The Silent Auction is Back and Better than Ever!
Christkindlmarket Des Moines is proud to present a unique fundraising opportunity for nonprofit organizations. We will have 15 – six to eight-foot cut trees** available for decoration that will be displayed outside during the market and sold via a silent auction. The organization that decorates the tree will receive the funds earned from Des Moines European Heritage Association following the event.
Individual organizations are responsible for all tree decorations, and all items used on the tree will be given to the winning bidder. We encourage decorations that are able to withstand the temperamental Iowa weather (snow, sleet, rain, and/or wind) and do our best to protect what we can. The trees remain outside and uncovered for the duration of Christkindlmarket Des Moines.
Our third annual tree decorating will take place the day before the event weekend starts, Thursday, November 29th, and trees will be available for bidding at the beginning of the market on Friday, November 30th.
If you have participated in the past, either as a decorator or bidder, we have made some changes that we hope will make the experience even better. Minimum bids will start at $60, an increase of $10 from our first two years. This year will also feature a buy now option and the ability to bid and monitor the silent auction items off-site.
Please use this link to register your nonprofit organization as a participant at the Chistkindlmarket Des Moines silent auction tree decorating. Once the form has been submitted, additional information will be sent via email.
If you have any questions, contact Missy Mootz at [email protected].
** Cut trees are not perfect and will have a tendency to lean. Our temporary stands used during the event are also imperfect and will not always allow for the optimal display of the tree. We will present the trees in the most positive way given our circumstances. Please manage your expectations accordingly.
Des Moines European Heritage Association connects Iowans with European traditions, language education and cultural experiences; and it provides resources and tools to other cultural heritage organizations.
#CDM2018 Vendor Announcement
Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2018 Gift and Specialty Item Vendors
An der Weihnachtsecke (At the Christmas Corner), Imported from Germany
Offering: Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2018 commemorative mugs, hand-painted German ornaments (Glaszauber Lauscha), advent calendars, imported chocolate, baumkuchen, Mozart kugeln, Asbach filled chocolates, assorted marzipan, Haribo, Pandoro, Pannetone, butter cookies, stollen, beer steins, beer mugs, beer glassware, shot glasses and Christkindlmarket Des Moines merchandise. Price Range: $1 – $200
Steinbach Volkskunst GmbH (LLC), Marienberg, Germany
STEINBACH – PURE GERMAN –
Offering: Folk art products like our world-famous nutcrackers, smokers and miniature figures and Lebkuchen
Price Range: $5 – $400
Coal Ridge Crafts, Knoxville, IA
Coal Ridge Crafts will be selling wooden toys, stuffed animals, Christmas ornaments hand crafted from wood, felt and burlap. Wooden boxes and inspirational signs will also be available.
Offering: Wooden puzzles, pull toys, cars, trucks, planes, helicopters,Plinko, Noah’s Ark, toddler chairs, tractors, construction toys, dinosaurs, wooden boxes, nativity scenes, wall hangings and wooden ornaments.
Price Range: $4 – $60
Craic, Grimes, IA
Craic (pronounced “crack”) is an Irish word for good times, but with a bit of irreverence, as is the Irish way. We focus on Iowa and the Irish–our home and our homeland–and local, handmade products with a twist of fun.
Offering: Irish, Irish dancer and humorous goods
Price Range: $4 – $45
DamonLayne Woodworking, Earlham, IA
Beautiful handmade cutting boards and serving trays.
Offering: Cheese cutting boards, Cutting boards, Serving trays
Price Range: $35 – $45
DSM Foundry, Des Moines, IA
Laser cut gifts and decorations.
Offering: Wooden lanterns, glassware, ornaments, decorative maps/signs
Price Range: $1 – $150
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Andy Klindt – Chainsaw Carvings, Des Moines, IA | DEMONSTRATION
Andy is an Iowa artisan specializing in chainsaw sculpture and metal design. Fanciful , functional, or a fusion of each…watching Andy craft original pieces will delight people of all ages!
Offering: Chainsaw carvings, wooden ornaments.
