Weimar Onion Market
- 13 October 2028 – 15 October 2028
- Weimar, Thuringia
Estimated. This date could not be independently verified for this year and may change - check the official source before relying on it.
One of Thuringia's oldest markets, with braided onion strings and dried flowers, on the second weekend of October. The date follows the event's usual pattern and has not yet been officially confirmed.
Source: https://stadt.weimar.de/de/datei/anzeigen/id/76409,48/rk_1225_bf_lowres.pdf · Checked 2026-10-08
The Zwiebelmarkt in Weimar, 2028
On a weekend in October the historic centre of Weimar fills with long ropes of braided onions, bundles of dried flowers and the smell of grilled sausages and onion tart. The Weimarer Zwiebelmarkt is described in the event data as one of the oldest markets in Thuringia. Counting from the 373rd edition in 2026, a continuous run would make 2028 the 375th, but this is arithmetic and not an announcement.
The entry for 2028 is an estimate. No organiser has published a programme yet, so this page helps you compare trip options and see which days of work you would need.
Estimated dates in 2028
The planner shows Friday 13 October to Sunday 15 October 2028. The market is traditionally set for the second weekend of October. In 2028 October begins on a Sunday, so the first full weekend is 7 and 8 October and the second is 14 and 15 October, with Friday 13 October as the opening day of the block. The status is estimated, which means the date comes from that rule and not from a city announcement.
Please verify the final dates through the City of Weimar before booking. Friday the 13th has no effect on a traditional market, but it is a useful reminder to check the weekday and the date together.
A market in a city of ideas
Weimar was the home of Goethe and Schiller, the seat of a ducal court that attracted writers and musicians, and later the cradle of the Bauhaus school, founded here in 1919. That heritage gives the Zwiebelmarkt an unusual contrast: while one part of the city is occupied with museums and ideas, the market shows the rural, seasonal side of Thuringia that has supplied the town for centuries.
In the market lanes you can expect farmers with onions, craftspeople with ceramics and baskets, and food vendors. Because the area is small, the best strategy is to arrive early on Saturday, walk the stalls before they fill, and then retreat to a museum or café in the afternoon.
What to eat, see and do
Try the onion tart, the Thuringian bratwurst and any seasonal dishes offered at the stalls. If you need a sit-down meal, restaurants around the Markt and Frauenplan are popular during the market weekend, so reserve a table.
Cultural stops include the Goethe National Museum, the Anna Amalia Library, the Bauhaus Museum and the Park an der Ilm with its garden house. The Buchenwald Memorial outside the city is a place of remembrance that many visitors include with appropriate time and respect.
Public holidays and bridge days in Thuringia, 2028
The market weekend itself needs no holiday planning: Friday 13 October is a normal working day, so you take at most one vacation day for a Friday morning arrival. What makes autumn 2028 interesting are the holidays around it. German Unity Day, 3 October, is a Tuesday, so Monday 2 October is a bridge day, and Reformation Day, 31 October, which is a public holiday in Thuringia, is also a Tuesday, so Monday 30 October is another one.
A practical consequence is that the Zwiebelmarkt weekend lies between two such bridge opportunities. If you want a longer autumn trip, you could use the market weekend for Weimar and save your bridge days around 3 and 31 October for another journey. Each bridge costs one vacation day for four days off.
Tips and who it suits
The market suits people who enjoy traditional markets, crafts and culture in a compact city. It also works well for older visitors and families because the centre is largely flat and walkable.
Book early if you want to stay in the centre and keep the booking flexible until dates are confirmed. Bring a bag for purchases such as onion strings and ceramics, and layers for a cool October morning.
Add to your calendar
Plan vacation around this
Open the Vacation Planner for Thuringia in 2028 to see the bridge-day opportunities around these dates.
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Written and maintained by Basaveswara Rao. Last reviewed on October 10, 2026.