In Bottrop, the Christmas market opened on Thursday on the town hall square, and on Friday, November 15th, 2024, the pre-Christmas season also officially started in Oberhausen at the Westfield Centro.
The first magic moment took place even before the official opening of the Christmas market.
The supporting program for the traditional “Lights on Ceremony” in the central cathedral started promptly at 5 p.m.: the spotlights went out and the moment that the children in particular had been looking forward to was getting closer and closer.
Thanks to the organizers and Christmas singing from the Cool Cats from Cologne prepared the visitors for the special moment.
Then the Christ child appeared in the elevator with his golden dress and went down beaming with joy.
On the way to the stage she happily greeted the waiting visitors. After a short poem read from her golden book, the Christ Child walked up to the golden buzzer and pressed it. Suddenly the Christmas decorations throughout Westfield Centro lit up with a warm, atmospheric light. Shortly afterwards, Christmas music played and sparklers sparkled on the stage.
The Christmas market was officially opened at around 5:45 p.m. with the tapping of the barrel. Just fifteen minutes later, the much-heralded “spectacular drone show” started.
Many different Christmas motifs formed in the sky from many rising lights: snowflakes, Santa Claus, an Advent wreath with 4 candles, a singing snowman and a colorful Christmas tree, to name just a few of the highlights.
After the celebratory opening highlights, visitors explored the diverse offerings of the Centro Christmas market. However, due to the large number of people, progress was very slow.
If you arrive here hungry, you should have a well-filled wallet with you, because the tempting smells, from potato pancakes to grilled specialties, tarte flambée and mushrooms to churros, pralines and roasted almonds, don’t exactly make it easy to decide on a culinary treat.
By the way, no one has to go without mulled wine and Feuerzangenbowle here, as well as handicrafts, Christmas decorations and gift ideas.
In addition to the smell-intensive Christmas market experience, there are other special features waiting for visitors in the next few weeks: the children can meet Santa Claus and fun is guaranteed on the huge toboggan run. Carousels for the little ones, photo boxes for beautiful memories as well as a promenade decorated with Christmas trees and atmospheric lighting will make every Christmas market lover happy every day until December 23rd, 2024.
