The new edition of the Strasbourg Christmas market will take place from November 27 to December 27. Christmas tales and stories will be in the spotlight, echoing the designation of the city as world book capital.
The Christmas spirit is gradually infiltrating the streets of Strasbourg. After the installation of the traditional large tree at Place Kleber, the town hall is busy organizing the Christmas market. A press conference was organized this Thursday, November 7 on the subject. The event will take place from November 27 to December 27 in the city center of Strasbourg.
More than 300 chalets will be spread over several places. Apart from the city center, other districts will participate in the magic of Christmas: Amper, Neuho-Meinau, Port du Rhin, Gare, Tribunal-Contades, Koenigshoffen, Esplanade, and Robertsau.
“On the program: activities for children and families, creative workshops, tree decoration, refreshment bars and catering, walks, solidarity sales, shows and concerts, in conjunction with local associations and partners,” indicates the city on its website.
“Time to marvel”
The 2024 edition has the theme “Time to marvel”, embodied by the reconstruction of a reading room in the main courtyard of the town hall. A choice that echoes the designation of Strasbourg by UNESCO as the 2024 world book capital.
Christmas tales and stories will therefore be in the spotlight during the market, explained the environmentalist mayor Jeanne Barseghian and her deputy in charge of urban activities Guillaume Libsig.
This will be ensured in particular by a chalet run by local publishers located on Place Saint Thomas. But also by setting up a reading corner in the Advent village, where it will be possible to discover Christmas books in French, German and English.
150 classes expected
It is also in this village located on Square Louise Weiss that the town hall intends to strengthen activities intended for children and families. More than 150 classes are also expected. It will be possible to discover German Christmas traditions with contributions from Stuttgart and Dresden, and Anglo-Saxon ones with the participation of local associations, to participate in creative workshops and attend shows.
To avoid excessive attendance at the market on weekends, the activities will be spread throughout the weeks, including a market kick-off on a Wednesday and activities dedicated to children on Wednesday 27, Thursday 28, and Friday 29 november.
The city has also embarked on an ISO 20121 certification process, an eco-responsibility label for events. This is why the town hall will go further this year in the collection and sorting of exhibitors' waste, with the collection of glass, unlike last year. Also, the treatment of wastewater from food chalets will be experimented with.
The organization also specifies in its presentation booklet that LEDs will be used for lighting and that the window decorations will be made using the recycling of plastic bottles. For those who wish to have a drink at the market, only reusable and returnable cups will be used by exhibitors.
5,000 additional parking spaces
In terms of accessibility, 14,000 park-and-ride spaces will be accessible to visitors, or 5,000 more than usual thanks to the provision of the Strasbourg Citadelle Dock-1, Europe Wacken, and Zénith car parks at “an advantageous price”.
From this last car park, shuttles will be set up to take visitors to the market. For those who opt for other park-and-ride options, they will have free access to the bus and tram network.
To have more information on events and plan your trips as best as possible, the city suggests downloading the StrasApp application or going to its website.
Ines Bachmeyer et Emilie Roussey
