Iowa State Bank | 2023 Bronze Sponsor
We’re excited to announce Iowa State Bank’s support of Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2023.
Iowa State Bank is proud to have called Des Moines home for over 80 years. They have five metro banking locations, along with Investment and Trust Departments providing strong wealth management services. Iowa State Bank has been committed to this community since opening their doors in 1941. Helping to support local organizations and giving their customers the best possible banking experience will always be their priority.
The Kringle Man | #CDM2023 Vendor
Tell us about your business:
Located in Elk Horn,Iowa we have been in business since 2015, but have only started Kringle and Danish baking since 2018. I am a retired schoolteacher that was looking to fill some time and it has turned into a full time business with the unique Danish Baking products that I have been marketing. I enjoy the time in the bakery, but really we do this to meet new people and attend events such as the Christkindlmarket Des Moines. We do around 70 events a year, with our traveling show, and have attended shows in 8 different states. The recipes are a combination of Danish Grandmothers sharing with me and searching old cookbooks and the internet to create the product that I market.
What inspired you to get involved as a vendor at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2023?
We have been involved with Christkindlmarket Des Moines in 2019 and it exceeded our wildest expectations. Iowa has always been a strong market for us, but this was amazing. It was as the Dane’s say a Hygge time: (pronounced hoo·guh). Hygge is about preserving happiness everyday. It is about slowing down, being humble, expressing gratitude, feeling safe and connecting with loved ones. Who wouldn’t want to spend a weekend with friends at Christkindlmarket Des Moines?
What products will you be selling at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2023 and why did you choose them?
The Danish Pastry made with the puff pastry dough for that light and flaky experience while enjoying a generous serving of fruit sprinkled with baker’s sugar and drizzled with a sweet white and glossy icing.
Hot out of the oven the Danish Letter. A generous serving of Almond Paste wrapped in the puff pastry dough, topped with baker’s sugar and baked to perfection. A perfect companion to a great cup of coffee.
Ready for packaging. The Cream Horn is filled with my own creation of sweetness to drive any connoisseur of the puff pastry covered in baker’s sugar and baked to a golden color crazy.
The Apple Kringle shows all the lite and flaky layers of goodness surrounded by air pockets of joy. The generous serving of Almond Paste blended with the fruit and covered with Almond Slivers and baker’s sugar is a treat anytime of the day.
The Kringle comes in two different sizes: Family size of 5 inches by 15 inches or the couple size of 3 3/4 inches by 10 inches. Don’t be afraid to get the bigger size as all my products freeze amazingly so you can enjoy some now and some later with coffee and family or friends.
We also have a topping of cream cheese icing that is out of this world good.
#CDM2023 Yuletide Hall Performers Announced
Thursday, November 30, 2023
5:30pm – 9pm: Jim Kucera Band: known throughout the Midwest as Nebraska’s Oktoberfest Band.
Friday, December 1, 2023
11am – 2pm: Barry Boyce Band: German Style Polka & Waltz with English Vocals, including Christmas music in Polka Tempo
2:30pm – 5:30pm: Stu Ryan O’Brien is fun music and entertainment based in greater Des Moines and central Iowa. Stuart Walker as Stu Ryan O’Brien sings Irish traditional and pub songs along with irresistible classic rock and pop tunes. There’s always a wee bit of clappin’, sing along and lots of laughs too!
6:30pm – 9pm: Malek’s Fishermen Band is one of the finest polka bands in the Midwest; and continue the great tradition of dance music excellence started by Syl Malek in the 1930’s with Malek Bros. Accordion Band. They will be performing European dance music: polka, waltz, etc. and German, Czech, Polish, Irish and Norwegian holiday standards.
Saturday, December 2, 2023
11:30am – 12pm: Heartland Youth Choir provides a performance-based program for youth that emphasizes musical literacy and character development. Heartland Youth Choir provides a unique opportunity for children of diverse backgrounds with a particular aptitude in vocal music to explore that interest beyond their school setting.
1:30pm – 2pm: Mackenzie Highlanders Pipes and Drums of Iowa Bagpipes and drums
3:30pm – 4pm: Foy School of Irish Dance Celebrate Irish culture with the Foy School of Irish Dance. The revelry includes delightful traditional dances and contemporary choreographed numbers that both enchant and entertain!
