The Market was always based on the unshakeable principles of ‘own organisation’, ‘own production’, and ‘own selling’, and this was the case even in 1985 when the Market moved to the newly renovated Haidplatz, where the stands were open and had to be set up every morning and emptied every evening.

1986 The Society for the Promotion of the Regensburg Arts and Crafts Group was set up, and together with the Cultural Office of the City of Regensburg, became the organisers of the Market

1987 The Market established itself with the Arts and Craft group, as in the previous year, with Heinz Bosch and the original ‘Negerlanders’ playing on Haidplatz (these were great times).

1988 The Arts and Crafts group managed to have their own market stands made to create a uniform image on the market place (Arts and Crafts people always manage).

1989 The Market is opened by Furstin Gloria von Thurn und Taxis. Stands were erected on the Kohlenmarkt for the first time.

1990 Bavarian Television was present at the opening of the Market, following up their interest during the year run-up to this “somewhat different Christmas Market”.

1991 The organisational work within the Society and negotiations with the City Council became clearer, and the artistic side of the Market saw a new beginning.

1992 10 Year Jubilee

This year saw a great entertainments programme with help from the City Library, VHS, and the City Council’s stages on Haidplatz. The children’s workshops were set up together with the Children’s Library.

1993 A huge Dragon was set up on Kohlenmarkt, and work by the Arts and Crafts group was on sale inside it. “A good preserver and protector, a watchman for the self employed Arts and Crafts people”. The ambience on Haidplatz was like that of a sculpture park, the result of a creative weekend.

1994 The cultural entertainments programme was increased and there was music, theatre or juggling nearly every day on stage on Haidplatz.

1995 Artists from the Market held their first Art Exhibition in the Thon -Dittmer–Hof and the Sigismund Chapel. The group “Akcent” played at the opening, and since then this exhibition has become a permanent fixture of the Market programme.

1996 The Regensburg Arts and Crafts Christmas Market name was changed to “Lucrezia-Markt”. According to an old northern myth, the white lady Lucia, brought darkness on December 13th giving her garland of lights to the Chief, so Patin, who stands for the Market, lit up Regensburg at Christmas time.

1997 Contact was made with artist’s from Regensburg’s partner town Pilsen, for the Art Exhibition; the theme was “Contrasts”.

1998 A wooden, music carousel was presented on Haidplatz by Andy Kessel, with drums – the car, lyra, - seat, guitar – tricycle, and coach – harp. It has remained an attraction on the Lucrezia-Markt since then.

1999 The first Wishing Tree campaign was started for the Tadra Project. Colourful ribbons were on sale for a small donation and tied onto a Christmas Tree with good wishes, and funds went to help finance an orphanage in eastern Tibet.
The third Arts Exhibition was held by artists from the Market with the theme “Dream time”.

2000 The stages were refurbished and improved, and the Christmas decorations were re-done in the summer. This is the first year with Lisa the donkey.

2001 The second and final year with Lisa the donkey present, otherwise everything ran to plan (unbelievable!). The theme for the Art Exhibition was “Mental Leap”.

2002 20 Year Jubilee

Celebrations with a lot of surprises! The theme for the Art Exhibition was “Movement”.

2003 Everything went really well.

2004 From this year onwards, the Lucrezia-Markt developed a motto; it started with a big “Advents Calendar Search the Angel” event, and the entertainments programme was full of angels, with Lucia as a crowned angel swinging on top of the central lighting mast on Haidplatz. Everybody was fascinated with Bubo the Owl, who let people tickle his tummy.

2005 The theme was “Shining Star”. This was the motive behind re-creating the stars on the chain of fairy lights. Each member on the Market made a star that was drawn as lots in the Advents Calendar daily event.
10th Art Exhibition was held in Thon –Dittmer-Hof and Sigismund Chapel. The proceeds of everybody’s sales from this went to Noma-Hilfe.

2006 The theme was “Have you looked for the Camel today?” This event was crowned by the presence of 2 real camels that children and adults could ride on around the Market.

2007 25th Anniversary Celebrations with many events.

At the opening the group “The Original Negerlanders” will play as they did at the first Market on Haidplatz in 1987. A celebration newspaper will be produced to remind us of the passed years and show how the Market looks today. In addition, the large Advents Calendar on the stage on Haidplatz will show some old photos.

We would like to thank the City of Regensburg for all their support, and to everybody who made it possible for the Market to succeed and become as popular as it is today.
We would undoubtedly forget some names if we started to thank people, but we know who you are and thank you for all your contributions.
Special thanks go to all the children from the after-school centre in Engelburgergasse who always sing old and new songs at the opening of the Market, and encourage everybody to join in.
Finally a big thank you to all our visitors and customers, without whom we wouldn’t be here.