Story by Diana West and Sydney Jones
These Memorable German Christmas Markets Fill The Season with Culture, Crafts, and a Sense of Community.
Christkindlmarkt originated in the 1500s in Germany as a way for people to purchase gifts for their children. The word “Christkindl” refers to the Christ child, and because of the gift of Christ, parents desired to give gifts to their children. The Christkindlmarkt was, and continues to be, a magical place where people can buy gifts in beautifully decorated outdoor settings. Visitors can stroll through streets filled with vendors offering seasonal goodies and stock up on gifts for their loved ones. Many towns in Missouri—whether due to a predominantly German heritage or simply a love for the Christmas markets themselves—continue to observe the Christkindlmarkt tradition today.
CHRISTKINDL MARKT • Hermann • 10 am–4 pm Saturday and Sunday December 13–14, 2025
Visitors can browse the booths of local artisans while sipping warm, festive drinks and listening to Christmas music at Hermann’s annual Christkindl Markt.
“Our town is deeply rooted in German heritage, and continuing the Christkindl Markt is a way of celebrating those traditions while bringing the community together,” says Georgie Busch, the director of hospitality at the Inn at Hermannhof. “This year, we’re excited to welcome several new vendors offering authentic German baked goods and handcrafted ornaments.”
As is tradition at Christmas markets in Germany, this market will offer visitors Glühwein, a traditional German mulled wine, and fresh pastries. The venue will be decorated with German holiday decor, including nutcrackers and ornaments.
Due to the event’s popularity, the Inn at Hermannhof has expanded the Christkindl Markt to two locations: the historic Festhalle at the Inn at Hermannhof and Wagon Works BBQ.
To encourage guests to visit both places, the event now offers a “passport program.” Visitors receive stamps at booths both at Festhalle and Wagon Works BBQ, and when they have finished shopping, they can turn their passports in to be entered into a gift raffle.
While the market is full of festive shopping and beautiful booths, Georgie says that its impact is greater than the gifts. “It connects generations, honors our history, and shares the magic of a German Christmas with visitors,” she says.
Visit Christkindl Markt – Inn at Hermannhof on Facebook for more information.
LICHTERNACHT & CHRISTKINDL MARKT • Rolla • Lichternacht Festival, 5:30 pm • Friday, December 5 • Christkindl Markt, 7:30 am–10 pm • Saturday, December 6
The sound of Gana Harris playing her hammered dulcimer will kick off the 13th annual Christmas season of Lichternacht (light the night) and the opening of Christkindl Markt, both held in downtown Rolla on Pine Street.
“That’s not an instrument you hear played often,” says Jeff Sandquist, chair of the Rolla Area Sister Cities Association, which plans the festivities. “It adds a special touch to these events.”
Sondershausen, Germany, has been Rolla’s “sister city” for more than 20 years. The term sister cities refers to two cities in different countries that are in partnership with each other. Formalized by the city’s officials, this partnership encourages cultural, economic, and educational exchanges.
This year’s theme for the Christkindl Markt is “Gingerbread Wonderland on Route 66,” since Pine Street follows the path of old Route 66,” since Pine Street follows the path of old Route 66. Lichternact draws families to featured events indoors at several participating businesses in downtown Rolla. Performances by musicians, storytellers, and actors repeat every seven minutes to entertain families as they move from one business to another.
Children can collect punches on Tannenbaum (Christmas tree) cards at participating businesses and, with five punches, redeem them for a free s’mores kit at the fire pit on Ninth Street. “Last year, we added Christkindl Zug,” Jeff says. “It’s a miniature train, pulled by a holiday-decorated lawn mower, free for children to ride both days.”
In addition, outdoor carolers, cloggers, Irish dancers, and a brass band will perform at the Library Plaza from 6 to 7 pm before the lighting of the Community Christmas Tree at 7:15 pm. Afterward, traditional German foods, music, and entertainment will continue until 10 pm.
Vendors with handmade crafts for sale inside two large, heated tents welcome shoppers from 7:30 am to 10 pm on Friday. A third heated tent serves authentic German food and beverages throughout the day, accompanied by live entertainment from 11 am to 6 pm the same day.
The festivities continue with a Christmas parade that runs through downtown Rolla on Saturday, starting at 10 am.
A local business, Public Housing Brewery, will serve Glühwein (a hot, spiced wine) and a variety of beers. Other vendors will be offering hot chocolate or non-alcoholic apple cider in souvenir Christkindl Markt mugs that feature a scene from Rolla’s sister city, Sonderhausen.
“The price of the drink includes a deposit,” Jeff explains. “They can return the cup and receive their deposit back. But if they want to keep it, they can. It makes an inexpensive keepsake.”
Visit Christkindl Markt Rolla, Missouri, on Facebook for more information.
• CHRISTKINDLMARKT • Concordia • 4–8 pm, Friday, December 12 11 am–7 pm, Saturday, December 13
Jerrode Marsh, who lived in Germany for nearly 20 years before moving to Concordia, says, “I absolutely loved the Christmas markets there, and I wanted to replicate something like that here in this region, which was settled by Germans in the 1840s.”
She held her first Christmas market in her home in 2015, but in 2020, she says, “So many events were canceled during the pandemic that my boss thought we should expand it to the whole town; it was a huge success.” Now in its sixth year, it is held on the campus of Saint Paul Lutheran High School, a coeducational residential high school, and has grown to about 50 vendors and thousands of attendees. Vendors occupy outdoor booths selling traditional handmade Christmas items and food.
