Hermann, Missouri Was Founded by German Settlers in 1837. Here’s How the Town Celebrates Christmas

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Christmas in Hermann Missouri has a strong German accent. The town was founded in 1837 by the German Settlement Society of Philadelphia, a group that wanted to build a community where German language and customs could survive in America. Nearly two centuries later, the small river town of about 2,200 people, roughly 80 miles west of St. Louis, still celebrates the holidays with Christkindl markets, a lantern parade, German baked goods, and local wine.

Here’s how the town celebrates Christmas in 2026: the season, called Christmastime in Hermann, runs from November 14 to December 31. Highlights include a Holiday Fare wine trail on November 21 and 22, a tree lighting and lantern walk on November 28, two German-style Christmas markets on the first two weekends of December, and a German bake sale and Weihnachtsfest on those same weekends.

How Hermann Celebrates Christmas

Here’s what’s planned for the 2026 season. Check Visit Hermann’s website for exact times, since some details may change.

Christmastime in Hermann (November 14 to December 31)

The season begins in mid-November, when shops and homes put up decorations and the town’s streets fill with lights. Many businesses hold open houses and extend their hours on weekends.

Christmas Tree Lighting and Lantern Walk (November 28)

On Saturday, November 28, 2026, the town gathers in the Historic Downtown District for carols and a lantern walk, followed by the lighting of the Christmas tree and a visit from Santa at the Hofgarten, a small park downtown. Visit Hermann also describes a Children’s Lantern Parade as part of the season, a custom borrowed from Germany, where children carry lanterns through the streets.

Sounds of Starkenburg (November 28)

The same day, St. Martin’s Church Museum in nearby Starkenburg holds Christmas concerts featuring what Visit Hermann calls the oldest Pfeffer pipe organ in the United States, along with brass players and singers. The event includes a small Christmas market and a soup supper in Valentine Hall.

German Bake Sale (December 5-6 and 12-13)

On the first two weekends of December, the Historic Hermann Museum holds a German bake sale, along with history tours, with traditional Christmas cookies, breads, and pastries. Expect stollen, springerle, lebkuchen, and other German favorites. Items often sell out, so go early.

Holiday Fare Wine Trail (November 21-22)

The Hermann Wine Trail, a group of wineries in and around Hermann, holds its Holiday Fare weekend on November 21 and 22, 2026. Six wineries pair holiday food with their wines. Advance tickets are required, and they often sell out.

Kristkindl Markt at Stone Hill Winery (December 5 and 6)

Stone Hill Winery, one of the oldest wineries in Missouri, holds its Kristkindl Markt on the first weekend of December. Expect vendor booths, carolers, and mulled wine.

Christkindl Markt at Hermannhof (December 12 and 13)

The following weekend, Hermannhof Winery holds its Christkindl Markt in its Festhalle, transformed into a European-style Christmas market on the riverfront.

Weihnachtsfest at Deutschheim (December 5-6 and 12-13)

Deutschheim State Historic Site, which preserves two 19th-century German homes in Hermann, holds a Weihnachtsfest, or Christmas festival, on the first two weekends of December. It recreates a 19th-century German Christmas, the kind Hermann’s settlers would have known.

The rest of the season

Christmastime in Hermann runs through December 31, so decorations stay up and shops stay festive between the big weekends. Weekdays are calmer for browsing and winery visits.

Why Hermann’s German Roots Shape Christmas in Hermann Missouri

The German Settlement Society of Philadelphia founded Hermann in 1837 as a place where German immigrants could keep their language and culture. The town was named after Hermann, a Germanic leader who defeated Roman legions in the year 9. George Bayer, a member of the society, chose the site along the Missouri River because the hills reminded settlers of the Rhine Valley.

German settlers planted vineyards, and by the late 1800s, Hermann was one of the largest wine-producing areas in the United States. Prohibition shut down the wineries in 1920, and many didn’t reopen until the 1960s and 1970s. Today, the area has several wineries, including Stone Hill, Hermannhof, and Adam Puchta Winery, which was founded in 1855 and is one of the oldest family-owned wineries in the country.

Many German Christmas customs, like decorated trees, Christmas markets, and holiday baking, came to the United States with immigrants like Hermann’s. The town’s holiday events celebrate that heritage.