6pm – 9pm: Barefoot Becky & the Ivanhoe Dutchmen is a polka/variety band based out of Mt Vernon, IA. She has been inducted in the Polka Hall of Fame and the Midwest All Music Association Hall of Fame. The band had the honor of playing on the National Mall in Washington DC for the Smithsonian Folklife Fest in 1996. Get ready to dance and sing along to a variety of music including polkas, waltzes, country, two steps, big band, Latin, and party favorites!
Sunday, December 3, 2023
12:30pm – 1:15pm & 2:30pm – 3:15pm: Metro Brass Quintet was founded in the Spring of 2014 and has performed high quality brass music for numerous events in the Des Moines metro and brings a festive spirit to all of its performances.
4pm – 4:40pm: Greater Des Moines Adult Flute Choir is an adult community choir promoting the collegial enjoyment of flute music and performing entertaining and challenging works for our audiences. Directed by Erika Leake McKnight, the choir is in its second year of performing together and features piccolo, C, alto, and bass flutes.
Gilcrest/Jewett Lumber Co | 2023 Bronze Sponsor
Ever wonder how those cute wooden vendor huts arrive at Principal Park? Special thanks to the team at Gilcrest/Jewett Lumber Company‘s Waukee location for transporting our huts to the venue and returning them to storage year after year.
Founded in 1856, Gilcrest/Jewett Lumber Company is dedicated to providing its customers with quality, consistency, value, innovation and style.
For over 150 years, their MISSION has been to succeed through unwavering focus on the success of their customers in central and eastern Iowa. They accomplish their mission by supplying customers with top-quality, high-value building products and unparalleled service. They strive to apply the highest standards of integrity to their daily business and to provide a positive, ethical working environment for their employees. Succeeding in this quest for excellence requires every employee to help create a safe, enjoyable and productive work environment.
Lamberti, Gocke & Luetje, P.C. | 2023 Silver Sponsor
Many thanks to the Lamberti, Gocke & Luetje, P.C. law firm in Ankeny for their support of Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2023.
LGL values being a part of their community and welcomes the opportunity to support their office family in their interests. Christkindlmarket Des Moines is an event that their employee Erin Baldwin is actively involved in and passionate about and they are happy to be a part of the event.
Their firm has been serving the law needs of businesses and individuals in Ankeny and throughout Iowa for over 20 years. Whether you are starting a business, changing custody agreements or getting your affairs in order, an attorney at Ankeny Law will be at your service.
Eisenlauer Team, Re/Max Revolution | 2023 Hut Sponsor
Many thanks to Eisenlauer Team, Re/Max Revolution for their support of Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2023.
They understand that finding a home can be hard. That’s why it’s important to have some of the best Realtors in Des Moines on your side.
When it comes to buying or selling a property, Eisenlauer Team is the name you can trust. They strive to be the best Realtors in Des Moines, delivering unmatched excellence and customer satisfaction.
Whether you are a first-time home buyer, seasoned seller, or somewhere in the middle – they gear their services to your specific needs. When buying or selling real estate, you deserve the best service for the best price. They know that moving can be both exciting and unnerving at the same time. Being leading Realtors in Des Moines, they are determined to make the process as fun and as smooth as possible.
While the average person buys or sells once every 8-10 years, they do it on a daily basis. So allow their experienced Des Moines area Realtors to assist you through the process from beginning to end. There are over 25 different contacts to coordinate during the transaction process, (more or less depending on the property). They’ll make those contacts and keep you informed along the way.
Lincoln Savings Bank | Bronze Sponsor
We’re pleased to welcome Lincoln Savings Bank as a Bronze Sponsor of Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2023.
Lincoln Savings Bank is owned and managed by Iowans and they’re committed to the Iowa communities they serve.
Lincoln Savings Bank (LSB) opened for business in 1902. These days, they’re a full-service bank offering deposit accounts, loans and other traditional services. They’re a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., have 17 branches and their assets total about $1.5 billion.
They operate a subsidiary, LSB Financial Services. This offshoot expands their services to include insurance, investments, trust and estate management, and more. Together, Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial Services operate seamlessly to be your complete financial provider.
