Creative interim use in the run-up to Christmas

Advent market in the former SportScheck

"Gifts.wine.enjoyment." - This is the motto under which a new type of Advent market has moved into the vacant space of the former SportScheck building.

An Advent market in the vacant building of the former SportScheck in Langgasse invites visitors to Wiesbaden's city center until December 23, 2025. Under the motto "Gifts.wine.enjoyment." the new, temporary market in an atmospheric pop-up setting combines selected products and Christmas gift ideas from regional suppliers with enjoyable wine offers and services for shopping in the run-up to Christmas. The Advent market is open Monday to Saturday between 10 am and 8 pm.

Advent market in urban pop-up format

The Advent market is designed to complement the attractions of Wiesbaden's Christmas city, such as the Sternschnuppenmarkt. As an attraction in the pedestrian zone, it is intended to be a place for encounters, trade and experiences, making the city center even more attractive in the run-up to Christmas.

What makes it special is that the market offers a new, urban format - a stylish pop-up indoor market. Located on the front first floor, it combines festive Christmas traditions with the special, unconventional atmosphere of the building. An Advent market that combines tradition and innovation.

The innovative interim use of the former SportScheck brings additional impetus to our city center and complements the traditional offerings of Wiesbaden as a Christmas city.

Mayor Christiane Hinninger

Gifts.wine.pleasure.

Under the motto "Gifts.wine.enjoyment." the Advent market brings together selected products, specialties and Christmas gift ideas from regional suppliers with culinary delights in an atmospheric setting. Among the vendors are also many founders with their new ideas. A central vinotheque with wine sales from regional winegrowers from the Rheingau invites guests to taste and linger. Promotions and special formats such as wine tastings round off the offer.

Relaxed Christmas shopping

Visitors to the Advent market can enjoy a relaxed shopping experience. There are two free offers on Fridays and Saturdays from 1 pm to 8 pm:

You can leave your purchases in the luggage storage free of charge and continue strolling or shopping without heavy bags. If you have bought your presents in Wiesbaden, you can have them wrapped free of charge by hard-working helpers at the gift-wrapping station on presentation of your receipt.

All this makes for relaxed, weather-independent browsing, tasting and enjoying in a place to linger in the middle of the pre-Christmas period.

Gift services

Luggage storage
Gift wrapping station

Program

Overview

Children's handicrafts: Saturday, December 6, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Open wine tasting: Thursday, December 11, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Children's handicrafts: Saturday, December 13, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Crime story reading with Benjamin Cors: Wednesday, December 17, 7 pm (admission: 6.30 pm)
Open wine tasting: Thursday, December 18, 5 to 7 p.m.
Children's handicrafts: Saturday, December 20, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Live Christmas music at the end: Tuesday, December 23, 5 p.m.

Children's handicrafts

Creative crafting sessions for children of all ages will be held on Advent Saturdays on December 6, 13 and 20, from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm. FoxBox, a company from Hochheim that specializes in playful learning and discovery as well as early childhood education, invites young visitors and their families to take part in free craft activities.

Cheerful reindeer masks and wintery Christmas wreaths to hang up will be created. Christmas craft sheets are available for children who want to stay longer. All materials are provided.

Christmas mystery reading

On Wednesday, December 17, the well-known author Benjamin Cors will be reading from his works from 7 p.m. - with a Christmassy accent and a touch of criminal suspense to match the season.

The author is a political television journalist with Franco-German roots and close ties to Wiesbaden and the region. Cors guarantees masterfully told crime stories and makes his audience laugh with his humorous stories. Fans can expect an entertaining evening. The reading is presented by the bookstore Buch VorOrt in Bierstadt.

Admission to the free event is from 6.30 pm, registration is not necessary. Visitors are invited to take a leisurely stroll through the Advent market before the reading and linger at the open wine bar.

Live Christmas music at the end

The Advent market invites you to a special finale on the last day it is open: On December 23, visitors can buy their last presents from 5 p.m. and enjoy live Christmas music at the same time.

The musicians Sabine Gramenz (vocals), Udo Parker (guitar) and Malte Kühn (piano) will present a colorful program of songs suitable for the Christmas season. The German-language Christmas classics, English-language cover songs and their own compositions are sometimes cheerfully upbeat, sometimes thoughtfully melancholy and sometimes critical and are playfully interwoven by the musicians.

Innovative urban development

As an innovative interim use, the Advent market is an opportunity to revitalize the vacant large mobile home. Centrally located in the pedestrian zone, the market is intended to be an urban attraction and a meeting place for passers-by and visitors from the region in the run-up to Christmas. This revitalizes the city centre and also strengthens the surrounding businesses. The interim use opens up opportunities for entrepreneurial impulses as a contribution to a lively city center. After the Advent market, a long-term use is planned.

I am particularly pleased that this interim use will revitalize a vacant store and strengthen the city centre.

Andreas Kowol, Head of Building and Transport

The Advent market shows how vacancies in the city centre can be used creatively and positively, says City Manager Jens Ackermann, who initiated and organized the interim solution with his team and partners. After being used by SportScheck, the building stood empty. Stadtentwicklungsgesellschaft Wiesbaden (SEG) acquired the property after the previous owner filed for insolvency.