Advent in den Höfen, Christmas market in Quedlinburg, Germany

Advent in den Höfen is a Christmas market held in 19 to 25 medieval courtyards in Quedlinburg, framed by early modern half-timbered houses. Each courtyard has its own theme and is decorated by its residents. Most courtyards are otherwise rarely open to the public, for example on the Day of the Open Monument.

Advent in den Höfen began in 1997 as a private initiative in Quedlinburg. Each year on the first three Advent weekends, 19 to 25 courtyards framed by early modern half-timbered houses open to visitors, most of them otherwise accessible only rarely, such as on the Day of the Open Monument. In December 2008 the event drew about 300,000 visitors in total.

Each courtyard has its own theme, chosen and decorated by the residents themselves, so the programme changes from yard to yard. Most of these courtyards are otherwise opened to the public only rarely, for example on the Day of the Open Monument. The market began in 1997 as a private initiative.

The event takes place on the first three Advent weekends, when 19 to 25 courtyards open; most are otherwise accessible only rarely, such as on Tag des offenen Denkmals. A large traditional Christmas market on the Markt and a smaller one at the Mathildenbrunnen run alongside it. Around the Schlossberg, Germany's largest Advent calendar opens one window each day.

Most of the 19 to 25 courtyards taking part are otherwise opened to the public only rarely, for example on the Day of the Open Monument. The event began in 1997 as a private initiative, and each courtyard is designed by its own residents around a separate theme.