Texas Christkindl Market – Arlington, TX!
I love to celebrate holidays in my own hometown. I love when our local people present a fun experience to help celebrate the holiday. So, I am pretty excited to be able to check out the Texas Christkindl Market this year!
Texas Christkindl Market
Nov. 27 – Dec. 23, 2015
Opening Day, Nov. 27: 5 pm – 9 pm
Sunday-Friday: Noon – 9 pm
Saturday: 10 am – 10 pm
Adjacent to Globe Life Park in Arlington, Road to Six Flags & Nolan Ryan Expressway
FREE admission and FREE parking
For more information including special events and vendors, visit
Inspired by a cherished German tradition, the Texas Christkindl Market in Arlington, Texas is one of the largest open-air holiday markets in the Southwest. Nestled next to Globe Life Park (Road to Six Flags and Nolan Ryan Expressway), this family-friendly market features a unique shopping experience for holiday gifts, decorations and traditional goods.
Purchase traditional handcrafted gifts and collectibles straight from Germany, taste authentic German cuisine and holiday beverages, and enjoy live entertainment, children’s activities, and much more!
The event is the only place where shoppers in the southwest U.S. can find exclusive Käthe Wohlfahrt merchandise and designs from the iconic Rothenburg ob der Tauber Christmas Village, including German smokers, pyramids, nutcrackers, music boxes and numerous ornaments and décor.
The Texas Christkindl Market is produced by the Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau in partnership with the Arlington Chamber Foundation, the City of Arlington, the Texas Rangers and Six Flags Over Texas along with support from the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation.
Children’s Lantern Parade
Wednesday, Dec. 2, Dec. 9 and Dec. 16 at 7:30 pm
One of the event’s most cherished activities is the Children’s Lantern Parade. According to the legend, the parade recognizes the generosity of St. Martin, a 4th century Roman soldier who one late, freezing cold evening was approached by a poor, scantily clothed beggar. Martin, who had nothing to give to the man, tore his military cloak in half to share with the man to shield him from the cold. Paying homage to his pure act of selflessness and work on the behalf of the poor, children light lanterns in the late evenings in search of St. Martin and a chance to catch a glimpse of the giving man.
(New) Kinder Market
Open Friday, Saturday and Sundays
Several new elements have been added to this year’s Texas Christkindl Market to make it an even more memorable experience – especially for the kids. Wh ether it’s listening to a holiday adventure during Storytelling, riding the Carousel horses or choosing to take the reins on the real thing at the Pony Rides, the new Kinder Market gives families an opportunity to enjoy the holidays together and build traditions to last a
lifetime.
Children (and parents) can indulge in a winter wonderland experience by playing in the Snow Playground and Snow Throw. Take your turn to build your own snowman or take a shot throwing a snowball, it’s all a part of the fun you can have Fridays – Sundays during the market.
Cost: $8 for 25-minutes at Snow Playground and $5 for 5-balls at Snow Throw.
For a sweet treat, creative hands can design their own magical Gingerbread House Decorating Workshop from The Cakery. All houses baked from scratch, are totally edible, and come pre-assembled, ready to decorate. Each house includes a clear display box and set of icing and candies to embellish your own winter gingerbread wonderland. Children under 18 must be accompanied by adults. Reservations highly recommended by contacting The Cakery at christkindl@thecakery.us
Cost: $30 for Gingerbread House, decorating supplies, and carrying case.
A timeless holiday tradition, puppets bring the magic of theater alive with North Pole Texas Marionette Show. This season’s show features a Texas theme with Ol’ St Nick, singing cactus, penguins, elves, dancing mice and the country critter band. This fun holiday show is a perfect addition to the German Holiday market. Photos with the puppets after the show complete the experience. Show times are Fridays: 5 pm & 7 pm, Saturdays: 11 am , 1pm, 3 pm, 5 pm & 7 pm and Sundays: 1pm, 3 pm & 5 pm.
Cost: $10 for all ages, general admission and $12 reserved seating.
And no trip to the Texas Christkindl Market would be complete without a visit to Saint Nicholas (Sankt Nikolaus or der Heilige Nikolaus), the patron saint of children, sailors, students, teachers, and merchants. Although www.TXChristkindlMarket.com legend has it that he brings children gifts on Dec. 6, guests can stop anytime throughout the market at the Santa Haus to meet St. Nick.
Cost: Anyone is invited to visit with St. Nick and receive a FREE candy. No personal cameras are allowed, however photo packages may be purchased onsite starting at $19.95.
Warming Hut
Enjoy the comforts of warm, covered seating in the Warming Hut presented by Arlington Highlands as a cozy place to enjoy eating your schnitzel or catch up with an old friend. Adorned with festive holiday décor, heaters, tables and chairs, the Warming Hut is an ideal destinatio n to host organizational meetings (with space for 10 – 200 people) during the holidays. Two-hour rental also may be paired with customized on-premises catering from Marcona Kitchen and beer/wine packages with optional private holiday entertainment. To reserve a space, interested parties may contact Barbara Kovacevich at barbara@arlington.org or call 817.704.7613.
Cost: $300 plus catering.
Scheduled Entertainment
From local school choirs and dance groups to favorite Texas songwriters, the Texas Christkindl Market brings the holidays alive with entertainment throughout the month. Hear the sweet sounds of young voices recite Christmas carols or see kids practice traditional German dance. On Saturday nights, the market features special acts not-to-miss like Texas songwriter Deryl Dodd (Dec. 12) and Texas country’s Aubrey Ann England (Dec. 19.) Check the website for a full schedule of special entertainment (available beginning Nov. 1.)
The cornerstone of the Texas Christkindl Market is its vendors. Offering a unique holiday shopping experience, guests can select handmade goods, décor and ornaments that cannot be found anywhere else besides the market including the only place to purchase exclusive Kä the Wohlfahrt merchandise and designs from the iconic Rothenburg ob der Tauber Christmas Village in the Southwest. With classic German products like nutcrackers, cuckoo clocks, and beer steins, a walk through the market will feel just like a shopping experience from the original Christkindl Market in Nuremberg, Germany. Many vendors also demonstrate how their handicrafts are made and then can be purchased directly from the hut. One of the most anticipated features at the Texas Christ kindl Market is the German cuisine. With aromas of roasting nuts, sizzling brats, and freshly made funnel cake filling the air, guests can wander from hut to hut to enjoy the authentic flavors of a Christ kindl market as well as try something new. Watch vendors prepare potato pancakes on the large open-air skillet or sip on the traditional German spiced wine called gluhwein, there’s tons to try throughout the market. Several huts throughout the market make it easy to share with your friends or fill up a plate to enjoy a real authentic German feast under the Warming Hut. And be sure to save room for dessert– with strudel, pastries and other candied goodies, the market is a sweet-tooth’s fantasyland either to experience at the market or to bring home to enjoy later.
Commemorating visitors’ unique experience to Germany by way of Arlington, several photo opportunities throughout the Market share background information of the Christkindl with stops at the large-scale Advent Wreath, stand with the 16-foot Nutcrackers, admire the Christkindl Tree, the Christkind Angel Wings, and don’t forget to take a Selfie with the Elfie before leaving…at least until returning again to enjoy the magic of the Texas Chriskindl Market throughout the season, Nov. 27 – Dec. 23 at Globe Life Park.
Produced by the Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau in partnership with the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, the City of Arlington, the Texas Rangers and Six Flags Over Texas along with support from the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation, the Texas Christkindl Market is an magical tradition for everyone, everywhere to enjoy year after year.
For more info, check out these links:
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