Christmas markets in the center of Prague this year with a fairytale touch

This year, the biggest Christmas markets in the Czech Republic in Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square are inspired by fairy tales. For the first time ever, market visitors will also enjoy 100% organic compostable serving dishes. The multifunctional stage will offer a daily cultural program and traditional charity projects. The Christmas markets will begin on December 1, 2018 with the Christmas tree lighting up ceremony and will run until January 6, 2019.

Markets wrap in traditional colors - gold, red and white. Visitors can look forward to new decorations that draw on familiar fairy stories. Fairytale motifs, such as pigeons or princesses, appear in stand’s decorations. Old Town Square will have 99 and Wenceslas Square 29 retailer stands.

Christmas tree on Old Town Square

The spruce, which this year comes from the Rynoltice village in the Liberec region, was brought to the square at night from Monday to Tuesday and will be decorated with 4.5 kilometer of light chains in warm white, 30 pieces of giant golden pearls, white bells, and Christmas ornaments in red, white and blue.

For the first time, it lights up on Saturday 1 December 2018 at 4:30 pm to the melody of Karel Svoboda from the film Three Nuts for Cinderella with the participation of actor Pavel Trávníček. It also lights up at 17:30 to John Williams' melody Somewhere in my memory. The themes will alternate each hour, and the latest animation will take place at 21:30.

The same music accompanied by the animation will also be heard every hour from 17:00 to 21:00 by the decorated 10-meter tree on Wenceslas Square.

Christmas on the fairytale theme of Cinderella

An interesting reminder in a form of a photo can be taken by visitors in a unique photo-booth in the shape of the Cinderella slipper. "Working on a slipper, which everyone can try on and take pictures was not easy. It's not made of polystyrene, but it is a genuine wood carving job. The golden shoe made of solid wood measures 60 centimeters and, by being made of wood, beautifully complements the atmosphere, "says Jakub Olbert, director of SOS Decorations. Under the Christmas tree, the decorators will place a traditional wooden Nativity scene and a historic one hundred year old sleigh.

New: 100% organic compostable dishes and a new logo

The organizer of the biggest advent markets in the center of Prague is Taiko, which has prepared several novelties this year. "Fairytale Christmas and the associated new decorations will surely attract attention first. But I would like to highlight the biggest news this year, and that is 100% organic compostable dishes, from which visitors to the market will enjoy refreshments. I am very pleased that we can be pioneers in this area and offer complete organic serving dishes and service materials - from cups to cutlery," says Libor Votruba, Chairman of Taiko's Board of Directors, which organizes markets in Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square.

The project also includes specially-labeled BigBelly "smart" trash bins that greatly help to reduce waste and intuitive sorting.

The biggest Christmas markets in the Czech Republic at Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square 2018 will be presented with a new logo this year. It is based on traditional red and green colors and uses elements referring to the Czech tradition of glass-blown decorations and gingerbread cookies. Graphic design was designed by the creator of the Civic Forum logo, renowned graphic designer and artist Pavel Šťastný.

Everyday cultural program on the multifunctional stage

The multifunctional stage in the Old Town Square will be the center of the music and cultural program throughout the whole market. Visitors can enjoy live performances of folklore, ethnographic and children's ensembles from the Czech Republic as well as from abroad. It includes dance performances and program blocks for children and adults.

Large-scale screenings will feature fairy tales and children's night stories. A novelty this year is the project "Christmas Card - heart painted, hand donated". Schools, kindergartens and art groups, as well as individuals, can take part in it. "Children will paint a Christmas card in the A5 format with any artistic technique. They will bring the finished artwork to Staromestske namesti on the specified dates, where they will receive a picture frame and a gift package. They put their work in a frame and pass it on to anyone as a personal gift, "says Libuše Klinková, manager of children's marketing programs. Every child creates a Christmas card for someone. Thematic art workshops will be part of the project right on the big stage of Old Town Square, where children can paint their Christmas cards on the spot.

Sales booths

Visitors can shop at 99 sales booth at the Old Town Square, and 29 at the Wenceslas Square. Retailers will offer Christmas items and Czech handicraft products - Christmas decorations, candlesticks, decorations, candles, advent wreaths and Christmas-themed goods. Traditional Christmas dishes such as hot chestnuts, mulled wine, hot punch, Christmas gingerbread cookies or Christmas cookies will be available at the market. The refreshment will also be prepared in the form of traditional Czech sausages, grilled chicken and pork knees, chicken skewers or chopped grilled chicken in a bun.

Sales booths with a wide variety of products will be opened in both squares every day from 10am to 10pm. Selected refreshment stalls will be open daily from 10am to midnight. The sightseeing bridge will be closed to the public only from New Year's Eve to the New Year (31 December - 1 January) from 22:00 to 9:00.

Charity projects

The largest Christmas markets in the center of the Czech capital help every year children and those in need. Associations, foundations, clubs and workshops located at free-of-charge sales booths, offer their products, or participate directly in the creation of an accompanying program. On the Old Town Square, the organizers will place a donation box for the entire duration of the markets, which can be used to support the Prague Children's Foundation that helps children at oncology and hematology centers at the Motol University Hospital.

Charity projects: Lighten Prague with Us (hitradiocity.cz), Radio With the Heart for Life for Children (radiosrdcem.cz), Czech Republic Sings Carols (denik.cz), Patron of Children, Health and Socially Disadvantaged Children (patrondeti.cz).