Krampus is the horned, chain-rattling demon of Alpine folklore who travels with St. Nicholas and punishes the naughty children. Krampusnacht is his night, December 5, the eve of St. Nicholas Day, and it’s celebrated with Krampus parades and festivals across Europe and the U.S. So far, 48 U.S. events have posted 2026 dates, from Cincinnati’s Germania Society Christkindlmarkt on November 6 to Belfair, Washington, on December 20.
In this guide:
- What is Krampusnacht?
- How to celebrate Krampusnacht
- Krampus parades and festivals in the U.S.
- Every U.S. Krampus event, by date
- Krampus at haunted houses and theme parks
- Krampus events in Europe
- Krampus movies and collectibles
- Frequently asked questions
What Is Krampusnacht?
Krampusnacht is the celebration held on December 5 in parts of Europe, most of all the Alpine region, the night before St. Nicholas Day. Krampus is St. Nicholas’s companion: where St. Nicholas rewards good children, the goat-like Krampus punishes misbehaving ones, swatting them with birch branches. Munich’s city guide says St. Nicholas is often willing to turn a blind eye to naughty children, while Krampus is not.
Perchten, the other horned figures at these parades, were meant to drive away winter and wear four to ten horns, while Krampus wears a two-horned mask, Munich’s guide says. A full costume costs 1,800 to 2,500 euros.
How to Celebrate Krampusnacht
A Krampuslauf, or Krampus run, sends packs of costumed Krampusse through town, ringing bells and rattling chains. In the U.S., many runs invite you to join in costume, with horns, bells and fur encouraged.
- Watch a parade. New Orleans, Washington, D.C., Milwaukee, Bremerton and Lansing all hold street parades on Krampusnacht weekend.
- Go to a Christkindlmarket. German Christmas markets in Denver, Chicago, Aurora and Des Moines hold Krampus nights and Krampus runs.
- Run it. Krampus races include the Krampuslauf trail race in Lyme, New Hampshire, the Krampus Cross Country in San Francisco and Krampus 5Ks in Marcy, New York, and Huntsville, Alabama.
- Take a photo. Munich’s guide says the Krampus groups are there to be seen up close and photographed, not to scold anyone.
Check the age rules before you go: several U.S. Krampus nights, including Krampus Rumpus and the burlesque shows, are 21 and up.
Krampus Parades and Festivals in the U.S.
Krampus NOLAuf, New Orleans
The Krewe of Krampus walks its 10th Krampus parade through the Bywater, and the after-party at Music Box Village asks a $20 suggested contribution.
Krampus Rumpus, Los Angeles
Krampus Los Angeles fills Benny Boy Brewing in Lincoln Heights with a holiday market, a stage show and a Krampus Attack on Friday and Saturday nights.
Krampusnacht DC, Washington
A street festival with a Krampus procession down H Street NE, from 5 to 10:45 p.m.
Milwaukee Krampusnacht
A Brewery District festival with vendors, music, a Kid’s Krampus Hour and a Krampus parade at 7 p.m.
Krampuslauf Leavenworth, Washington
Krampus Seattle’s parade is on Thanksgiving weekend, with a pub crawl the night before.
Parade of Spirits, Philadelphia
Philadelphia’s costume parade of Alpine and Pennsylvania Dutch folk figures starts at Liberty Lands Park.
Krampusnacht Bremerton, Washington
A street festival with a Krampus market from 2 to 9 p.m. and a Krampuslauf parade at 5:30.
Pennsylvania Krampusnacht, Harrisburg
An all-day festival, noon to 8 p.m., with an alternative market. Kids 12 and under are free.
