What's on This Week?

This weeks highlights include:

• Opera in Horn Bad Meinburg - Three tenors from Napoli will wow the crowds on the 17th Nov.  Singing much loved songs like "Nessun dorma" and even some Frank Sinatra. Tickets here

• "Black week" sales are underway in most German stores so expect busy stores and parking in major shopping areas. But often a good time to use tax free forms.

• Build up to Christmas has started, most markets begin on the 23rd Nov.  Paderborn, Bielefeld and Dortmund have the full markets planned for this year. Plus the Lichterfest event in Dortmund

Dortmund Weihnactsmarkt 2023

The worlds largest Christmas tree makes it's return for the 124th Dortmund Weihnactsmarkt. Dortmund will have new lights displays and 250 stands to see.

The market opens 11am - 9pm Mon- Thurs & Sun and 11am -10pm on Fri & Sat.





Images copyright of Dortmund Stadt

Paderborn Weihnachtsmark 2023

 

The Paderborn Christmas market is open from November 24th to December 23rd on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on all other days from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

Businesses selling handicrafts and Christmas items as well as rides are free to close the business at 8 p.m. 

The Christmas market will be closed on November 26th because of the Sunday of the Dead.

This year the shopping Sunday on the 1st of Advent is also open for shopping. On December 3rd, the shops will be open from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The Fantastic Lights Christmas Market Dortmund 2023

This themed Christmas market kicks off on the 23rd Nov in the Fredenbaum park Dortmund. 

Dragons, knights, bagpipes, fire acrobats, strange steampunk companions, pirates, jugglers and a “capsized” prehistoric shark* – how much more fantastic can a Christmas market get? 

How to get there:

Drive time is around 1hr 20mins

Using the Deutschland ticket from Paderborn is about 1hr 30 mins by train/  local transport. Use this link

Bielefeld Christmas Market 2023

The Bielefeld Christmas market starts in the city center on Thursday, November 23, 2023.

Copyright Bielefeld marketing

The Christmas pyramid as a new eye-catcher on Jahnplatz, the ice rink with curling on Klosterplatz, the “House of St. Nicholas” in the old town church park and the hut village on the historic Old Market make the Bielefeld Christmas market the number one visitor magnet in the region. 

Across the entire city center, more than 110 lovingly decorated houses give the city a pre-Christmas magic.

Science is fun! – Experiment Day in the Library in the Rathauspassage

The Paderborn City Library invites you to an exciting day of experiments on Sunday, November 5th in the Library in the Rathauspassage. 

There are questions upon questions and a day full of answers - for example:

• Why does the tongue stick to the ice cream?
• Why do balloons get smaller over time?
• Why does soap foam?
• How does a thunderstorm form?
• Why does a candle burn?

Kids Can Try Out Musical Instruments

On Saturday, November 4th, the municipal music school invites you to instrument information. 

In the main building of the music school at Gierswall 4, 33102 Paderborn, interested children, young people and adults can get to know and try out various keyboard, string, wind or plucked instruments from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Drum and percussion instruments can be tried out from 12 p.m. in the former Busdorf elementary school, where the music school's newly furnished drum room is located. 

Experienced teachers inform all visitors about the respective instrument and are happy to advise them.

The office is also open during this time and accepts new registrations or re-registrations for instrumental or elementary courses.

Paderborn Music School

Halloween Events

We have a focus on family friendly events in the Paderborn area with pumpkin carving and corn mazes.

Then some more adult focused Halloween events designed to scare. Plus the "Legendary Paderhalle Halloween Party." 

Drive down to the "Hills" of Hochsauerland to Fort Fun which becomes Fort Fear for two nights. Or try your hand at the Frankenstein castle which offers one of the largest "full contact" scare shows around!

Paderborn Autumn Libori Festival 21st -29th Oct

The Autumn Libori Festival starts on Saturday, October 21st to Sunday and runs until October 29th. You will find the fair on the 400 meter long fair mile on the Liboriberg in the city.

There are again many attractions waiting for you on the fair mile: The “Movie Star I” ferris wheel gives visitors the chance to enjoy a panoramic view of the fair and large parts of Paderborn.

Other rides this year are the “Car Wash” running shop, which offers pure fun for the whole family, the brand-new hair raising “Air Power” swing, the “Crazy Mouse” coaster promises, rushing around at 50 km/h.