They also have a national footprint. LSBX provides a wide range of services to the rapidly growing financial technology industry. Clients include industry-leading firms such as Square Cash App, Qapital, M1 and Acorns.
In their century-plus transformation from a one-location agricultural bank to a diversified financial institution, LSB has enjoyed sustained growth while staying rooted in Iowa values. Today, they have banking and financial services offices throughout our home state.
Edward Jones – Ryan Kent, CFP® | 2023 Hut Sponsor
Many thanks to Edward Jones – Ryan Kent, CFP®for his support of Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2023. Learn more about Ryan:
I believe in treating our clients with honesty and empathy, which means being transparent about the costs and risks involved with investing. We are honored to partner with you, to explore your possibilities and to create financial strategies that can have a positive impact on your life. Working closely with your CPA, attorney and other professionals, I can help determine the most appropriate long-term financial strategy that is best for you and your family. I am registered in over 30 states and can serve clients nationwide.
I joined Edward Jones in 2011 and became a financial advisor in 2015. Fort Dodge is where I was born and raised. I am incredibly proud to build my business in my hometown. I partnered with my father for the first five years until his retirement. The knowledge and care he provided had a significant impact on my work ethic and client relationships.
Lifelong learning is very important to me. I received my MBA at Iowa State. I’m proud to have earned my CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, AAMS™ and ABFP™ certifications to broaden my education and better serve those who partner with me. In 2022, I was named to the Next-Gen Best-In-State Wealth Advisors by Forbes and SHOOK Research, ranking at #5 in Iowa (Source: Forbes.com, 8/3/2022; SHOOK Research data as of 3/31/22). It has been an honor for my branch team to be recognized for our dedication to service.
My branch office administrators, Terri VanNostrand and Angela Barton, serve our clients with the utmost respect and integrity. I have been blessed with an excellent team. As a team, we strive to provide our clients with the highest level of service possible and help our clients to have every opportunity to achieve your financial goals.
My spouse, Sara, is a psychologist in private practice. She’s a fantastic chef, and we enjoy traveling and cooking together.
Please reach out to me if you would like to partner together. My team and I would be honored to serve you and your family.
EMC Insurance Companies | 2023 Silver Sponsor
We’re excited to announce EMC Insurance Companies’ support of Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2023.
EMC Insurance Companies is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in the communities they serve. The EMC Insurance Foundation supports numerous organizations in central Iowa and around the country. Through their philanthropic efforts and team member volunteers, they’re helping create brighter, stronger futures for the communities in which we live and work.
2023 Call For Vendors
Iowa European Cultural Connection invites you to become a vendor at the 8th Annual Christkindlmarket Des Moines taking place November 30 – December 3, 2023 at Principal Park.
This beloved, community-supported cultural experience attracts approximately 17,500 daily visitors from around the Midwest. (2022 total festival attendance: 70,000). We have now grown to become the second largest festival of our kind in the U.S. based on average daily attendance.
The quality of a traditional Christmas market depends on maintaining a high standard for the vendor products it offers. Christkindlmarket Des Moines is no different. We’re dedicated to immersing visitors in a world of folklore and craftsmanship as well as enticing them with traditional and seasonal culinary specialties.
Our vendor guide will give you an overview of the application process and requirements. As soon as you fill out the application, it will be reviewed internally.
2023 Vendor Guide
2023 Vendor Application
2023 Electricity Request Form
We are interested in products typically offered at Christkindlmarkets throughout the world, which may include (but are not limited to): decorative fresh wreaths and centerpieces; one-of-a-kind handmade items; holiday ornaments of all colors, materials and sizes; nutcrackers; cuckoo clocks; beer steins; wooden toys; jewelry; wood carvings; pre-packaged European sweets and treats; sausages; sauerkraut; potato pancakes; waffles; crepes; stollen; gingerbread; roasted nuts; cakes and pastries; German smokers; candles; wooden nativity scenes; items made from hand-blown glass; clay and ceramic pottery; tea light holders; Eastern European/Slavic handcrafted gifts, such as nesting dolls and papier-mâché lacquer boxes; lace; leather products; beer and wine glasses; handwoven garments and more.
