The Bayrischzell Advent market is the big brother of the Geitau Winterzauber, and it has one feature I know from almost nowhere else: a good part of the market takes place inside the town hall, across two floors, with a few stalls outside. So you do not just wander from stall to stall, you stroll through the festively decorated town hall as well. And what is on offer here is mostly high-quality handwork, self-made, no off-the-shelf trinkets.
Indoors and outdoors
That mix is the charm. When it is cold or snowy, you are inside in the warmth among the stalls, while the rest runs outside with mulled wine and the scent of roasted almonds. The market is carried by a group of Bayrischzell small businesses and residents, much like in Geitau. People from here who put this on every year, and every year there are new exhibitors too.
The Wendelstein-Männlein
The finest moment comes on both days at 5 pm, when the Wendelstein-Männlein appear. Behind them lies an old Bayrischzell legend: little men are said to have once guarded a treasure in the caves of the Wendelstein and helped the friendly alpine farmers at night. When envious people from the valley tried to steal the treasure, the precious ore turned to ordinary limestone before their eyes, and the little men vanished.
In the early 1960s, the Bayrischzell music teacher Balthasar Acher turned this legend into something living: he chose children, had costumes tailored for them, and wrote them their own verses and songs for each appearance. The present-day Wendelstein-Männlein had their premiere right here at the Advent market in 2008, in faithfully recreated costumes. For anyone who has never seen them live, a small must.
The Wendelstein-Männlein Trail
The legend follows you up the mountain too: a family trail with stops all about the Wendelstein-Männlein.
For kids: Wurlitz the little troll
On Saturday at 4 pm, Wurlitz the little troll takes the stage, a children's show that captivates the little ones every time. In the age of smartphones, that is no small thing: as long as the show runs, the phone is forgotten.
Christmas trees from the fire brigade
A real Bayrischzell institution is the Christmas tree sale by the volunteer fire brigade on Saturday. The handy part: the fire brigade delivers the tree to your home too. We actually buy our Christmas tree here every year. A tip from experience: if you want one of the finest trees, be there right at the start of the sale. The best ones are usually gone within the first half hour.
Dates 2026
Saturday, November 28 from 2 pm and Sunday, November 29 from 10 am, admission is free. Afternoons and mornings are fairly quiet, and it really fills up toward evening. If you like it calm, come earlier; if you want the full atmosphere, come in the evening.
Good to know
Bring cash, I am not aware of card payment at the stalls. For parking there are a few spots right by the town hall and in the village center, otherwise you park down by the Sportalm and walk the short way up. There is everything to eat that belongs here: sausages, cake, coffee, and warm drinks.
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Warming up at the Sportalm Bistro
The Sportalm sits just below and is a good spot to warm up and stop in. And they will sell you a Christmas tree there too, delivered to your home.
Pictures from the Advent market
One week earlier in Geitau
If you want to savor Advent in the valley, start a week earlier: the weekend before, the small and charming Geitau Winterzauber in front of the Rote Wand awaits.
Geitau Winterzauber
Small, village-style, and one of the first Advent markets in the county, a week before the Bayrischzell market.