Price Range: $5 – $2000
Pickle Creek Herbs, Fairfield, IA
At Pickle Creek, we use organic herbs we grow on our Iowa farm to handcraft artisanal herbal products, including infused olive oils and vinegars, jams, soaps, salves, salts, and balms.
Offering: Herb-infused olive oils and vinegars, jams, soaps, salves, salts, and balms that we handcraft ourselves using original recipes and the herbs and other produce we grow in our garden.
Price Range: $3 – $22
Icy Craft, Iowa City, IA
Acrylic Christmas decorations with ornaments, musical boxes and religious figurines.
Offering: Christmas music boxes, acrylic ornaments, angel and nativity Christmas trees.
Price Range: $30 – $50
museum of danish america, Elk Horn, IA
The Museum of Danish America booth will carry items from its Design Store reflecting Danish culture and Danish, Danish-American and Scandinavian design.
Offering: Danish, Danish-American, and Scandinavian items from our Museum Gift Shop: Nisse, Christmas ornaments, candles, papirklip, mugs & glasses, t-shirts, candy & jam, tea diffusers, dish cloths & tea towels, aebleskiver pans
Price Range: $5 – $100
On The Hill, Garrison, IA
On The Hill / Shepherds Market. Old world traditions at it’s best. Keeping the ancient art of spinning and weaving woolens alive. Soothing body and soul from our homegrown lavender products.
Offering: Hand-spun, hand-woven shawls, wraps, scarves, yarn, from our rare Suri alpacas. Lavender products from our lavender field ie: bath salts, lotions, soaps, spritz, sachets. Our own design broach/pins for our shawls also jewelry incorporating yarn from our alpacas. Drop spindles.
If weather permitting I will demonstrate spinning yarn with my spinning wheel or drop spindle and weaving on my continuous strand tri-loom.
Price Range: $5 – $285
Jett and Monkey’s, Des Moines, IA
Jett and Monkey’s offers hunde und katzen (dogs and cats) holiday gifts, including treats and toys. Visit our store in the East Village!
Offering: Pet supplies, including holiday toys, treats, and ornaments.
Price Range: $2 – $25
Indianola Glass Creations, Indianola, IA | DEMONSTRATION
Step inside the world of glass. Indianola Glass Creations designs and creates one of a kind Stained and Fused Glass ornaments, suncatchers, jewelry and home decor. They will be demonstrating blown glass ornaments.
Offering: Fused Glass pendants, rings, earrings & bracelets, ornaments, suncatchers, platters, bowls, coasters & clocks. Stained Glass ornaments, panels & clocks. Blown glass ornaments. Wine bottle lamps, tealights & wind chimes.
Price Range: $5 – $100
Wild Cherry Spoon Co, Rock Island, IL | DEMONSTRATION
Wild Cherry Spoon Co creates one of a kind handcarved pieces from urban lumber.
Offering: Handcarved wooden spoons, spatulas, kitchen utensils of various styles and purposes, bottle openers, pizza cutters, ice cream scoops, pizza paddles, baguette trays and serving pieces.
Price Range: $3 – $125
Glühwein
Glühwein (roughly, “glow-wine”, from the hot irons once used for mulling) is popular in German speaking countries. Glühwein is prepared from red wine, heated and spiced with cinnamon sticks, cloves, star aniseed, citrus, sugar and at times vanilla pods.
Iowa Beer Bus
L&L European Delight, Chariton, IA
Ukrainian style foods, gifts and desserts
Offering: Perogies, cabbage Rolls, pelmeni, baked goods,,candy
Price Range: $2 – $10
Brunkow Cheese of Wisconsin, Darlington, WI
Our unique Wisconsin Made Brun-uusto is a specialty cheese made to be served warm. Brun-uusto caramelizes and keeps it shape, becoming a crispy, sweet and soft delicacy.
Offering: Brun-uusto Baked Cheese
Price Range: $6 – $25
Chocolaterie Stam, Des Moines, IA
Offering: Hot chocolate, bars, prepacked boxes and fresh stroopwafels
Price Range: $3 – $50
Top of the Hill Nuts, Grinnell, IA
Offering: Roasted almonds, cashews, and pecans with cinnamon or maple flavor
Price Range: $5 – $15
Curbin Cuisine, Granger, IA
State of the art, wickedly designed bright green food truck.