Bouncy Castle Party Rietberg

Mausolino's bouncy castle park is once again making a stop in the Rietberg garden show park.  You can find the park about 25 - 30 mins mins drive from Sennelager.

Google map link

Lots of colorful air cushions are just waiting for children to jump and run around on them.

The bouncy castles were guests at the park for several weeks in the spring and will be making another stop in the fall.

From September 15th to October 3rd they will be inflated daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the north part of the park. 

They are approved for children up to 14 years old. Unfortunately, adults have to watch.

Ticket Prices 

While the jumping fun is free on weekdays, jumping children pay €2  entry on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. But you can let off steam there for as long as you want and leave the bouncy castle park in between and come back later

Whiskey Tasting Schloss Neuhaus 2023

Whiskey, Gin, Rum, Brandy and more!

The Schloss Neuhaus tasting event is on the 23rd -24th Sep 2023

The Schloß Neuhäuser Spirits Exchange is a festival for all the senses. Distilleries and specialist retailers travel from all over Germany to present their offerings of whiskey and whiskey, gin, rum, brandy, liqueur and spirits from local distilling and international trade.

Dortmund Octoberfest 2023

One of the largest Octoberfest celebrations in NRW takes place in the Revierpark  Dortmund.

Each Day and Night from the 22nd Sep to the 2nd Oct 4,500 people will enjoy live music, food and great beer. 

Tickets can be booked individually from €30 per person. You can fill a table of ten from €320. Use this link to check dates and prices.

A local hotel is offering discounts on rooms.

Hanover Zoo Christmas Magic Garden

The magic of Christmas is only a short trip away in Hanover for 2023.

The pre-sales for the Christmas Garden at the Hanover Adventure Zoo have officially begun and that you can benefit from low prices as an early bird.

Your exclusive early bird advantage – tickets from €11

Your ticket price depends on how early and for which date you book. This means we can offer you your Christmas Garden experience at a particularly affordable price on many match days. It's worth booking tickets early because the most popular days sell out quickly! Secure your price advantage now.

Buy Tickets here

Candle In The Wind Special Event 29th Sep 2023

 

The Sennelager based charity is hosting a special event in the Netherlands on the 29th Sep 2023.

Contact email sec@citw.eu for details.

What's On This Weekend

8th -10 Sep Kupplefest Schloss Neuhaus & Cheat Day 

The popular Cheat Day Street Food festival is back in Schloss Neuhaus this weekend. Once again the event is combined with the free Dome festival.

Events include a fully themed children's area and live music, entry is free.

Kuppelfest Schloss Neuhaus 8th-10th Sep

This free festival, celebrates local and national performers. 

There will be three distinct performance areas each one focusing on a different style of act or theme:

From , workshops to DJ's there is a packed line up over the weekend. You can find the listing here.

1, TA DA

Theater performances, performances, readings, talk shows and much more await you in the TA DA area. This year you will find the area indoors in the “Forum of Young Artists”.

Lichterfest Dortmund 26th Aug

 

Picture(image license/photographer/graphic artist): Roland Baege

With the tradition of 1,000 lights, the Westfalenpark invites you to the highlight of the summer for the whole family this year. On Saturday, August 26, 2023, from 15:00 the park will be transformed into a magical, sparkling place.

Padernacht - Paderborn 25th Aug from 1800

The fourth PaderNacht will take place on Friday, August 25th, 2023 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

At PaderNacht you can stroll through the Pader source area with the artists, or stay in one place and let the artists come to you.

Tap/ click to expand event timings image

Music, street art and artistry can be found at eight locations between the city library and Paderwiesen. A total of 10 artists perform every hour on the hour.

What's On This Weekend

Paderborn 

Haxterberg 50th Anniversary party at the airfield, lots for the kids. Book a short flight, see acrobatics, model aircraft, flight simulators and music from 6pm. Sat & Sun from 10 am.

We have also prepared activities for the little ones. From the double-decker parkour to face painting, a bouncy castle and a children's carousel, everything is there to make everyone feel good.

Find Indoor Activities & Attractions

Escape the rain, with this map of indoor activities and attractions. Save the link for the map as we will be updating each week. 

What to do indoors in NRW