Denver’s Christkindl Market opens Friday

The German American Chamber of Commerce – Colorado Chapter has announced the dates for this year’s Denver Christkindl Market. Beginning on Friday, the Christmas market will be open every day until Dec. 23. The GACC estimates this year the event will draw around 175,000 visitors.

Located at Skyline Park at 16^th and Arapahoe streets, the 33-day event features authentic German cuisine, entertainment every night and local, national and international artisans displaying products in an old-world market setting.

“This event has grown in recent years, with the highest attendance in 2014 thanks to marketing efforts and some great Denver weather,” said Joshua Seeberg, previous executive director of the German American Chambers of Commerce. “I’m thrilled that the new GACC Executive Director Natalia Wobst will take the reigns for this cherished Denver tradition. Wobst is more than qualified to take this event to the next level.”

“Our German-American community in Colorado is rich with culture and the Christkindl Market – a celebration of tradition and commerce – brings the holiday spirit to all in Denver,” Wobst said. “We thank the sponsors Holland & Hart, Kärcher, Coen, Patton and Payne and Paulaner for making this tradition possible for Denver.”

Visit www.denverchristkindlmarket.com/entertainment/ for the schedule of entertainment.

Event schedule includes:

• Market Opens 11 a.m. Friday: Vendors, food and live music beginning at 4 p.m. until 9 p.m.

• Grand Opening 4:30 p.m. Saturday: Ceremony with the 2015 Christkind (Christ child), Wobst and GACC-CO President Peter Einsle.

• Denver Philharmonic Orchestra performs: 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

• Grand Illumination, 6 p.m. Nov. 27: presented by Downtown Denver Partnership, Inc. A part of Downtown Denver’s Winter in the City program, the Grand Illumination event will light up downtown from Denver Union Station to the City and County Building. Following a countdown shortly after 6:30 p.m., Denver Union Station will be ablaze with brightly colored floodlights illuminating the historic structure in the heart of lower downtown and its lighted tree in front. Light Exhibition runs through the end of December.

• Southwest Skating Rink at Skyline Park opens 11 a.m. Nov. 27: The Christkindl Market warming tent will be serving warm Gluehwein (glow wine) and hot chocolate.

• St. Nikolaus Day Dec. 6: St. Nikolaus Day celebrations with appearances from St. Nickolas in the afternoon.

• Parade of Lights, 8 p.m. Dec. 4 and 6 p.m. Dec. 5: Market will stay open until 10 p.m. both days.

• St. Nikolaus at the Market, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 5: Live entertainment and appearances from St. Nikolaus at the Market.

• Dec. 1 through Dec. 23 - Advent Calendar Give-Aways start: Seven-foot advent calendar with 23 days of vendor gifts to market goers.

Party Venue: The Market’s heated venue, the holiday tent, is available for office or family holiday celebrations. Laura Jacobson can arrange your office party or gathering. Email Laura at jacobson@gacc-co.org.