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Birmingham’s festive countdown begins: Frankfurt Christmas Market opens today

Published: Thursday, 4th November 2021

It’s been nearly two years since the smell of schnitzel, bratwurst and gluhwein filled the city centre, but Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market is back this year and opens today (4 November 2021).

The internationally-renowned festive attraction, with its distinctive chalets, bars and landmark Christmas tree, will help bring some festive cheer back to the city centre after the popular event was cancelled last year due to the pandemic.

It will be officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Cllr Muhammad Afzal, at 5.30pm when the lights around the market and its 60ft tree (made up of 280 Christmas trees) will be switched on.

This year’s event – which runs until 23 December - will be smaller with 56 stalls, due to the ongoing public realm works in Victoria Square.

The market, which will celebrate its 21st year in Birmingham, extends along New Street and will be open for seven weeks.

This year’s event does come with the caveat of change or cancellation, should Covid restrictions come back into effect during the winter.

The big wheel and ice rink also returns to Centenary Square today and will be open until 9 January 2022 between 10am and 10pm, except on Christmas Day. For more information and to book tickets visit www.iceskatebirmingham.co.uk

For more information about the city’s Frankfurt Christmas Market, please visit www.birmingham.gov.uk/christmas and follow @thechrismoose, the world’s only tweeting moose (to our knowledge), on Twitter.

This year’s media partner for this event is Greatest Hits Radio.

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