Every U.S. Krampus Event, by Date
| Date | Event | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 6 and 7 | Krampus at the Germania Society Christkindlmarkt | Cincinnati, OH | $5, free for 12 and under |
| Nov. 13 | Ybor Krampus Crawl | Tampa, FL | Free registration, 21+ |
| Nov. 14 | Krampus Market at Morbid Anatomy | Brooklyn, NY | $5 |
| Nov. 19 to Jan. 10 | Krampus & Kin at Universal Horror Unleashed | Las Vegas, NV | Included with admission |
| Nov. 28 | Krampuslauf Leavenworth | Leavenworth, WA | Free |
| Nov. 28 | Krampus 5K and Walk | Marcy, NY | $25 plus fee |
| Dec. 3 and 12 | Krampuslauf at Christkindlmarket Des Moines | Des Moines, IA | Free for costumed participants |
| Dec. 3 | Hollerbach’s Krampusnacht | Sanford, FL | Not posted |
| Dec. 4 to 6 | Krampus Rumpus and Holiday Market | Los Angeles, CA | Ticketed, 21+ |
| Dec. 4 to 6 and 11 to 13 | KRAMPUS: A Haunted Christmas Experience at Fear Columbus | Columbus, OH | From $29.99 |
| Dec. 4 | San Antonio Krampus Parade | San Antonio, TX | Not posted |
| Dec. 4 | Krampus Comes to Frederick | Frederick, MD | $25 (sold out), $10 walk only |
| Dec. 4 | Krampus Fitmas | Casselberry, FL | Free |
| Dec. 5 | Krampusnacht Bremerton | Bremerton, WA | Free |
| Dec. 5 | Carnivale De Sensuale: Krampus | Denver, CO | $30 to $200, 21+ |
| Dec. 5 | Krampus Nacht at Denver Christkindlmarket | Denver, CO | Not posted |
| Dec. 5 | Krampus NOLAuf | New Orleans, LA | Free |
| Dec. 5 | Krampus NOLAuf After Party | New Orleans, LA | $20 suggested |
| Dec. 5 | Old Town Krampusnacht | Lansing, MI | Free |
| Dec. 5 | Krampuslauf trail race | Lyme, NH | From $55 |
| Dec. 5 | Krampusnacht DC | Washington, DC | $15 to $20 suggested |
| Dec. 5 | Krampus Ball (RVA Krampusnacht) | Richmond, VA | $17.85 to $33.85, 21+ |
| Dec. 5 | Krampus Run 5K | Huntsville, AL | $30 |
| Dec. 5 to 31 | Krampus Con at Krush Brau Park | Kissimmee, FL | Kickoff and march free |
| Dec. 5 | Krampusnacht, German-American Society of Pinellas | Pinellas Park, FL | Ticketed |
| Dec. 5 | KSNE Krampusnacht Run | Providence, RI | $28.50 plus fee, 21+ |
| Dec. 5 | Pennsylvania Krampusnacht | Harrisburg, PA | $20, free for 12 and under |
| Dec. 5 | Krampusnacht, Riverbend Events | Weldon, NC | $10 |
| Dec. 5 | Krampusnacht at Maker’s Craft Brewery | Norfolk, VA | Free |
| Dec. 5 | Krampusnacht burlesque and drag, Prism Arts | Philadelphia, PA | Ticketed, 21+ |
| Dec. 5 | Burlesque n’ Roll presents Krampusnacht | East Providence, RI | Ticketed, 21+ |
| Weekends Dec. 5 to 27 | Santa and Krampus photos, Witch City Mall | Salem, MA | $15 to $35 |
| Dec. 6 | Milwaukee Krampusnacht | Milwaukee, WI | $15 |
| Dec. 6 | Krampus Cross Country | San Francisco, CA | From $60.36 |
| Dec. 11 | Krampuslauf Market at Dark Market Asheville | Asheville, NC | Not posted |
| Dec. 11 | The Wrath of Krampus | Yucaipa, CA | $120 |
| Dec. 12 | Parade of Spirits | Philadelphia, PA | Community parade |
| Dec. 12 | Moonlight Market: Night Before Krampus | Uniondale, NY | $10 to $20, 18+ |
| Dec. 12 | Witchy Yuletide Krampus Market | Lyndhurst, NJ | Free, RSVP |
| Dec. 12 | STRUT KRAMPUS | Portland, ME | Ticketed, 21+ |
| Dec. 12 | Horror 365 Presents: Krampus | Emmaus, PA | $10 |
| Dec. 12 and 19 | Fright Before Christmas at The Resort at Glade Springs | Daniels, WV | Not posted |
| Dec. 13 | Haus of Krampus at Christkindlmarket Chicago | Chicago, IL | Ticketed |
| Dec. 19 | Krampus Fest at Christkindlmarket Aurora | Aurora, IL | Ticketed |
| Dec. 19 | Krampusnacht: Festival of Light | Port Washington, WI | Free |
| Dec. 19 | Krampus’ Invasion at FloridaRAMA | St. Petersburg, FL | Ticketed |
| Dec. 19 | Krampus Haunted Christmas at The Darkness | St. Louis, MO | $34.95 |
| Dec. 20 | Krampus at Crazy Hill Garden & Botanicals | Belfair, WA | Not posted |
Krampus at Haunted Houses and Theme Parks
Haunted attractions bring Krampus in for the holidays too:
- Universal Horror Unleashed, Las Vegas: Krampus & Kin runs select nights November 19 through January 10, included with admission.
