Indy Holiday Guide: Carmel Christkindlmarkt

Hi, Friends, I’m impressing myself because 1. It’s finals week and I’m still blogging and 2. I learned how to pronounce “Christkindlmarkt.” WINNING!

Carmel Christkindlmrkt started last year and I was there right away to check it out! Christkindlmarkt is the German name for the traditional Christmas market, literally translated as “Christ child market.” These markets usually feature a delightful blend of holiday food, drinks, gifts, and decorations. Since their beginnings in the middle ages, various regions of Germany became well-known for their hand-crafted Christmas decorations, wood-working, artwork, or textiles. Many people in the United States want to enjoy the wonderful tradition of these Christmas markets without having to fly overseas. Up until recently, the closest German Christmas market to Indianapolis could be found in Chicago, IL, but the good folks living right on top of Indianapolis in Carmel decided that they should bring a market close to us! And so they did! And now we have our own Christkindlmarkt complete with ice-skating, gluhwein, raclette, lebkuchen, and handmade gifts.

The market started pretty small last year and has already grown this year. Husband and I checked it out on opening day this year and were very impressed with all of the pretty displays and the clear organization of the event. It’s fun to eat a hot pretzel while watching people ice-skate in front of you while it’s also snowing and you’re holding hands and people are playing holiday music and…the list goes on because it’s basically a scene from every low-budget Netflix/Hallmark movie. But people like those movies! And people like the Carmel Christkindlmrkt! Now that I’ve gone twice, I’m personally a little bored with it since I can never seem to stand up while trying to ice-skate and I don’t really need any expensive German craftsmanship. There’s also a play area for kids and a stage with some live performers. I basically go to eat and people-watch and then I’m cold and want to go home. But it’s a pretty place to eat and people-watch!

There is no fee to enter the market, but you’ll want cash for food and presents. Parking is also free, which is a major perk! Have fun trying to find parking, though, because this is a pretty popular place to be… Overall, I like it, but I don’t love it. I appreciate all the work that has been done to make our version of a German market as authentic as possible, but I also wish that more local vendors were included and that current vendors sold gifts that my friends and family would actually want. For some reason, it still seems more valuable to give someone a hand crafted Nutcracker from a trip to Germany than to give a hand crafted Nutcracker purchased in Indiana, but maybe that’s just me.

So, now you know! The market is closed Mondays and Tuesdays and is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4-9pm and Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 12pm-9pm. It runs from November 17, 2018 to December 23, 2018, so you’ll want to make sure to visit before Christmas Day. You can find out more information to plan your visit here.

I’d love to hear about your favorite holiday markets!! What is the best way to enjoy them??