in the cathedral crypt: More than 80 linden wood figures carved by Sebastian Osterrieder between 1907 and 1913, plus a virtual 360 degree version.
  • The Volksgarten nativity scene: Probably the largest wooden nativity scene in Austria. It comes to life every 30 minutes, surrounded by fairy-tale huts and rides.
  • Grottenbahn in Advent: The dragon train runs through the dwarf kingdom on Advent Sundays, with fairy-tale activities on the model main square.
  • Christkindlmarkt on the Hauptplatz: A market for craftspeople, with stalls around a big tree selling tree decorations, pottery, glassware and farmers' doughnuts.

A fact for kids

In the Grottenbahn on the Pöstlingberg you ride a dragon train through a dwarf kingdom, and 1,213 icicles and 933 colorful lights hang along the way.

Questions about Christmas in Linz

Is Linz worth visiting at Christmas with kids?

Yes. Linz offers craft stations, candle dipping, Saint Nicholas visits at the zoo and cathedral square, family Sundays at the castle museum and many puppet and stage shows for children. Many events are low cost, and some are free.

When do the Christmas markets in Linz open?

In 2025 the markets on the Hauptplatz, in the Volksgarten and on the Pfarrplatz opened on November 22. In 2026 the children's program and candle dipping at Advent am Dom start on November 21. The sources for this page do not give an exact 2026 opening date for each market.

Where can kids meet Santa or Saint Nicholas in Linz?

On Sunday, December 6, 2026, Saint Nicholas tells his story on the Domplatz from 4 pm to 5 pm, free of charge. He also visits Linz Zoo from 1 pm to 3 pm and the castle museum's Family Sunday, and he appears in puppet shows at the Kuddelmuddel children's culture center on December 4 and 5.

Are there free Christmas events in Linz?

Yes, a handful. The craft stations at Advent am Dom on the Domplatz and the Saint Nicholas visit there are free, and the markets themselves have free entry. The zoo and the castle museum programs are free once you pay admission, or with the Upper Austria family card for the castle museum.

Are Christmas events in Linz in English?

Most events are in German, the local language. Puppet and stage shows depend on words, so check with the host if you need English. Crafts, candle dipping and market visits are easy to enjoy without much German.

How does candle dipping work at Advent am Dom?

Children dip candles in real beeswax. In 2026 it runs from November 21 to December 23, Wednesday to Saturday from 11 am to 5:30 pm and Sunday from 1 pm to 5:30 pm, and costs 1 euro per 10 grams of wax. In 2025 it was held in the cathedral crypt for the first time and needed no registration. Small children need a helping hand.

What is Advent am Dom?

It is the Advent market around the cathedral on the Domplatz. It had about 30 huts in 2024, has held a quality seal for art and handcrafts since 2024, and offers a children's program every weekend. In 2025 the cathedral also hosted a forest of wishes.

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 Linz, a Kasperl puppet show on December 19 in Leonding is about writing a wish list to the Christkind, and a theater show on December 23 and 24 follows the Christkind's elves.

What is the Krampus, and will it scare my kids?

Krampus is a helper character who goes with Saint Nicholas. At the zoo on December 6 the program explores the animals that inspired the Krampus, and in a puppet show on December 4 and 5 Kasperl meets Nikolo. The Pfarrplatz market has no Christkind, Santa or Krampus at all, which can be a calm break for children who find him scary.

What can kids do at Linz Zoo at Christmas?

On December 6, 2026 from 1 pm to 3 pm Saint Nicholas hands out treats and explores animals that inspired the Krampus. On December 24 from 10 am to 1 pm, children make gift parcels of food for the animals and help hand them out. The programs are free, and zoo admission is 13 euros for adults and 7 euros for children 6 to 13.

What are the Family Sundays at the Linz castle museum?

They are Christmas programs on three Sundays in December 2026. December 6 has Saint Nicholas, a nativity scene treasure hunt and a children's play. On December 13 families build their own nativity scene after a short tour of the crib exhibition, and on December 20 there is a drop-in craft station for Christmas angels. Museum admission applies, and it is free with the Upper Austria family card.