Sugarplums Cakes and Confections, LLC, Altoona, IA
Sugarplums is a local bakery that specializes in traditional gingerbread and other European baked goods for the Christkindlmarket. Everything we sell is made completely from scratch from family recipes.
Parlo Pizza, LLC, Des Moines, IA
Chestnuts roasted “old school style” in a wood fired oven bring an “old world flavor” to this outdoor holiday market. See the fire, smell the aroma, taste this quintessential wintertime delicacy.
Ruhland’s Strudel Haus, Eagan, MN
Hand made, fresh baked strudel and pretzels.
Karam’s Mediterranean Grill, West Des Moines, IA
European Classics at Le Jardin a Huge Success!
Huge thank you to the Le Jardin team for hosting a three-course European Classics dinner on Thursday, March 22 again this year to help raise funds for Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2018!
Several specialty dishes were prepared by chef Tag Grandgeorge. He also talked about his European experiences and how they influenced the food.
Thank you to #CDM2018 sponsor Gail’s Photography and Designs who was on hand to take photos. Check out all the fun we had:
Christkindlmarket DSM Mug Unveiling Party
Be one of the first to view Christkindlmarket Des Moines’ 2018 Glühwein mug design at Jasper Winery on Tuesday, April 17 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Sip the signature drink (warm mulled wine) while shopping a mini market featuring foods and handcrafted items from Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2018 vendors. Other Jasper wines and Madhouse beer will also be available for purchase.
The first 25 attendees to donate $25 (or more) to guarantee their 2018 mug will receive a goody bag. A limited quantity of commemorative mugs are ordered each year. The mug design will be revealed at 6:30 p.m.
Feeling festive? Bring your own Glühwein mug (0.2 liters) from a past Christmas market.
Admission is free; donations accepted.
Share the event with your Facebook Friends!
Des Moines European Heritage Association connects Iowans with European traditions, language education and cultural experiences; and it provides resources and tools to other cultural heritage organizations.
2018 Brochure
We’re extremely proud of our 2018 Brochure which brought together the words of Mike King, DMEHA board member and CDM Marketing Committee Chair and the design skills of our 2018 Design Sponsor, Darcy Hines Designs.
What do you think?
Click here to download the full brochure as a .pdf
REL Productions Partners with DMEHA/CDM for Promotional Video Production
Des Moines European Heritage Association (DMEHA) sends many thanks to the team at REL Productions for the production of several promotional videos for DMEHA and Christkindlmarket Des Moines. Check out their work. They love supporting their community and their team was a pleasure to work with. I’m sure you or your organization could use their services to bring your message to the masses.
Meet Des Moines European Heritage Association and Christkindlmarket Des Moines!
Des Moines European Heritage Association connects Iowans with European traditions, language education and cultural experiences; and it provides resources and tools to other cultural heritage organizations.
Carpenters Local 106 | 2018 In-Kind Sponsor
The organizers of Christkindlmarket Des Moines are proud to partner with Carpenters Local 106. Fabricated by Waukee and Johnston High Schools and stored at Centennial Warehouse, Carpenters Local 106 helped us set up our wooden vendor stalls at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2017 and hopefully for many years to come. The following is from the Carpenters Local 106:
Why is this partnership Important:
Carpenters Local 106 has been a part of Des Moines Heritage for over 120 years. As Local 106 members, we strive to offer our skills to help build up the city and people of Des Moines. Many of our members have varying heritages and backgrounds including European heritage. Which they also value to continue their traditions.
How is Carpenters 106 involved in our communities:
Our members are very involved in the community in varies ways. Whether it be from coaching our kid’s sports teams or being a PTA member at their schools, or working closely with our church groups. As an organization we offer scholarships, donate to Toys-For-Tots, sponsor Jolly Holiday Lights and Iowa Heart are a few. Any opportunity we can to show off our specific skills and help with community projects like handy cap ramps or just helping out a friend or neighbor you can count on us.
