This holiday season, Indiana residents and visitors can experience the festive charm of traditional German markets in the Hoosier State. Named USA Today readers’ top U.S. holiday market in 2021, the Christkindlmarkt in Carmel, Indiana, offers 50 wooden huts of classic Weihnacht fun.
At the outdoor holiday market, open Nov. 19-Dec. 30, visitors can explore a mix of traditional German foods, drinks, and gifts. Foodies will enjoy a wide selection of German specialty sausages and hand-rolled pretzels. Chefs melt a large block of cheese for raclette sandwiches and scrape it onto bread and charcuterie.
The Glühwein Pyramid — a 33-foot-tall decoration covered in more than 3,000 Christmaslights but, sadly, no drinks — contains several mulled wine and German beer flavors. Indiana-based Bier Brewery has a special Christkindlmarkt beer: a malty, German-style Dunkelweizen.
The Christkindlmarkt is a perfect opportunity for holiday gift shopping and collecting German trinkets. Several vendors even sell Hoosier-themed bier steins and mugs.
Children can craft and color in the Kinderecke, or kids’ corner. Sankt Nikolaus (St. Nicholas) and Christkind (the traditional gift-bearer) also make appearances, along with other holiday characters.
For a few dollars, take to the ice on an outdoor skating rink, just like at the picturesqueChristkindlmarkts in Munich, Germany, and Vienna, Austria. Can’t visit the Ice at Carter Green for a 90-minute skating session? Watch the ice rink come to life in real-time on a live stream.
With nearly double the vendors at this year’s Christkindlmarkt, this Indiana holiday staple is at the top of our new traditions list.
WHEN YOU GO
Carmel Christkindlmarkt
10 Carter Green, Carmel, IN
Nov. 19-Dec.30 4-9 p.m. Thursday; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday-Sunday
Admission is free. Pets are not allowed.
(317) 559-6608
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY CARMEL CHRISTKINDLMARKT