How to Get to Hermann

• By car: Hermann is about 80 miles west of St. Louis, a drive of about 90 minutes.
• By train: Amtrak’s Missouri River Runner, which runs between St. Louis and Kansas City, stops in Hermann. The station is close to downtown, so you can visit without a car.
• Parking: Parking downtown can be limited on market weekends, so arrive early.

Where to Stay

Hermann has many bed-and-breakfasts and inns, especially in historic homes. Some book up early for the holiday season, especially on market weekends. If rooms in town are full, nearby towns like Washington have more lodging.

Tips for Christmas in Hermann Missouri

• Book early. Wine trail tickets, B&Bs, and some dinners sell out.
• Dress warmly. Markets and the lantern parade are outdoors, and December nights can be cold.
• Bring cash. Some vendors at markets may not take cards.
• Check winery hours. Wineries may have reduced hours in winter.
• Plan for crowds. Market weekends are the busiest days of the season.

A Sample Weekend for Christmas in Hermann Missouri

If you’re planning a weekend visit during a market weekend, here’s one way to spend it:

• Saturday morning: Arrive early, park downtown, and walk through the shops and decorated storefronts. Stop at the Historic Hermann Museum for the German bake sale before the most popular items sell out.
• Saturday afternoon: Head to the Christmas market of the weekend, either the Kristkindl Markt at Stone Hill Winery on December 5 and 6 or the Christkindl Markt at Hermannhof on December 12 and 13. Browse the booths and warm up with mulled wine.
• Saturday evening: Have dinner at a local restaurant. German dishes like schnitzel and sausages are common on menus in town. Reserve ahead on busy weekends.
• Sunday morning: Visit Deutschheim State Historic Site for the Weihnachtsfest, then take a final walk downtown before heading home.

If you’re coming for the Holiday Fare Wine Trail on November 21 and 22, plan to spend most of a day driving between the six wineries, and pick a designated driver.

German Christmas Foods to Look For

Many of the treats at Hermann’s bake sales and markets are traditional German Christmas foods. A few to watch for:

• Stollen: A dense, fruit-filled bread dusted with powdered sugar, often with a marzipan center.
• Lebkuchen: Soft, spiced cookies, similar to gingerbread, often glazed or dipped in chocolate.
• Springerle: Anise-flavored cookies pressed with carved wooden molds to create raised designs.
• Pfeffernüsse: Small, spiced cookies, often dusted with powdered sugar.
• Glühwein: Hot mulled wine with spices and citrus, a staple of German Christmas markets.

Not every item is available every year, and vendors vary, so take whatever looks good when you see it.

Hermann’s Historic District

Much of Hermann’s downtown is part of a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with brick buildings dating to the 19th century. Many were built by German craftsmen and still have their original details. Walking through town is part of the appeal during the holidays, when storefronts and homes are decorated with lights, wreaths, and greenery.

Visiting Hermann on a Weekday

Market weekends are the busiest days of the season, and parking, restaurants, and lodging can be tight. If you’d rather see Hermann’s decorations with fewer people, consider a weekday visit during Christmastime in Hermann. Shops and wineries may have shorter hours, so check before you go, but you’ll have an easier time getting a table and a room. A weekday visit also makes it easier to tour Deutschheim and the museum at a slower pace.

Getting There by Train for the Holidays

Taking Amtrak’s Missouri River Runner to Hermann can be a relaxing way to visit, especially if you’re coming from St. Louis or Kansas City and want to enjoy the wineries without driving. The train follows the Missouri River for much of the route, with views of bluffs and farmland. The station is within walking distance of downtown, and many shops, restaurants, and B&Bs are close by. Holiday trains can be busy, so book tickets in advance, and check the schedule, since there are only a few trains a day in each direction.

Hermann’s Wine Country in Winter

The vineyards around Hermann are bare by late fall, but the wineries stay open for tastings, with many offering warm spaces, fireplaces, and holiday wines. Stone Hill Winery’s arched underground cellars, dug into the hillside in the 19th century, are a highlight of a visit. Many wineries also sell wine by the bottle and gift sets, which make easy holiday gifts. Hours often shrink in winter, so check each winery’s schedule before you plan a route.

The Bottom Line on Christmas in Hermann Missouri

Hermann has kept its German heritage for nearly 190 years, and it shows at Christmas. Come for the wine trail in November, the tree lighting and lantern walk on November 28, or the markets in early December, and stay for the baking, wine, and small-town charm.