Learn more about visiting European Christmas Markets via an organized tour in 2020. Deadline to reserve to attend this event: April 17, 2020
In the Heart of Europe you will find a wonderful surprise – colorful Christmas Markets just waiting to be explored. The dramatic architecture of Europe’s spectacular cities is the perfect backdrop to the charming stalls that offer traditional items from handmade crafts to tasty foods and unexpected joys.
Join Des Moines European Heritage Association for a tour of European Christmas Markets December 7 – 14, 2020. During this tour, you will enjoy the following:
Download the complete brochure
Download the registration form
We hope you can join in the fun. Space is limited, so reserve today!
In the Heart of Europe you will find a wonderful surprise – colorful Christmas Markets just waiting to be explored. The dramatic architecture of Europe’s spectacular cities is the perfect backdrop to the charming stalls that offer traditional items from handmade crafts to tasty foods and unexpected joys.
Join Des Moines European Heritage Association for a tour of European Christmas Markets December 7 – 14, 2020. During this tour, you will enjoy the following:
Download the complete brochure
Download the registration form
We hope you can join in the fun. Space is limited, so reserve today!
Welcome! We appreciate your interest in applying to be the 2019 Christkind at Christkindlmarket Des Moines (CDM) taking place December 6 – 8, 2019 at Principal Park. Please complete the 2019 application PRIOR to your interview. You will receive a confirmation email with additional details upon successful application submission. Learn more about the Christkind and its history.
IMPORTANT DATES:
• Application Deadline: September 15, 2019
• Interviews Held: Week of September 23, 2019
• 2019 Christkind Announcement: October 1, 2019
To Apply
Note: CDM will provide the costume, wig and accessories; Christkind can wear their own shoes.
To be eligible to be the 2019 Christkind, all of the following criteria must be met:
Must be at least 16 years of age by December 31, 2019, and no more than 22 years of age before January 5, 2020
A resident of Iowa (or attending an Iowa-based school/university) able to provide verification of residence and/or enrollment
A student in high school or enrolled as a full-time student (minimum 12 units) in any accredited school or college in Iowa
Possess at least a 2.0 grade point average in both the current and previous years’ course work and able to provide verification
Available to participate in-person or via video during scheduled interview
Must be able to memorize and recite opening ceremony proclamation in front of 2,500 people without visual or auditory aid
Must enjoy working with others and talking with the public, including children of all ages
Must be able to provide own transportation to and from appearances
Available to attend the following functions/appearances as the 2019 Christkind
6pm – 8pm, December 5, 2019 | ‘Twas the Night Before #CDM2019 Preview Event
5:30pm – 7:30pm, December 6, 2019 | Opening Ceremony
2pm – 4pm, December 7, 2019 | CDM appearance
2pm – 4pm, December 8, 2019 | CDM appearance
Please fill out and submit this application; all fields with red asterisks (*) are required.
What: Christkindlmarket Des Moines (A German-Inspired Outdoor Christmas Market)
When: Dec. 2 to 4 (11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fri.; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sat.; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun.)
Where: Cowles Commons in Downtown Des Moines, Iowa
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.
Des Moines European Heritage Association (DMEHA) invites you to be a part of something great: The inaugural Christkindlmarket Des Moines. Volunteers are integral to a successful community event. We need your help and we have several volunteer opportunities to choose from whether you’re looking for just yourself or a group. Be sure to include family members, friends and others who could join you to make it more fun!
No-shows can cause great difficulties for the planning and production of Christkindlmarket Des Moines. We ask that you report on time and remain on task for the duration of your shift(s). All volunteers must be at least 16 years old when they report for their volunteer shift. Those dealing with alcohol must be at least 21 years old when they report for their volunteer shift.
Volunteer shifts range of 2-3 hours and an estimated 400+ volunteers will be needed to make #CDM2016 possible.
Install Christmas trees, assemble signage, hang stringed lights, decorate wooden vendor stalls, etc. **Some lifting may be required**
Construct pre-fabricated wooden vendor stalls. **Heavy lifting definitely required**
Help vendors unload their merchandise as well as with vendor set up and tear down.
Watch vendor’s booths should they need to take a break.
Empty the waste receptacles into a large roll-off bin as needed.
Provide a European-centric activity for children. All supplies provided.
Answer attendee’s questions, provide information on DMEHA, hand out site maps, entertainment schedules, etc.
Assist the Programming site leaders to ensure that performers have arrived, are prepared to take the stage and have what they need to perform.
Circulate throughout the programming area during performances to deploy a survey to capture attendee demographic information.
Check the IDs of attendees who would like to drink alcoholic beverages.
Work with the Iowa Beer Bus team to serve beer to attendees.
Serve warm, mulled wine from a wooden vendor stall to eager attendees.
Sell hot chocolate, hot cider, water, etc. to attendees.
