If some days are neither here nor there, surely into this category would fall those between Christmas and the New Year. With most children enjoying their school vacations, and a good many adults with free time on their hands as well, there can be days without commitments but a dearth of ideas as where to go and what to do. Here’s some inspiration for spending the time German speakers refer to as “the time between the years.”

Christmas markets: A handful of Christmas markets remain up and running following closure Dec. 25 and 26, or rebrand themselves as New Year’s Eve markets, often with fewer stands selling gift-y items but much of the food and drink one hopes to encounter at such an outing. German cities where at leasat some of the market magic lingers longer include Baden-Baden (through Jan. 6); Bayreuth (through Dec. 31); Cologne (Heumarkt only) through Jan. 5; Düsseldorf (through Dec. 30); Dortmund (through Dec. 30); Homburg (Saarland) (through Dec. 30); Kaiserslautern (through Dec. 30); Kassel (through Dec. 30); Speyer (through Jan. 6) and Weimar (through Jan. 5).

Elsewhere in Europe, the holiday-inspired markets stay put a while longer in the cities of Prague, Czech Republic; Strasbourg and Colmar, France; Brussels and Liege, Belgium; London and Luxembourg City.

Fire-tongs punch: Fans of piping-hot mugs of mulled wine can enjoy their tipple of choice turned up a notch by indulging in a “Feuerzangenbowle,” hot wine enhanced by the addition of the drippings from a rum-soaked sugarloaf set afire. Drinking from the world’s largest cauldron of this punchy punch is possible at the location “Zwischen den Fleischbänken” in Nuremberg through Dec. 31; for indulging in Munich, make way to “in der Blumenstrasse 22” through Jan. 6.

Christmas villages: Waldbreitbach, a charming town in the Wied Valley in the Westerwald region of the Rhineland-Palatinate, does Christmas so well that it keeps its seasonal spirit and décor up weeks longer than other communities. No mere market square or collection of wooden stands, this is rather an authentic, living village, festively decorated and boasting of several nativity scenes, many of which can be seen by hiking along the milelong “Star of Bethlehem” trail. Admission is free. Online: weihnachtsdorf-waldbreitbach.de

Otherworldly encounters: Alpine regions have their fearsome Krampus, but in southeastern Germany’s Bayerische Wald, it’s the Perchten, witches and other spirits who strike awe in the hearts of child and man alike. These fur-clad beasts in their hand-carved wooden masks are active during the so-called Rauhnächte, the cold, dark nights between the winter solstice and January 6. Places to encounter these outwardly frightful figures whose job is to drive the evil spirits away include the Pullman City Western Town in Eging am See Dec. 26; Engelshütt Dec. 27, St. Englmar Dec. 28 and at the JOSKA glass shop in Bodenmais Dec. 28. Online: tinyurl.com/2p8wktaf

Christmas Gardens: Lake Constance, whose shores lap Austria, Switzerland and Germany, is pretty year round, and a highlight of any visit to this vast lake is a trip to the German island of Mainau, known and loved for its fantastic floral displays. Mainau can also be experienced during the winter season with a visit to its Christmas Garden, illuminations set amongst a natural landscape. The event runs evenings through Jan. 6; adult tickets purchased online cost between 20.90 and 24.90 euros, depending on the time of visit; youth ages 6-14 pay from 15.90 to 19.90 euros, and family tickets go for 55.90 to 69.90 euros. Stuttgart hosts its own version of a Christmas Garden in its beautiful Wilhelma Zoo and Botanical Garden, where guests are plunged into a world of light and sound along a mile-long trail; prices are the same as for Mainau. Other German cities in which a Christmas Garden is set up include Augsburg, Berlin, Dresden, Hamburg, Hannover, Karlsruhe, Koblenz and Leipzig. Online: christmas-garden.de

Circuses: Aerial artists, clowns and animals of amazing abilities are all part of the circus fun that awaits in heated big-tops in a good number of German cities. Wiesbaden’s circus takes place at the Festplatz Gibber Kerb through Jan. 5.; Mannheim’s circus is running at the Neuer Messplatz through Jan. 5; Cologne’s circus is on at the An der Zoobruecke in Deutz through Jan. 6, and in Stuttgart, what’s billed as the world’s largest Christmas circus can be visited at the Cannstatter Wasen through Jan. 6.

Theater for children: Plays geared to young audiences are a calendar staple around the holidays, and many of Germany’s top theaters get into the act by hosting spectacles bound to capture youngsters’ imaginations. Despite the language barrier, getting dressed up, going out and taking ones’ seats in a sumptuously appointed or sleekly modern theater is an experience unto itself. As an added bonus, tickets to plays for children are oftentimes surprisingly affordable. Among this season’s offerings are Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince at the Theaterhaus in Stuttgart Dec. 27-28; Pinocchio at the Staatstheater in Wiesbaden Dec. 25-26 and 28-29, and The Little Witch at the Staatstheater in Mainz Dec. 27, 30 and 31. The language of all performances is German.

Running for all ages: Those who’ve been dutifully keeping up with their running schedules even throughout the cold months of autumn can show off their form by signing up for Trier’s Silvesterlauf, a running event with races geared to all ages. Even those as young as five can enjoy competing in a 600-meter race. The main event, a 5 km race beginning at 3:30 p.m., is inspired by a huge New Year’s race that takes place in Brazil, so encountering drummers and samba music is all part of the fun. Sign-up must be completed by midnight on Dec. 23, and the number of participants is capped. Online: silvesterlauf.de