Things people don’t know about Unions:
We are dedicated and fight to make sure the working class is protected, safe and getting what they deserve. Unions have provided very long and reliable sustaining careers, pensions and health benefits for so many people, for many of years. We value productivity, safety and craftsmanship. Our priority is education and providing it at no cost to our members.
Des Moines European Heritage Association connects Iowans with European traditions, language education and cultural experiences; and it provides resources and tools to other cultural heritage organizations.
European Classics Presented by Le Jardin, March 22, 2018
Enjoy European Classics at Le Jardin on Thursday, March 22. Choose from several specialty dishes prepared by chef Tag Grandgeorge. Chef Tag will talk about his culinary experiences and how they influenced the food.
The cost is $35 per person. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Des Moines European Heritage Association. Call Le Jardin at 515-255-5787 to reserve a table. Limited seating available, so call in your reservation as soon as possible. Bon appétit!
Seating Times: 5:30pm, 5:45pm and 6pm
Menu:
Soup or Salad du Jour
Mixed greens, cucumbers, pickled onions, black olives, feta cheese, mustard vinaigrette
Potato & Leek Soup: Cream, parsley, dill, Lardons, chili oil
Entrée’s
Cabbage Roll: Beef and pork stuffed cabbage rolls, roasted mirepoix, garlicky sweet and sour tomato sauce
Sour Cream Potato Pierogi: Chicken, caramelized onions, broth, crème fraiche
Vinegar Chicken: Tarragon vinegar chicken thighs, buttermilk black pepper grits, bacon, raisins, onions, cherry tomatoes, spinach
Desserts
Homemade Apple Fritter Black walnut ice cream, caramel
Sachertorte & Schlag Viennesse chocolate torte, whipped cream, berry coulis
Please note: The $35 fee includes a three-course meal. Beverages will be available for purchase. Tax and a 20 percent service gratuity will be applied to the final bill.
Photography Sponsor: Gails Photography & Designs
Des Moines European Heritage Association connects Iowans with European traditions, language education and cultural experiences; and it provides resources and tools to other cultural heritage organizations.
2018 Call for Performers
The quality of a traditional Christmas market depends on maintaining a high standard of programming. Christkindlmarket Des Moines is dedicated to immersing visitors in a world of folklore and craftsmanship as well as enticing them with traditional, seasonal gastronomic specialties to provide an experience filled with European elegance and charm. See Google Images of Christmas markets around the world.
We will provide a four-sided, forced-air heated tent at a location to be determined by Christkindlmarket Des Moines event planning committee on Cowles Commons. A lighted stage within the tent will be provided. The size of the stage in 2017 was 30’ x 16’.
Our performer guide will give you an overview of the needs assessment process and requirements. As soon as you fill out the needs assessment, it will be reviewed internally and all information stored in our database.
What is the timeline for the process?
Fill out the online needs assessment no later than March 1, 2018
Send photographs representing you or your group to – [email protected]
Receive feedback from Christkindlmarket Des Moines staff by April 1, 2018
Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2018 Performer Information Guide
Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2018 Performer Needs Assessment
Des Moines European Heritage Association connects Iowans with European traditions, language education and cultural experiences; and it provides resources and tools to other cultural heritage organizations.
Darcy Hines Designs | 2018 In-Kind Sponsor
Creative Sponsor Darcy Hines Designs is back again to help visually present Christkindlmarket Des Moines to our community. You may have seen her work last year in the promotional flyers, posters and signage at the event.
Darcy Hines is the owner and graphic designer at Darcy Hines Designs. Her work focuses on typography and a clean style. She enjoys working with clients who allow her to be creative with her design choices. She often works on creating brand standards and stationary.
According to Darcy, she was motivated to get involved by the unique nature of our event.
“I love the idea of bringing such a festive and creative event to Des Moines in the months where people are normally bundled up in their houses. I think it’s a great opportunity to bring people together as families, offer them a chance to experience a culture they normally wouldn’t be able to, and breathe some light into those cold winter months with hot cider and hand-made Christmas gifts.”
Thank you for your work, Darcy!
Des Moines European Heritage Association connects Iowans with European traditions, language education and cultural experiences; and it provides resources and tools to other cultural heritage organizations.