Remove Christmas trees, disassemble signage, remove stringed lights, remove decorations from wooden vendor stalls. **Some lifting may be required**
Tear down pre-fabricated wooden vendor stalls. **Heavy lifting definitely required**
Greet and check-in volunteers, direct volunteers to assigned areas, and keep Volunteer Headquarters organized.
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.
DMEHA is proud to announce the support of Ingersoll Wine & Spirits as a Platinum sponsor. Ingersoll Wine & Spirits is a locally-owned and family operated business that has been around the Des Moines area for 19 years. Due to their success, Ingersoll Wine & Spirits opened their second store in October of 2001 and continues to commit their business to providing their customers with “quality products at a reasonable price.”
In addition to being a Platinum sponsor for Christkindlmarket Des Moines, Ingersoll Wine & Spirits is providing the Glühwein for Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2016. Glühwein is a traditional German red wine that is heated, flavored with seasonal spices such as cinnamon sticks, orange juice, cloves, zest, and sugar.
Thank you Ingersoll Wine & Spirits for being a Platinum sponsor of Christkindlmarket Des Moines and we look forward to their support for the first annual event.
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.
For Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2016, German designer Sabine Voigt, has crafted a Christmas-themed design for our Glühwein mug. Voigt studied in Dusseldorf, Germany and San Diego, CA, graduating as a graphic designer. Previously she has worked for companies such as Rolling Stone Magazine, Cologne Cathedral Christmas market, Kölner Bank, and many others, as well as designing a variety of mugs for Christmas markets around the world. Voigt has been awarded 1st place in the Charlie Hebdo Cart Competition, awards in the International Cartoon contest, the European Cartoon contest, and a variety of other awards and decorations. Her work has been presented in Portugal, Germany, America, Spain, and other countries world wide for its colorful and youthful appearance.
DMEHA is excited to have the opportunity to further display her work by using the design featured below on our 2016 Glühwein mug. Guarantee your Glühwein mug this year by making a donation of $25 or more to Des Moines European Heritage Association.
DMEHA will be ordering a fixed quantity of Glühwein mugs and would like to ensure supporters are guaranteed this keepsake collectors item – especially from the inaugural event.
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.
My name is Becca Baldwin. I’m a old graduate of the University of Northern Iowa. I graduated with a double major of Global Marketing and Organizational Leadership Management. After graduation, I continued my studies at the ESC Rennes School of Business in Rennes, France. I completed a one-year master’s program in International Business while living in France from August 2014 to May 2015. While in France I was able to travel and experience a bit of European culture. I currently live in Des Moines and work at Principal Financial Group. My hobbies include traveling, being with friends & family, exercising, and volunteering. I decided to get involved with the Des Moines European Heritage Association and Christkindlmarket Des Moines planning because I am very much interested in European culture. I want to experience as much as I can of what the world has to offer, and plan on accomplishing this by being involved in my community and traveling as much as possible!
About a year ago, I had returned to Iowa to visit for the holidays. I had just completed half of my year abroad, living in Rennes, France, for about 4.5 months. This was my first long-term stay in Europe. While I learned a lot about European culture, one of the things I found fascinating was the tradition of Christmas Markets.
I had never heard of them before, but I gathered they were immensely popular in most of Europe and had German origins. What’s a Christmas Market, you may ask? It’s an open-air event where you can browse booths full of hand-crafted goods, seasonal treats, sip on mulled wine, and take in all the beauty.
My first trip to a Christmas Market was in December 2014, in Rennes, France, and I fell in love with the atmosphere. A couple of my friends and I walked around (on more than one occasion) and took in all the beautiful crafts and items for sale. I purchased a bracelet and scarf for a couple friends back home, and we sipped on some spiced wine and ate a few different holiday desserts. It really brought the feeling of Christmas back to me, while I was missing my friends and family back home. The booths were lined up, decorated in lights, garland, and different seasonal decorations. There were wooden cut-out boards for children to put their heads in and pretend they were Santa & Mrs. Claus; there was a booth with puppies to play with, and numerous booths with homemade pralines, churros, and macaroons for sale. The Christmas Market had a European feel, but it also reminded me of the Christmas spirit at home.
Now that I’m back living in Iowa, I was sad I couldn’t experience another Christmas Market similar to my first magical experience in France. That being said, I am more than excited to partake in helping organize Des Moines’ own Christkindlmarket in 2016! It can be hard to express in words how amazing a Christmas Market experience is, so it looks like everyone will have to find out for themselves next December. For now, I’ll leave you with a couple pictures of the market in Rennes, France, and hope everyone is excited for next year!
As a grassroots non-profit, Des Moines European Heritage Association serves as a platform to carry on European traditions, support language education and to create cultural awareness. We are a resource for Iowans, immigrants, travel enthusiasts and international business professionals to connect with European cultural heritage and for cultural organizations who want to engage with their members in a cohesive and centralized manner.
