Thuringia’s Advent Sundays Bring Extended Shopping to 12 Cities

From Weimar to Erfurt, stores throw open their doors on Sundays to spark holiday cheer. Can extended hours save the season for struggling retailers?

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2025 November 25 . 11:23 PM

1 min read

This is an inside view of an shopping complex, where there are trees, umbrellas with the poles,... — This is an inside view of an shopping complex, where there are trees, umbrellas with the poles, passenger lifts, name boards, stalls, lights, light boards,group of people.

Retail Hope in Advent: Shopping Spree Instead of Online Shopping - Thuringia’s Advent Sundays Bring Extended Shopping to 12 Cities

Twelve cities in Thuringia will open their shops on Sundays during Advent this year. The move aims to boost local businesses and create a festive shopping atmosphere. However, spending on Christmas gifts is expected to drop compared to last year.

This year, Weimar, Saalfeld, Leinefelde, Apolda, and Schmalkalden will hold their shopping Sundays on the first watch weekend. Jena, Erfurt, Gotha, Gera, and Nordhausen will follow a week later. Thuringia’s shop opening laws permit stores to open on either the first or second Sunday of Advent.

The extra shopping Sundays will give Thuringian businesses a chance to recover some lost revenue. With consumer spending declining, the extended opening hours may help offset the drop. For many shops, the Christmas season remains their most important sales period of the year.