Vendor Testimonials
Wild Cherry Spoon Co has vended across the Midwest. From popular indie craft markets in Chicago to small first time shows. Christkindl Market Des Moines blew them all away in terms of revenue, participation, crowd size, after show sales, interesting things to see and do at the market, and volunteer support. We would love to be able to attend every subsequent market and word of advice to vendors; plan for your wildest sales expectations and then bring 4x the inventory…it sells out fast!
Tim McGuire, Wild Cherry Spoon
This show for three years has exceeded expectations! A very festive atmosphere, the volunteers were exceptional, and our needs were met by the organizers. Sales were excellent. We have been selling roasted nuts for 16 years and this is our best show. Looking forward to next year. Thanks to those that attended and to the people that put this together.
Greg Lincoln, Top of the Hill Nuts
I’ve been fortunate to sell at both the inaugural 2016 and the 2017 Christkindlmarkets. As a vendor in the Des Moines area, selling at 45 events in 2017, I can tell you this market simply blows away any other show in terms of revenue and after market sales. The hardworking and dedicated organizers have created a festive, well attended, and well organized three-day community event. Selling at the Christkindlmarket is exceedingly profitable and its just plain fun to be part of the Christmas festivities!
Betty Chamness Trost, Three Smooth Stones
We had a great time & experience this year at The Christkindlmarket. We “Curbin Cuisine” were one of the food vendors & had a busy fun weekend. Sales were good, plenty of Joy & Christmas Spirit all weekend from the market! Looking forward for 2018, had a blast!
Jarrod Fontanini, Curbin Cuisine
I was especially impressed with the advertising for Christkindlmarket Des Moines—I think the organizers did a great job of getting the word out through many different avenues. The parking for unloading was easy to get to and convenient to the booth location. The volunteers were very friendly and helpful. The booths made for a great ambience, and we loved the signs! My one reservation about the event was being outside because I am not at all a fan of cold weather, but the heaters in the booths made it comfortable enough, and the crowds were terrific all weekend.
Pickle Creek Herbs
In 2016 we set up at 125+ events around Iowa, and out of all of those events, Christkindlmarket Des Moines was our #1 event for gross sales. When accounting for the time spent at the event (sales/hour) and the cost of the booth (sales/event cost), it was also among our best events of the year (in the top 5). There were other benefits to this market as well. One is that we got to meet a lot of new customers. We’ve been vending at events in Des Moines for about 8 years, and at Christkindlmarket we sold items to people who had never heard of us before. We also could trace several visitors to our web site who clicked on a link to us from the Christkindlmarket web site. I had high hopes for this event, and in terms of both sales and marketing, this event exceeded all my expectations.
Since this was the first year, I’m excited to see how next year goes. I think it started out really well and can only get better, and I am definitely coming back if they will have me! A big thank you to everyone who helped make it happen!!
Pickle Creek Herbs
The first Christkindlmarket Des Moines was one of the most fun and well organized first-time shows we’ve had the pleasure of participating in. We were provided with ample information before the show, so setup was a breeze, and the how cute were the booths?!
It’s always tough to predict how many people will come to a new event, but the people of Des Moines turned out in droves – the event was consistently busy all three days of the show.
So many little touches made for a really great show – the live music kept both customers and vendors in good spirits, even through cold and rainy weather. The food and hot beverages were huge draws to bring in more people along with great local products and holiday atmosphere.
It was a great time to see people just enjoy the start to the holidays, enjoy time with each other and say cheers to just being here in Des Moines.
Overall it was a great event that we hope to participate in for years to come!
Tammy & Adam, The Red Door Press
We are very pleased with the Christkindlmarket. It was very well organized and everyone one was very helpful. They contacted us often to see if we had any needs and fill our requests. I was very happy with the attendance and it ws a very positive atmosphere. Looking forward to next year.
Greg Lincoln, Top of the Hill Nuts
Worldly Goods loved being part of the inaugural Christkindlemarket! The volunteers were fun and professional to work with and did their best to accommodate all situations that came up this first year. We look forward to the future; seeing old friends and meeting new ones as the market continues to grow and expand!
Worldly Goods
Thank you for allowing us to be a part of the first annual Christkindlmarket in Des Moines. The volunteers and staff did a wonderful job of organizing this Christmas Market, and took great care of the vendors. This was a fun, family-friendly event that had something to offer everyone. We look forward to being a part of this cultural experience next year.
Kathleen Gill, Royal Mile