Host Nation Update, November 20, 2024
Southwest – Snow in the southwest – warning of icy conditions
Drivers in Baden-Württemberg need to be careful – the roads are getting slippery in places. Everyone should have winter tires on their cars by now at the latest, said a spokesperson for the German Weather Service this morning.
In the morning, there was snowfall in the Allgäu and around Lake Constance. It also snowed in the Black Forest. During the course of the day, there was a risk of slippery conditions above 400 meters due to snow showers.
On the day itself, however, there would not be “such bad conditions”, said the spokesperson. It will be cloudy, but the weather will even clear up in places. The maximum temperature will be six degrees. During the night, however, people across Baden-Württemberg will have to prepare for frost, with temperatures mostly between 0 and -3 degrees.
Tomorrow will be friendly and mostly free of precipitation in the north. From the southern Black Forest to Upper Swabia, however, it will snow for up to 8 hours in the afternoon. Fresh snow of up to 15 centimetres is expected.
However, the DWD spokesperson said that we can look forward to Sunday. It will be much warmer again with temperatures of up to 15 degrees, in the Rhine Valley even up to 16 degrees. (Stuttgarter Nachrichten, Nov 20, 24)
Sindelfingen: “Elefantenbrückle” (elephant bridge) over A81 will be demolished
For the duration of the demolition work, the A81 between the Sindelfingen-Ost and Böblingen-Hulb junctions will have to be fully closed in both directions from Friday night, November 29, 10 p.m. until probably Monday morning, 2 December, 5 a.m. The Autobahn traffic will be diverted in both directions via Mahdental-, Neckar-, Hanns-Martin-Schleyer- and Calwer Straße as well as the B 464 and vice versa.
From November 28 until probably December 5, there will be no connection via the A81 between the Goldberg district and the “Goldberg” S-Bahn stop for cyclists and pedestrians. The “Goldberg” S-Bahn stop, which is served by the S1, will be difficult to reach from the Sindelfingen urban area during this time. (SZBZ Nov 18, 2024)
Ludwigsburg Baroque Christmas Market
it’s the largest Christmas market in the Ludwigsburg region and worth one or more visits: 150 booths on and around Ludwigsburg’s market square, open daily from November 26 to December 22 from 11 am to 9 pm. The Baroque Christmas market in Ludwigsburg is said to be even more beautiful than its Stuttgart counterpart. So don’t miss it.
Schlossplatz in Stuttgart
The first gondolas dangle from the Ferris wheel
The Ferris wheel on Schlossplatz in Stuttgart will soon be spinning again. The final parts were bolted on at the weekend. On Saturday, technicians assembled the gondolas for the ride. The first ride is scheduled to start on Wednesday at 11 am. The Ferris wheel will then spin until the beginning of the new year. The ride will remain in the courtyard of the New Palace until January 6.
Festive opening of the Stuttgart Christmas market in the courtyard of the Old Palace
This year, the Stuttgart Christmas Market will once again begin with a festive opening in the Renaissance courtyard of the Old Palace. On Wednesday, 27 November 2024, at 6 pm, Stuttgart’s Lord Mayor Dr. Frank Nopper will invite visitors to experience the Advent and pre-Christmas season in a joyful and peaceful way with his opening speech.
The Stuttgart Christmas market will take place from 27 Nov – 23 December. Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday: 11:00 am to 9:00 pm. Friday and Saturday: 11:00 am to 10:00 pm. (Stgt Nachrichten, 20 Nov)
Esslingen Christmas market: opening times, program, parking, exhibitors
The medieval and Christmas market in Esslingen attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city. The British newspaper “The Times” ranks it among the most beautiful Advent markets in Europe. The most important information on opening times, how to get there and the program.
More than 180 booths and a cultural and entertainment program await visitors to Esslingen’s old town again this year: the medieval and Christmas market takes place from 26 November to 22 December.
What sets the Esslingen Medieval and Christmas Market apart from other events?
Definitely the medieval theme, which numerous traders, artists and craftsmen take up and take visitors on a journey 600 years back in time. In the area around the Old and New Town Hall up to the harbor market, traders offer goods for sale just like in the Middle Ages, craftsmen demonstrate their art and offer hands-on activities, medieval songs can be heard and jugglers and fire magicians amaze their audience. All of this against the backdrop of the historic half-timbered buildings of Esslingen’s old town.
Organizer Til Maehr will also be presenting more than 40 arts and crafts exhibitors at the Advent market in Ritterstraße over the four Advent weekends. This is open on Saturdays from 11 am to 9.30 pm and on Sundays from 11 am to 8.30 pm.
Esslingen Christmas market – what are the opening times?
Mayor Matthias Klopfer will open the market on Tuesday, November 26, at 5 pm on the main stage on Rathausplatz. It lasts until Sunday, December 22nd. The market booths will be open from 4 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. on the opening day.
After that, Sunday to Thursday from 11 am to 8.30 pm and Friday to Saturday from 11 am to 9.30 pm.
Esslingen Christmas Market: Where can I park?
The nearest parking garages are located on the corner of Kiesstraße and Ritterstraße, at the Neckarforum and around the train station; the parking guidance system shows free parking spaces in the parking garages. However, the parking spaces are often full, especially at weekends. For visitors from the Stuttgart region in particular, arriving by S-Bahn or regional train can be more convenient than searching for a parking garage. The market is only a five to ten-minute walk from Esslingen train station.
Medieval fencing course with Gero Bergmann on December 4
Guided tours for adults through the medieval market on December 3/10/17
On Thursday, December 19, the torchlight procession will also take place again, with visitors and market folk marching up to the castle together. Once at the top, the participants are treated to a fire show followed by dancing around the fire. The procession starts at 8.30 pm on the town hall square. Torches can be purchased on the stage in front of the Old Town Hall from 8 pm. (Stgt Nachrichten, Nov 18)
Christmas market in Böblingen:
The first Christmas markets take place just one week before the first Advent, with the “Advent Magic” in Böblingen starting on November 27.
The “Advent Magic” in Böblingen traditionally starts on the Wednesday before the first Advent. From November 27, it will once again take place for five days – once again on the market square, after the Böblingen Christmas market returned from Unterer See to the old town in 2023 after a good 20 years.
Christmas market in Sindelfingen will take place only for 1 weekend:
Fr, Dec 6 – Sunday, Dec 8