- The Darkness, St. Louis: a one-night Krampus Haunted Christmas on Saturday, December 19, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., $34.95, limited to the first 1,250 guests.
- Fear Columbus, Columbus, Ohio: KRAMPUS: A Haunted Christmas Experience, December 4 to 6 and 11 to 13, from $29.99.
- The Resort at Glade Springs, Daniels, West Virginia: Fright Before Christmas, with Krampus, December 12 and 19, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
13th Floor’s Krampus events in Denver, Chicago, Houston and Austin haven’t posted 2026 dates yet. Their pages still show 2025.
Krampus appears at 17 of the 50 U.S. haunted houses with 2026 holiday dates, all in my Christmas haunted houses guide.
Krampus Events in Europe
- Graz, Austria: the Grazer Krampuslauf moved up to Sunday, November 8, from 2 p.m. on Freiheitsplatz.
- Salzburg, Austria: Krampus runs through the Old Town on Krampusnacht, December 5, at 5 p.m. on Linzer Gasse, 5:30 p.m. on Getreidegasse and 7 p.m. at the Christkindlmarkt.
- Tarvisio, Italy: Krampus escort St. Nicholas through town at 5 p.m. on December 5, and a historic Krampus train runs from Trieste.
- Toblach, Italy: about 600 Krampus figures from South Tyrol, Austria, Germany and Switzerland walk with St. Nicholas on Monday, December 7. The run starts at 6 p.m., and admission is 10 euros for ages 10 and up.
- Munich, Germany: around 25 groups with more than 300 participants parade through the Christkindlmarkt on Sunday, December 13, 3 to 5 p.m., and it’s free. The parade draws up to 50,000 spectators.
Krampus Movies and Collectibles
- Movies: Krampus (2015) streams on Peacock, in my Christmas horror movies guide.
- Ornament: Sideshow’s Deadly Red Krampus ornament.
- Dolls: Monster High’s Krampus doll is in my Skullector story.
- Animatronics: Spirit’s 7-foot-3 Krampus is $349.99 and HalloweenCostumes.com’s 6.5-foot Krampus is $229.99, in my Christmas animatronics guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Krampusnacht 2026?
Krampusnacht is Saturday, December 5, 2026, the night before St. Nicholas Day.
Where can I see a Krampus parade in the U.S.?
On Krampusnacht weekend, Krampus parades walk in New Orleans, Washington, D.C., Bremerton, Lansing and Milwaukee. Krampus NOLAuf, the Krewe of Krampus’s 10th parade, starts at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 5, in New Orleans’ Bywater, and it’s free. Leavenworth’s parade is on Thanksgiving weekend, and Philadelphia’s Parade of Spirits is December 12.
Is Krampusnacht for kids?
Some events are for kids: Milwaukee has a Kid’s Krampus Hour, and the Des Moines Krampus run is billed as family-friendly. Others, like Krampus Rumpus and the Krampus burlesque shows, are 21 and up.
Is Krampus dangerous?
Not at organized runs: Munich’s guide says no one needs to be afraid of them, and that you can take photos with the groups.
Updated November 6, 2026. Dates come from each organizer’s page. Check before you go.
