It's hard to believe the holiday season is already here! It seems like every year we end up starting our planning earlier and earlier. With my daughter in middle school—a fun but super busy time—our schedule is packed with travel soccer and horse shows. I have to be really intentional with my planning.

I also want to make sure we carve out some family time that isn't focused on competition. Often, we only manage to fit one major activity into our busy schedules plus a camping weekend. This year, I’m hoping that one big thing will be a visit to the Christkindlmarket in Carmel, Indiana.

So, what exactly is a Christkindlmarket?

It’s essentially a Christmas street market that takes place during the four weeks of Advent. These markets originated in Germany int he 14 century as the main way people would purchase Christmas gifts but now can be found in various countries around the world, including the United States.

Where Can I Find a Christkindlmarket in the Tri-State?

Poking around on Facebook, I found several local Christmas markets around the tri-state.

Newburgh Museum
Newburgh Museum
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Christkindlmarket at Newburgh Museum

Saturday, November 23 from 9 AM - 6 PM

2nd annual Christkindlmarkt, expanding to partner with Zion United Church of Christ Newburgh, welcoming vendors and food trucks!

I spoke with Ivy Clark, the Executive Director of the Newburgh Museum about their event.

This year is our 2nd Annual Christkindlmarkt, it has grown exponentially since last year!  This year it is on Saturday, November 23rd from 9am to 6pm and we are welcoming over 30 vendors and a variety of food trucks.  Be prepared to be immersed in the Christmas spirit!  People will be greeted into the Newburgh Museum and Zion United Church of Christ for indoor vendors and to see our exhibits!

We will have band members from the Old Dam Community Band performing on various stages throughout the day.  Inside Zion UCC, there will be a few dulcimer players, carolers, and the well-known storyteller Mary Jo Huff to really add to the Christmas ambiance! We will have vendors and food trucks set up along First Street, along with many Christmas family photo opportunities in the museum lot! Our vendors include a variety of Christmas crafts, home goods, treats, candles, tea, clothing, and jewelry.  We will have fun crafts available for the little ones and refreshing German Wassail stations scattered throughout! 

We are very excited about this event, and we expect thousands of visitors! We are very grateful for all of our supporters and volunteers; we couldn’t do this without them! We welcome everyone to join us for this fun event to kick-off the holiday season in support of the Newburgh Museum and community!

jodywassmer
jodywassmer
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Christkindlmarket at Germania Maennerchor

Saturday, November 23 from 9 AM - 2 PM

Annual Christkindlmarkt with record attendance last year and looking forward to another big event! Vendor reservations are now open.

Ferdinand, Indiana
Ferdinand, Indiana
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Christkindlmarket in Ferdinand, Indiana

November 15-17, 2024

The Ferdinand Christkindlmarkt, which takes place on the third full weekend of November each year, is an absolute delight. It features over 200 beautifully decorated booths filled with handcrafted items, antiques, art, Christmas decorations, and delicious regional food and wine. There’s also live entertainment, including a free concert and tours.

This year’s lineup includes monastery tours, ice skating, various crafts, a live glockenspiel, and a marionette theater. Kids can enjoy craft activities and even meet a live reindeer. Plus, there will be a concert by the Evansville Philharmonic Chorus and Youth Orchestra, and of course, visits from Santa Claus. It’s shaping up to be a wonderful experience for the whole family!

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Carmel Indiana Christkindlmarket
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Christkindlmarket in Carmel, Indiana

Open November 23 - December 24. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day

So, this technically isn't in the tri-state area but since it has been named the best Christkindlemarket in the USA, I'd say it's worth the three-hour drive. Perusing the website and I don't really even know where to start.

The Carmel Christkindlmarkt, a charming open-air holiday market, started as a nonprofit in 2017. This market is all about celebrating Germany, offering a delightful array of foods, beverages, and gifts from Germany and other German-speaking European countries. Visitors can also enjoy demonstrations by talented German artisans in their Werkstatt (Workshop), showcasing traditional skills and craftsmanship.

As a nonprofit, the market is dedicated to engaging and educating the community about German culture and Christmas traditions through an authentic, enchanting holiday experience. Their goal is to be recognized as the most authentic Christkindlmarkt outside of Germany, and they’re committed to making that vision a reality.

They offer a wide variety of events including Christmas characters. In years past, princesses had made appearances as well as Father Christmas and North Pole elves. You have to check out the schedule to plan your day.

Check out other awesome images from the Carmel Christkindlmarket.

Holiday Cheer Awaits at Carmel Indiana's Christkindlmarket

The Carmel Christkindlmarkt in Indiana is celebrated as the best Christkindlmarkt in the USA. This charming open-air market, founded in 2017 as a nonprofit, features an array of German foods, beverages, and crafts, along with artisan demonstrations, and offers festive events with characters like Father Christmas. It's a must-visit destination for anyone wanting to experience authentic German holiday traditions.

Gallery Credit: Ashley S.

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