Last year a businessman from Berlin, who had been working on assignment in Washington, D.C., was feeling homesick, so he googled “best Christmas markets” and found the Carmel Christkindlmarkt, which has been ranked four times in USA Today’s 10Best travel media group’s Readers’ Choice travel award contest for Best Holiday Market.
The man flew to Indianapolis to attend Carmel’s Christkindlmarkt and was so enthralled by the experience that he asked to speak to the person in charge. He told Maria Adele Rosenfeld, CEO of the Carmel Christkindlmarkt, that they had nailed it.
“This could be picked up and put in any German town,” he said. “Being here makes me feel at home.”
The open-air holiday market, which first opened in 2017, has improved each year and become a holiday tradition for many families. Visitors can browse a variety of products sourced from Germany and neighboring German-speaking European countries, while indulging in traditional German foods and beverages. Guests can ice skate on the outdoor rink or take kids to do crafts in the Kinderecke (Kids Corner). They can also listen to live music in the Winter Pavilion, watch renowned artisans from Germany in the Werkstatt (Workshop) including woodworkers from the Erzgebirge region of Germany and glassblowers from Lauscha, catch a puppet show, meet Santa, or mingle with a fairy-tale princess in the Spielhaus (Playhouse).
The Carmel Christkindlmarkt attracts roughly half a million visitors annually. Last year National Geographic Travel named it one of six U.S. markets that “feel like a fairy tale.” Every year the market brings new, authentic offerings to its visitors. This year there will be Knödel & Champignons, a vegan hut offering delicious dumplings and sautéed mushrooms covered in a creamy garlic sauce. A German vendor and his wife are flying over from Germany to run the booth for the duration of the market.
In addition, this year the market will offer Feuerzangenbowle (translated to “fire-tongs punch”), a punch wine base with a sugar cone that’s soaked in rum and lit on fire. The caramelized sugar drips into the rum punch below. “This flaming cocktail is a showstopper,” says Rosenfeld.
Along with Feuerzangenbowle, the Carmel Christkindlmarkt will offer liquor options on-site for the first time, including spiked hot chocolates. Also new this year is Zinnstadt, a hand-painted pewter ornament booth.
Earlier this year Rosenfeld and Sandra Richardson, vice president of cultural programs for the event, attended a Christkindlmarkt conference in Munich that invites only the most authentic, high-standard markets.
“We were the only market in the U.S. that was represented at the conference,” Rosenfeld says.
While there, they shared how German woodworkers, glassblowers and other artisans participate in the Carmel Christkindlmarkt.
“The people at this conference told us that they have trouble getting artisans to come to their market from just a few hours away,” Rosenfeld says. “They asked how we attracted these artisans to our market.”
The answer is simple. Unlike privately owned markets in Europe, Carmel Christkindlmarkt is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, which means that education and cultural programming on German culture is at the heart of what they do.
“There are people of all different ethnicities, faiths and socioeconomic levels speaking different languages,” Rosenfeld says. “I believe coming to the market is a unifying experience for guests.”
Carmel Christkindlmarkt starts on November 23 and runs through December 24. It’s open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 9 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 8 p.m. Visit carmelchristkindlmarkt.com for a schedule, and see the full list of entertainment and activities for each day.
