Chemnitz Local Customs

From Tuesday through Saturday there is a (mostly) food market on the square in front of the town hall. This is the largest food market in Chemnitz. I can confirm that the selection of veggies, fruits, all other sorts of agricultural products is very good. They also have street vendors there and the smell of freshly baked rolls, cakes or grilled sausage will make sure you're buying something :-)

Market times: Tue - Fri: 8-17 h (in Jan/Feb only until 16 h), Sat 8-13 h

Occasionally they also have other themed markets on the square or around the corner: pottery market first Saturday in July, Easter and spring market in the three weeks prior to Easter, the Christmas market also takes place there.

Since February 1st, 2008, Saxony's bars are smoke-free. There is a new law that prohibits smoking in bars except from those with an extra smokers' room. This means: finally you'll be able to enjoy a night at a bar without coming home smelling as though you've just left a burning house!
Here's a list of bars that I enjoy going to (and will even more from now on): Buschfunk, Ankh, Di Franco, Di Franco deluxe, Café Kutsche, Brazil, Weltecho. See my nightlife tips for more information.

Picture taken from: http://blog.lib.umn.edu/ster0171/socks/funny-no-smoking-sign.jpg

a vital part to the German reproductive cycle is the meeting and mating of young Germans at large festivals like this one. They are not as hip as open-air festivals but contain people of all age groups and always involve lots of alcohol, flirting, and pissing in the bushes. All the cool boys always hang out at the BREAKDANCE ride for some reason. Once a boy has won a girl over, he will give her a giant chocolate heart-shaped cookie to hang around her neck to show that she is his.