Christkindlmarket on Broadway quickly became a Green Bay tradition

On November 13, 2024By Pranco

GREEN BAY – On Broadway Inc. wasn’t sure what to expect when it introduced Green Bay to its first Christkindlmarket in 2022, but it didn’t take long to get an answer.

People loved it.

Using funds allocated through a grant, On Broadway created a pilot Christkindlmarket to see if there was public interest in a traditional German-style street market. The first five-day run, with a modest eleven tents, drew about 10,000 people to the area known as Red Sculpture Park.

The feedback was cheerful and bright. Not only did it bring visitors to the Broadway District for the event, but people said it inspired them to explore local businesses while they were there, said Allie Thut, chief operating officer of On Broadway Inc.

So in 2023, On Broadway expanded Christkindlmarket’s footprint by also closing part of Hubbard Street. The Boldt Company built and donated 11 wooden chalets to house more vendors in addition to the tents. The programming was significantly expanded to include costumed characters, an ice skating rink, a movie night and igloos on the roof. There were also more food vendors and more holiday decorations.

A new Christmas tradition was born.

“Last year we really stepped it up and turned it into a full-fledged Christkindlmarket event. Once again very well received,” says Thut. “We increased the number of days, we went from five days to 12 days, so it was six full weekends, and we saw about 40,000 attendees last year. We continue to grow every year.”

When the third annual Christkindlmarket on Broadway opens on Friday evening, along with the Broadway District’s popular Tree Lighting Ceremony, visitors this season can shop from a rotating lineup of more than two dozen vendors, listen to Christmas carols, warm up by the fire with s’mores, meet Santa Claus and his reindeer, meet Scrooge, listen to alphorns, drive away the cold with a bowl of German bratwurst or toast the most wonderful time of the year with a Great Lakes Christmas Ale.

Vendors and programming change throughout the six weekends, with the goal of ensuring attendees have a new experience every time they visit. Whether you’re one of those people Thut heard from every Friday night last year, or you’re a newbie, here’s what’s in store for you this season.

What days is the Christkindlmarket on Broadway open?

Starting Friday you have twelve chances to experience the event. It is open until December 21 from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM on Fridays and from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Saturdays. It is located at Red Sculpture Park (164 N. Broadway) and Hubbard Street in the Broadway District.

What is the atmosphere like?

A pair of 10-foot-tall nutcrackers that welcome visitors to the arch are back this year. Pay close attention and you will notice them blinking. There are Christmas lights everywhere and the chalets and tents are decorated with garlands. There are icicle lights in sales areas and heating lamps add extra shine. Carolers roam every market.

Snow can also add to the atmosphere, but the lack of it can also make logistics easier. Thut said last year’s largely snow-free run and above-average temperatures in the 30s and 40s helped with turnout.

What types of sellers can I find for holiday purchases?

There will be 22 local vendors at each Christkindlmarket selling home accessories, clothing, jewelry, candles, food products such as macaroons and chocolates and other gift items. The majority of them rotate back and forth during the run.

“That just brings people back all the time because they want to see what new vendors are going to be there,” Thut said.

Six suppliers will be set up for the entire run. They are:

East Twin Arts (fantasy, wildlife and mixed media art)
Door County Wildflower Candles
Stella Blu Bohemian Boutique (handbags)
Jedi Woods LLC (handmade jewelry)
WG Woodworking
Silver Nest Studio Textiles

Tree lighting ceremony, Santa Claus and the New Glarus Alphorns mark the opening weekend

Friday: Tree lighting ceremony. Complete with a countdown by Mayor Eric Genrich, the switch will be flipped on all the holiday lights in the neighborhood, including a 20-foot tree. It has become a favorite tradition among people, Thut said.

“It goes from kind of complete darkness to completely lit up and super festive,” she said. “It’s just really nice, oh, the holidays are here. People are really starting to get into it.”

The evening also includes photos with Santa, reindeer, carriage rides, cookie decorating, writing letters to Santa and making s’mores.