Jerrode jokingly calls herself the “authenticity police.” She adds, “I want to make sure it is as authentic as possible. Even our German visitors agree it’s very authentic.” There are wooden toys and household items, gifts, knitted and quilted items, advent calendars, jewelry, and Christmas decor; nearly everything is handcrafted.
Traditional German Christmas market food and drink are offered: Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes), roasted nuts, international sweets, pretzels, bratwurst, hot soups, and more. “The aroma is enticing,” Jerrode says. In the Glühweingarten, the hot mulled wine is served in special mugs. For others, there is hot chocolate and Kinderpunsch, a children’s hot punch.
Events include live musical performances at designated times on the stage, featuring local and regional vocal and instrumental groups, including some singing in German. A special attraction is the Christkind, an angel-like figure that spreads warmth, joy, and good cheer. The Christkind visits schools, nursing homes, and other community sites in the weeks leading up to the market. “When people see this figure, they know the Christkindlesmarkt is just around the corner,” Jerrode
says. The Christkind reads Christmas stories to children and mingles among the crowds, carrying a basket with treats and gifts to hand out.
There is no entry fee to the Concordia Christkindlesmarkt. Tickets for Glühwein are sold to persons aged 21 and above.
Visit Saint Paul Christkindlesmarkt on Facebook for more information.
• CHRISTKINDLMARKT • Cole Camp • 5–9 pm, Friday, December 5
Christkindlemarkt in this tiny town is worth the drive. The event in Cole Camp features a live nativity scene, living-window displays, strolling Christmas carolers,
and shopping opportunities. “It’s truly magical!” says Ashley Raetz, chairperson of this year’s festivities.
The downtown street is lined with luminaries that the Cole Camp High School boys’ basketball team places in preparation for the event. Just before the festivities begin, members of the Lake Creek Lamplighter 4-H Club light the luminaries. “The luminaries add atmosphere to the festivities,” says Roxy Viebrock, former chair of the festival.
The local German Club kicks off festivities by setting up the Festbaum pole (a decorated pole featuring ribbons, wreaths, and signs, representing local clubs or sponsors), which is decorated for Christmas. “People love it!” Roxy says. “They cheer when it’s in place.” Then the crowd sings a couple of German Christmas songs. Next, they move across the street for the lighting of the town’s Christmas tree. The living windows contain models dressed as ballerinas and other Christmas characters.
Several church and school choirs stroll around downtown singing Christmas carols throughout the evening.
At the four-way stop, the Cole Camp High School band plays Christmas tunes, and other musical groups follow. A carriage ride and two large wagons pulled by holiday-decorated tractors give people a ride around town.
The Chamber of Commerce sets up an area where people can purchase chili and soup. Restaurants are also open. The German Table, a restaurant, a gift shop, and tea room, will have high school students dressed as nutcrackers serving patrons.
Festivities wind down around 8 pm, but stores remain open for another hour to accommodate more shopping. Each store offers a variety of treats, including hot chocolate, cookies, and warm apple cider. While parents shop, their children can interact with animals at a petting zoo provided by Future Farmers of America members from Cole Camp High School.
All the activities, which are free, help attendees get into the Christmas spirit.
Whether someone’s interest lies in unique Christmas presents, fresh-baked goods, live music, or learning more about traditional German culture, Cole Camp’s German Christmas market appeals to all.
Visit Cole Camp Christkindlmarket on Facebook for more information.
WEIHNACHTSFEST • Deutschheim State Historic Site • Hermann • 10 am–4 pm, Saturday and Sunday, December 6–7 and 13–14, 2025
“Weihnachtsfest recreates a 19th-century German celebration of Christmas,” says Lori Cody, the Deutschheim State Historic Site administrator. Weihnachtsfest is held the first two weekends in December at the historic site, located at 101 West Second Street in Hermann.
A free open house will be held at the Pommer-Gentner House, also called The Christmas House, which is decorated with authentic German ornaments and festive
flourishes. Enjoy a taste of traditional German Christmas cookies called springerle and marvel at the antique feather trees, hand-blown ornaments, delicate Scherenschnitte (paper cutting designs), sugar ornaments, and antique toys.
Weather permitting, a Weihnachtsmarkt cart, meaning a Christmas market cart, displaying cookie molds and old- fashioned toys, will be rolled outside the Visitor Center. Items for sale include springerle cookie molds, rolling pins, recipe books, pop-up cards imported from Germany, children’s books, and Christmas ornaments.
The Deutchheim State Historic Site consists of two historic buildings, which are open for tours at other times of the year. The Pommer House, built in 1840, was the first two-story brick house in Hermann and is an example of German-neoclassical architecture. It also features Beidermeier furnishings, appropriate for what was, at the time, the finest house in town. The other building is the Strehly House, an example of German-vernacular architecture.
The Pommer family were piano makers, and the Strehlys were printers. The Pommer house displays original pianos. The Strehly home displays printing equipment similar to what the family would have used.
The staff at the Deutchheim State Historic Site invites visitors to stop by and learn how the Christmas customs of German settlers became American traditions still celebrated today. They also wish everyone a Fröhliche Weihnachten!
• See VisitHermann.com/Christmas for more information.
