Vendors Announced for Inaugural Christkindl Markt

The Downtown West Bend Association (DWBA) has announced the vendor lineup for this year’s much-anticipated Christkindl Markt, which promises to bring the warmth and charm of a traditional European-style holiday market to downtown West Bend.

The 2025 event will take place:

Friday, November 28 | 5-8 p.m.

Saturday, November 29 | 12-9:30* p.m.

*Vendors open until 8 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 30 | 12-5 p.m.

On Sixth Avenue in West Bend

Shoppers can look forward to a festive mix of handmade gifts, artisan foods, cozy apparel, and holiday decor, all from regional vendors.

“The Christkindl Markt is a wonderful way to honor West Bend’s rich German heritage while supporting our talented local makers,” said DWBA Executive Director Philip Fritsche. “We’re excited to bring this festive tradition to downtown West Bend.  It’s a smaller, more focused, winter version of our award-winning Farmers’ Market, giving the community a place to celebrate the season, shop locally, and enjoy the holiday spirit together.”

The DWBA is proud to host this event in partnership with the West Bend Noon Rotary Club and the Hessischer Verein, with support from many generous community donors.

About the Christkindl Markt

The inaugural year of West Bend’s Christkindl Markt features a carefully curated selection of 19 vetted vendors. Six of them will be stationed in traditional outdoor Christkindl Markt stalls that were constructed by volunteers specially for the occasion with financial support from a City of West Bend Tourism Commission grant. The remaining vendors will set up inside a 30-by-80-foot heated tent to provide a cozy shopping experience, no matter what the weather.

2025 Christkindl Markt Vendors

Holiday Decor & Handcrafted Gifts

Celebrate the season with unique, handcrafted decor and creative artistry:

• Angels Rainbows – Sparkling snowflake crystals, assorted prisms, crystal suncatchers, and holiday dog treats.
• Birds – Christmas-themed wooden earrings, ornaments, door hangers, wall art, and coasters.
• BK Designs – Holiday wooden earrings, ornaments, door hangers, wall art, and coasters.
• Hertel Haus – Wooden Christmas décor, light-up nativity stars, turning boxes, and ornaments.
• Louie & Me @ Apt C – Decorated sleds & shovels, lanterns, wreaths, signs, paintings, and ornaments.
• Koenig’s Creations – Chainsaw art demonstrations and hand-carved creations

Food, Sweets & Seasonal Flavors

Savor festive flavors and sweet treats made by local makers:

• Farmer Pete – Maple and fruit syrups, holiday yard art, and living room craft art
• Hot Roasted Nuts – Freshly roasted nuts, warm and delicious
• PK’s Pastries – Polish bakery favorites including kolaczki cookies, poppyseed cakes, drop cookies, and decorated sugar cookies
• Sam’s Spice – Mulled wine kits in four festive flavors
• Tabal Chocolate – Bean-to-bar chocolate and cacao-inspired treats
• Trail Magic Coffee Roasters – Freshly roasted coffee, whole beans, and chocolate gingerbread men for dipping
• Waterford Bee Company – Locally sourced honey, BBQ honey sauce, lip balm, hand salve, honey mustard, and gift sets

Bath, Body & Home Essentials

Natural products to relax, refresh, and rejuvenate:

• Northwoods Essentials – Handcrafted tallow-based soaps, lip balms, sachets, serums, and natural scents
• Schoemann’s Fields of Paradise – Soothing lavender-based products.

Handmade Art & Functional Crafts

Thoughtful creations made with artistry and care:

• Itsa Castellani – Handcrafted charcuterie and noodle boards
• Jill Scheel Art – Unique, handcrafted art pieces and jewelry
• Les Petites Fées – Handmade sewn accessories, including glasses cases, book sleeves, waterproof bags, and bookmarks

Apparel & Cozy Winter Goods

Warm up with timeless quality and style:

• West Bend Woolen Mills – Merino wool sweaters (Ireland), alpaca wool hats (Poland), hand-knit mittens, mukluk boots, Stormy Kromer men’s wear, wool vests and hats, and buffalo check blankets

Food, Drink & Entertainment

A variety of musical acts have been booked to keep the vibes festive throughout market hours, including West Bend’s own River City Blaskappelle.

And be sure to come hungry to the event! Authentic German food, festive drinks, and sweet treats will be for sale. For shoppers’ convenience, two food booths will be set up on Sixth Avenue. Volunteers will also man a beer bar – with German and American options – and a glühwein (mulled wine) booth. Additionally, multiple vendors will have holiday sweet treats for sale.

If you’re craving something other than German fare, downtown has you covered. Check out these restaurants located within walking distance of the event:

Downtown Storefronts Offer Even More Shopping Options—And Prizes!

Shoppers are also encouraged to explore and support downtown West Bend’s storefronts, particularly on Small Business Saturday. Several stores will participate in a punch card challenge throughout the day, offering guests the chance to win a gift basket worth $350.

Additionally, over a dozen businesses are participating in an adaption of a longtime German Christmas tradition: the pickle ornament hunt. Families who find the ornament in participating stores will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win one of several gift baskets. Multiple opportunities to earn tickets are available each day of the event, and no purchase is required.

Learn more

For full Christkindl Markt event details and parking information, visit www.downtownwestbend.com or follow the Downtown West Bend Association on Facebook and Instagram.