With Opening of Inaugural Christkindl Markt
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., November 2023 – The Grand Rapids Downtown Market welcomes the holiday season with the opening of the first-ever Christkindl Markt, featuring a 38-vendor Christmas village, curling sheets, private chalets, musical performances, Santa Claus, the Christkind, glühwein, a custom holiday beer and more. Starting Today, Friday, November 17 through December 23, Grand Rapidians, West Michiganders and everyone who loves the holidays are invited to join in the celebration of the season. Details are available at christkindlmarktgr.com.
“The Christkindl Markt is intended to create a festive experience, with glowing lights, sugary smells, and joyful sounds, reminiscent of Christmas markets found throughout Europe, and deliver it to downtown Grand Rapids,” said Mimi Fritz, President/CEO of the Grand Rapids Downtown Market. “The experience of the Christkindl Markt will be made better by members of our community connecting with guests, sharing their joy of the season, and helping to create new holiday traditions.”
The 26-day Christkindl Markt is heavily inspired by traditional European holiday shopping and dining experiences made popular during the past century. The Christkindl Markt is a winter wonderland illuminated with international flair and located adjacent to the Grand Rapids Downtown Market. The event features the following traditional Christmas market experiences:
Gift and Food Vendors - Unique, custom-built European Christmas market vendor booths adorned with holiday décor and lights, featuring handmade gifts and traditional Christmas market fare.German-style Beverage Hall - Outdoor beverage hall featuring classic beer garden seating and traditional European beverages including mugs of hot glühwein, hot chocolate, and hot cider, customizable with choice of added liqueur, steins of Dünk the Halls, our German-style beer brewed by Brewery Vivant, and various non-alcoholic beverage options.
Live Entertainment - Live stage and strolling entertainment featuring holiday music, showcased daily by local talent.Curling Sheet and Private Chalet reservations - Christkindl Markt attendees will be able to gather a group of friends or family and reserve a Private Chalet—complete with space heater and festive decor, or a Curling Sheet—38 feet of cold-weather fun!
Children’s Activities - Partnering with local organizations, children’s activities will include strolling Santa, a North Pole mailbox, holiday story times, family-friendly stage entertainment, and a dynamic craft area.
S’mores Roasting - Bundle up, grab a s’mores kit, and enjoy roasting your own treats by the fire with family and friends.
Lighting and Décor - Tens of thousands of lights, live greenery, and holiday décor will create a magical glow of holiday wonder, surrounding the entire Christkindl Markt, setting the stage for memorable yuletide experiences.
The German-style beverage hall will take over the full length of the enclosed Market Shed. featuring alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, which include:
Dünk the Halls, a new beer crafted exclusively for the Christkindl Markt by Brewery Vivant. Only available at the Christkindl Markt and Brewery Vivant, this Dünkelweizen is a German-style dark wheat that is amber-hued and malt-forward, with soft hints of caramel and toffee. It may look a little darker, but it drinks like a weiss—making it both naughty and nice. Served in a commemorative glass stein.
Glühwein, a warm, spiced wine that has a rich, aromatic, and sweet taste. The wine is heated and infused with spices such as cinnamon, cloves, star anise and orange zest, and served in a commemorative, ceramic, glühwein mug.
Kinderpuncsh, a kid-friendly, warm holiday punch served in a commemorative ceramic mug.
Hot Cocoa/Hot Cider, non-alcoholic beverages, inviting guests of all ages to warm up with some tasty fun. Also served in a Christkindl Markt commemorative ceramic mug.
As the opening of the Christkindl Markt draws near, organizers are pleased to host 38 food and gift vendors, which include purveyors of European sausages, alpaca fleece accessories, made-to-order crepes, hearty soups, traditional chocolates, candies, home décor, and more. The vendors and artisans, who serve as the anchor of its Christmas village, can be found in distinct vendor market booths. A full list of vendors is available at christkindlmarktgr.com/vendors.
Among the most talked-about activities at the Christkindl Markt is the outdoor curling experience. This distinct group experience awaits friends and families for some brisk competition. Who will slide their stone closest to the “house” (the target) or send their opponent’s stones out of the target area? Closest stones at the end win! If you’re not curling, you and your friends can get cozy in a chalet at the Christkindl Markt. Reservations for Christkindl Markt curling are available at christkindlmarktgr.com/reservations.
The inaugural Christkindl Markt is continuing to accept applications for stage and strolling holiday entertainment to delight event attendees. Entertainers include individual performers, as well as groups, such as school and children’s choirs, bands, a capella and instrumental performances, choirs, community groups, social groups, and more. Stage and strolling performances are being scheduled daily. More about the stage and strolling entertainers at christkindlmarktgr.com/entertainment.
This event is also an opportunity for community members and groups to be a part of the launch of West Michigan’s largest traditional European Christmas market as a volunteer. Volunteer opportunities include serving as event ambassadors, welcoming and assisting guests, supporting children's activities as well as other event amenities including curling and chalet rentals. Volunteers will help to create the iconic holiday experience that is enjoyed at Christmas markets around the world. The Christkindl Markt expects to host hundreds of thousands of guests as they celebrate the season with family, friends, coworkers, and more. Individual volunteers and groups, ages 16+, are invited to request more information at christkindlmarktgr.com/get-involved.
Opening Day Schedule
On Friday, November 17, our opening day kicks off with a full day of activities with special invitations to the media to join in the fun.
11:00 a.m. Christkindl Markt Opens
11:00 a.m. Dünk the Halls Beer Tap with Brewery Vivant
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m Strolling Christkind (throughout Christkindl Markt)
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Strolling Santa and Mrs. Claus (throughout Christkindl Markt)
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. Jingle bell craft (near main stage). Kids can make and play along with the brass
Ensemble performing at noon!
12:00 p.m. Storytime with Santa and Mrs. Claus
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Grand Rapids Symphony Brass Ensemble performing on main stage
5:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Alphorns performing on main stage
6:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Alphorns performing on main stage
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Dave Wells Strolling German Oompah Band (beverage hall and main stage)
The first-ever Christkindl Markt at the Downtown Market is made possible by generous donations from the Secchia Family Foundation, Rev Foundation, CDV Foundation, Doug & Maria DeVos Foundation, Dick & Betsy DeVos Foundation, Daniel and Pamella DeVos Foundation, Star 105.7, Experience Grand Rapids, AHC Hospitality, Hughes Management Group, Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc., Kent Companies, and the Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority.
Christkindl Markt Hours
The Christkindl Markt will be open:
Wednesday 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
Thursday 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Friday 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
Sunday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
(The Christkindl Markt will be closed on Thanksgiving Day).
About the Christkindl Markt
The Christkindl Markt is a traditional European Christmas market, located adjacent to the Grand Rapids Downtown Market and produced by Grand Rapids Christmas Markets. For 26 days, from November 17-December 23, the event will feature an illuminated winter wonderland with holiday retailers and experiences including uniquely-decorated vendor booths, German Style beverage hall, live entertainment, curling sheet rentals, children's activities, and more. Details at christkindlmarktgr.com.
About the Grand Rapids Downtown Market
The Grand Rapids Downtown Market is a delicious destination that brings together small businesses, food entrepreneurship, award-winning venue spaces, and public events to create a vibrant, year-round downtown experience. Open seven days a week, the LEED-certified building is home to 20 local, artisan food merchants and restaurants. More at www.downtownmarketgr.com.