What can we do in Linz on Christmas Eve with kids?

At Linz Zoo, from 10 am to 1 pm, children make food parcels for the animals. The Kuddelmuddel children's theater plays about the Christkind's elves and a puppet show about Grandma's Christmas cookies. The Grottenbahn is open until 3 pm on December 24.

Is the Grottenbahn open at Christmas?

Yes. It is open on the four Advent Sundays and on December 8, from 10 am to 5 pm, and on December 24 until 3 pm. In 2025 it also offered a fairy-tale program on the model main square. It is a nice choice when the weather is cold or wet.

How old is the Grottenbahn on the Pöstlingberg?

A dragon train in an old tower on the Pöstlingberg first ran in 1906, so the Grottenbahn marks 120 years in 2026. Its fairy-tale world was redesigned by Friederike Renate Stolz, and it reopened in 1948.

What is in the lower floor of the Grottenbahn?

Since 1950 it has held a model of Linz's main square as it looked around 1900, at one seventh of real size. Before each season 933 LED lights and 1,213 icicles are checked. Kids can compare it with the real square at the Hauptplatz market.

Where is the largest wooden nativity scene in Linz?

In the Volksgarten, next to the Christmas market. It is probably the largest wooden nativity scene in Austria, and it comes to life every 30 minutes. There are fairy-tale huts, rides and craft demonstrations around it.

Who carved the nativity scene in the Linz cathedral?

The Munich sculptor Sebastian Osterrieder carved more than 80 figures from linden wood between 1907 and 1913. The nativity scene stands in the cathedral crypt. In 2025 there was also a virtual 360 degree version.

Is the Linz cathedral taller than St. Stephen's in Vienna?

No. The Linz Mariendom is the largest church in Austria by capacity, but it is about two meters lower than St. Stephen's. The idea that it could not be taller than Vienna's south tower is a popular but unproven legend. It was consecrated on May 1, 1924.

Does the Christmas market on the Linz Hauptplatz charge admission?

No, entry is free. You only pay for what you eat or buy. The stalls stand around a big tree and sell handmade tree decorations, pottery and glassware, with sausages and farmers' doughnuts.

Is there a free Christmas train between the Linz markets?

In 2025 a yellow train ran for free as a hop-on-hop-off between the Hauptplatz, Domplatz, Volksgarten, Pfarrplatz and Klosterhof, Friday to Sunday from 3 pm to 7 pm every half hour. It had three wagons and room for 45 people. The sources do not say whether it runs in 2026.

Which Christmas market in Linz has no Christkind or Krampus?

The winter market on the Pfarrplatz. It deliberately keeps away from religious traditions, so there is no Christkind, no Santa and no Krampus. It focuses on regional products and warming fire pits.

Are there children's theater shows in Linz at Christmas?

Yes, many. The Linz Music Theater has a Christmas show with Topolina and a singing donkey from December 1 to 6, and the Kuddelmuddel center has puppet shows for ages 3 and up and a physical theater show for ages 4 and up. Theater Maestro plays a Pippi Longstocking Christmas play for ages 5 and up. Most are in German.

Sources

  1. Linzer Adventmärkte stimmen auf Weihnachten ein, Tips Linz
  2. Christkindlmarkt am Hauptplatz, Oberösterreich Tourismus
  3. 120 Jahre Zwergerlschnäuzen: Grottenbahn startet in die Jubiläumssaison, MeinBezirk Linz
  4. Kunst und Handwerk: Gütesiegel für Linzer Advent am Dom, Tips Linz
  5. 8 Dinge, die ihr im Advent in Linz unternehmen könnt, 1000things
  6. Weihnachtsmarkt im Linzer Volksgarten, Oberösterreich Tourismus
  7. Mariä-Empfängnis-Dom, Wikipedia
  8. Krippe des Linzer Mariendoms, Kulturpool
Kelsey Cecil
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