Invitation to submit a bid to take over a service concession

Medieval Christmas market in the years 2026-2030

The City of Chemnitz is seeking interested organisers to organise and run the ‘Chemnitz Wine Festival’ from 2027 to 2031.

The service concession is being put out to tender for a period of five years.

Event dates:

23 July to 15 August 2027
28 July to 20 August 2028
27 July to 19 August 2029
26 July to 18 August 2030
25 July to 17 August 2031

Venues:

Markt, Neumarkt, Jakobikirchplatz and Innere Klosterstraße from Markt to Jakobikirchplatz in 09111 Chemnitz


Opening hours at Markt/Neumarkt:

Friday and Saturday 11.30 am to 12.30 am
Sunday to Thursday 11.30 am to 11.30 pm

Opening hours for Jakobikirchplatz and Innere Klosterstraße:

Friday and Saturday 2.00 pm to 12.30 am
Sunday to Thursday: 2.00 pm to 11.30 pm

End of sound system operation for the following areas:
Market: 10.00 pm
Neumarkt: 10.30 pm
Jakobikirchplatz/Innere Klosterstraße: 10.00 pm


The following conditions must be observed:

1. Participants

• at least 25 winegrowers/wine producers or their representatives
  as well as, to provide further catering, approximately 15 suppliers offering the following range of products, including:

  • Tarte flambée/onion tart
  • Cheese platters (possibly also including a selection of typical cheese accompaniments, finger food and cheese specialities)
  • Olives/French specialities/delicacies
  • Barbecue specialities
  • Fish specialities
  • Langos
  • Confectionery/ice cream
  • Pretzels/baguettes
  • Market stall/range of products featuring a selection of wine-related accessories (wine glasses, wine pourers, corkscrews, stoppers, etc.)
  • Beer (max. 1 stall)
  • Cocktails
    

  Of these, at least 20 traders must be based in Chemnitz, and at least one marquee must be provided for clubs and similar organisations. This must be made available free of charge.

2. Layout

• Beer tables/seating (beer table sets, each seating 10 people) for a minimum of 800 and a maximum of 1,800 people
• In addition, high-quality individual seats with backrests for a minimum of 200 and a maximum of 400 visitors (40 per cent each at Markt and Neumarkt, 20 per cent at Jakobikirchplatz)
• Bar tables/barrels, each seating up to 5 people, for a total of up to 200 visitors (approx. 40 units)
• Stage set-up for live music entertainment in the Markt, Neumarkt and Jakobikirchplatz areas
• White, cream or beige parasols or covers are permitted to provide shelter over the seating areas; at least one covered area with a length of at least 50 m (no parasols)
• Accessibility must be ensured as far as possible
• Theme-specific decorative elements, distributed across the event areas
• Include at least one multi-storey, walk-in ‘building’ as a key attraction

• Children’s attractions (carousels or fairground rides)

  Only reusable tableware may be used. Exceptions must be applied for from the city council.

3. Cultural programme

• A cultural stage programme for at least three days from 3 pm (e.g. live music, dance performances, etc.); quiet background music at other times
• Children’s activities/programmes (e.g. pottery painting, balloon modelling, etc.)
• Programme items for adults or other groups (e.g. group dance sessions, etc.)

4. Other requirements

• The usage fee for the allocated areas (including the areas for waste containers) is not included in the concession fee. The application for a special use subject to a fee must be submitted to the Transport and Civil Engineering Office immediately after the bid has been awarded.
• The successful applicant must submit an application to the City of Chemnitz for the event to be designated as a special market subject to a fee in accordance with Section 68(1) of the Trade Regulation Act.
• The provision of adequate, event-specific security must be confirmed in writing.
• Cleaning of the areas used must be carried out throughout the entire duration of the event.
• An annual concession fee of €7,000.00 must be paid to the City of Chemnitz.
• The payment of an additional, voluntary annual concession fee for the entire duration of the concession granted will be taken into account in the evaluation of tenders. The application must state the intention to pay, the amount to be paid, or the refusal to pay.
• Willingness to draw up a security plan tailored to the event, as well as to finance any necessary measures arising from it, must be confirmed in writing.
• Written confirmation that all event venues will be used for the entire duration of the event.

5. Implementation risk

The economic risk associated with staging the event shall be borne solely by the concessionaire. The concessionaire must take out adequate insurance against claims for damages from event participants or third parties.

6. Termination

In the event of non-compliance with the licence conditions, the City of Chemnitz reserves the right to terminate the licence on special grounds and to withdraw from the award of the licence.

7. Services provided by the City of Chemnitz

• Promotional activities for the Wine Village in the City’s own publications
• Provision of space for the operation of waste disposal containers (subject to a charge)

Written applications must be submitted by 30 September 2026 to:
City of Chemnitz, Legal and Public Order Office
Department of Police Law, Public Order Law and Markets
09106 Chemnitz


The application must be accompanied by:

• An event concept detailing the number of traders and stalls, as well as the number of those with a business licence in Chemnitz; plans showing the possible layout and size of the stalls, buildings and attractions, as well as areas with seating and standing furniture on the sites specified in this call for tenders; plans or examples of decoration
• Business registration
• A current police certificate for the legal representative(s) of the concession holder
• A current extract from the Central Trade Register
• Current tax clearance certificate
• A declaration by the applicant confirming that they have not been prohibited from carrying out business activities on grounds of unreliability, that no such proceedings are pending, and that no business licence has been revoked or withdrawn
• Proof of insurance
  

The selection process is based on both minimum requirements (which must be met) and opportunities for further consideration. The minimum requirements must be strictly adhered to; however, the application must be rejected if there are any further grounds for exclusion.

Furthermore, the following must be excluded from the selection process in advance:

1. Applicants who, whilst participating in markets or market tenders on land belonging to the City of Chemnitz within the last two years, have breached statutory or market-specific regulations or stipulations, either themselves or through subcontractors.
   The latter arise in particular from the applicable market regulations.
2. Applicants who owe the City of Chemnitz market-related fees or charges (including media usage fees) of at least €50.00 (where payment deadlines have not been met)
   

Applications will be assessed on the basis of a maximum points system. The assessment will be carried out in accordance with the following criteria, each with its respective weighting:

• Number of traders exceeding the minimum specified in the tender,
• Number of traders with a business registered in Chemnitz exceeding the minimum specified in the tender,
• Number of additional, theme-appropriate, multi-storey, accessible buildings,
• Number of basic seating arrangements (beer table sets for 10 people)
• Number of high-quality individual seating options with backrests
• Number of standing areas/barrels
• Percentage of covered areas in accordance with design specifications
• Proportion of theme-specific decorations within the total area
• Number of additional attractions (ride attractions) for children
• Scope of the cultural programme in addition to the minimum requirements
• Number of specific measures/facilities to ensure event-related accessibility (minimum requirement – cable bridges)
• Amount of the voluntary, additional concession fee
  

A total of 56 points can be achieved.

The procurement regulations under VOL/VOB do not apply to this procedure.