Saturday: German day. The New Glarus Alphorns perform. Christkind, the fairytale creature who brings presents to children in German-speaking countries and the namesake of the Christkindlmarket, will mingle with people and talk about German culture. The German Club of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay organizes activities. Pommersche Danz Gruppe will perform German folk dances from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Dogs Get Their Own Canine Christmas Eve; watch out for Krampus and Grinch during Christmas Villains weekend

November 22: Christmas for dogs. Take your dogs to have their picture taken with Santa, buy them a puppy cup at the beverage tent and shop from vendors selling pet-specific stocking stuffers.

November 29-30: Shop Local Weekend. Support more than 20 small businesses in the Broadway District. (Nov. 30 is also Small Business Saturday.) Crab Waffles from Jandy’s base campincluding waffles with egg nog and hot chocolate and others topped with chicken tenders and pulled barbecue pork, will be served both days.

December 13-14: Christmas villains. Stay tuned as Krampus, the half-goat, half-human counterpart of Sinterklaas in Austrian folklore, makes an appearance on December 13. The Grinch and Scrooge add a bit of “stink, stink, stink” and “Bah! Humbug!” to the festivities on December 14.

December 20: movie night. Last year’s event, in partnership with the Fort Howard Neighborhood Association, featured short films on an inflatable screen with hay bale seating and heating. This year it returns with a showing of the 2005 animated holiday special “The Happy Elf.”

December 21: North Pole Day. Children can have their picture taken with Santa Claus and meet his reindeer. Carriage rides around the Broadway District.

S’mores are also earned every Friday evening at the market as a fundraiser for the Odd Fellows Association.

Did someone say German bratwurst booyah and fried bratwurst pancakes?

Minzo’s kitchen And Mila Vanilla Pancakes will be active throughout the market period, and they are pulling out the stops for the German-inspired rate.

Minzo’s menu consists of a 12-hour smoked pulled pork sandwich with Düsseldorf mustard, German bratwurst from Salmon’s Meat Products, German potato salad, sauerkraut, spaetzle and a German variation on the hearty Belgian vegetable booyah that is traditionally made with chicken.

At Mila Vanilla Crepes there is a fried bratwurst crepe, served with gourmet mustard dipping sauce and sauerkraut on the side. Other choices include a house-made soft pretzel with Beck’s beer cheese sauce and an apple kuchen crepe with applesauce. There are also s’more, cinnamon and cheesecake pancakes and one called Servinka (rosehip jam imported from Europe, vanilla walnuts, European animal crackers, powdered sugar and whipped cream).

What about drinks, both hot and cold?

Heritage coffee helps drive away the cold every Saturday morning with a variety of hot drinks. Glühwein, a German mulled wine, will also be available. Beer lovers can choose from:

Hacker-Pschorr Weiss
Paulaner Munich Lager
Ciderboys first press
Christmas Beer from the Great Lakes

How do I reserve an igloo on the roof to relax in?

During the Christkindlmarket you can go from an igloo on the roof of Hurckman Mechanical Industries Inc. overlook the festive Broadway District. Each igloo is equipped with furniture for six to eight people and a small stove. BYOB (bring your own blankets).

The costs are €70 for a 60-minute slot. Bee make reservations, you can also add bottles of wine, charcuterie boards, cookie trays and German platters. There will also be additional drinks and food available for purchase at the market. No carry ins.

What is the Giving Tree and how can I help?

Choose an ornament from the tree to find out which local nonprofit you’d like to give a gift to this holiday season. Participating organizations are:

Howe Community Resource Center
Lucky 7 dog rescue
Community Paws of Wisconsin
NEW community shelter

The ornament tells you what items the organization needs and also where you can purchase them in the Broadway District. Unwrapped items can be dropped off at the tree every day the Christkindlmarket is open.

What about parking and other information?

As with the Farmers Market on Broadway in the summer, there is plenty of street parking in the area. For more information and updates about the Christkindlmarket on Broadway, follow facebook.com/OnBroadwayGB. To reserve an igloo and view the weekly programming, visit downtowngreenbay.com/explore/broadway-events/christkindlmarket.

Kendra Meinert is an entertainment and feature writer at the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Contact her at 920-431-8347 or [email protected]. Follow her on X @KendraMeinert.