With the Schönbrunn Palace Christmas Market, the first market of the season will open on November 6. After the change of operators last year, the market now enters its second season under the new management. The attractions from last year will return — including a Ferris wheel, an ice rink, and a children’s carousel.
Festive opening
The festivities will begin at 4:30 p.m. in front of the Christmas tree on Schönbrunn Palace Square. The market will be officially opened with welcoming remarks from the new operator, “Imperial Markets,” and the managing director of the Schönbrunn Group. The children’s choir “Rising Voices” will provide a festive atmosphere. Before the tree is illuminated at 5:00 p.m., it will be blessed according to tradition.
This year, not only the Christmas tree will shine in festive light. On Thursday, the “Imperial Lights” garden of illumination will also open. Visitors can take a 60- to 90-minute walk through the palace park to view elaborate light installations in Baroque style. Among them are displays inspired by the imperial era and a “sound-to-light” show.
The light garden was designed specifically for the UNESCO World Heritage Site — the palace and gardens of Schönbrunn were added to the World Heritage List in 1996.
There will also be several new features at the Schönbrunn Christmas Market itself. Highlights include a chocolate experience world and a straw maze, offering variety alongside traditional punch stands. A new nativity scene designed by stage designer Manfred Waba will be unveiled for the first time. The festive atmosphere will also be enhanced by music — during the Advent season, more than thirty concerts by choirs, brass bands, and small ensembles are scheduled.
The market will again cooperate with the charity initiative “Licht ins Dunkel” (“Light into Darkness”). Proceeds from the sale of mugs and from the “Licht ins Dunkel” hut will go to support people in need.
More Christmas markets to follow
Alongside the Schönbrunn market, the Christkindlmarkt at Franz-Jonas-Platz in Floridsdorf will also open on Thursday. More markets will follow in the coming weeks: the Advent Market in Favoriten opens on Friday, and the Christmas Village at Stephansplatz follows on Saturday. By November 21, all 14 Vienna Christmas markets, with a total of 911 stalls, will be open.
