Christkindlsmarkt in Excelsior

The Christkindlsmarkt Festival originated over 700 years ago in Germany during the Advent Season to celebrate the coming of the Christ child. The Festival has continued to this day as the original open air market featuring German/Alpine Christmas traditions such as German sausages and potatoes, roasted almonds, sweet & savory strudel, delectable chocolates, cakes & cupcakes, kindercocoa, and “gluehwein’’ a warm, sweet, spicy wine.

The Market also includes stalls filled with traditional gifts, handcrafted ornaments, wooden toys, nutcrackers, vintage pieces, alpaca sweaters and mittens, Frost River leather goods, hand-crafted wooden boards, original art, German pottery, and German lanterns.

Established first in Dresden Germany, the Christkindlsmarkt festival spread to Nurenberg, Heidelberg, Stuttgart, Augsburg, Berlin, Munich (the Heart of Bavaria); continued throughout Germany and then to Bern, Baseland, Zurich, Switzerland, and on to Salzburg, Austria. Finally, in 1995, it crossed the ocean to downtown Chicago, where there is currently a fabulous Festival inspired by Christkindlsmarkt in Nurenberg, Germany.

In keeping with the German traditional Christkindlsmarkt, join us and delight your senses with holiday sounds and the aromas of fresh grilled sausage, roasted nuts and other delicacies. There is fun for everyone! Main attractions for the children include KinderWorld and the NorthPole Trolley, while adults enjoy the shopping, music and Biergarten located at the Excelsior Brewing Company (Open until 10pm).

See the schedule of events for more info on the weekend of fun!

The Excelsior Christkindlsmarkt Inc.

The Excelsior Christmas Group is a non-profit 501.c.3 organization that sponsors and coordinates the Christkindlsmarkt festival in Excelsior, Minnesota every year on Thanksgiving weekend.