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BySuzanne Hull

Volunteer at #CDMCurbside

Christkindlmarket Des Moines

CDM Curbside presented by Christkindlmarket Des Moines

November 29th – December 6th, 2020
Principal Park

Des Moines European Heritage Association (DMEHA) invites you to be a part of something great: CDM Curbside presented by 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 are looking for just yourself or a group, indoors or outdoors. Be sure to include family members, friends and others who could join you to make it more fun!

Click here to sign up!

For 2020, DMEHA has announced that it will change its annual in-person holiday experience to “CDM Curbside”. CDM Curbside will feature an online marketplace open Nov. 9 to 22, hosting several vendor online stores featuring unique holiday wares and edibles. After purchasing, customers can choose various drive-thru pickup times at Principal Park’s Main Lot from Dec. 3 to 6.

CDM Curbside will allow customers to pick up their purchases from multiple vendors at one place and time from the comfort and safety of their vehicles. Prior to pick up, vendors will deliver the customers’ orders to one location allowing volunteers to then group the orders together by customer. Vendors will not be on site for curbside pickup.

Shop the Virtual Marketplace: Nov 9, 12:01am – Nov 22, 11:59pm

CDM Curbside pickup day and time:
Thursday, December 3: 5pm – 8pm
Friday, December 4: 11am – 8pm
Saturday, December 5: 9am – 6pm
Sunday, December 6: 12pm – 5pm

Volunteer no-shows can cause great difficulties for the planning and production of CDM Curbside. 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.

YOUR SAFETY COMES FIRST: We will be following the CDC’s latest COVID-19 guidance. Face coverings are required, social distancing is encouraged as much as possible and volunteer managers will wipe down high-touch areas between shifts. Should you forget your face covering, a limited number will be available.

Click here to sign up!

Redeem your volunteer points for a small token of our appreciation (1 Shift volunteered per day = 1 Point):

White – 1 Point
2020 commemorative pin
Mini Rittersport (chocolate)
Blue – 2 Points
Spray hand sanitizer
Full size candy bar
Gold – 3 Points
CDM branded pint glass
2020 commemorative ornament

Order Fulfillment – Sorter – Indoors: Vendors will ship or deliver customer orders to Principal Park’s Cub Club. Sorters will unpack the customer orders and place them on individual vendor tables alphabetically by last name. Each volunteer will be assigned to one vendor table to allow for social distancing.

Order Fulfillment – Picker – Indoors: Attention to detail is a must! Pickers will be provided a customer order pick sheet and assemble the customer orders from various vendors. The customer orders will be organized by customer last name on individual vendor tables.

Order Fulfillment – Checker – Indoors: Attention to detail is a must! The Checker works with the Bagger to confirm the customer orders picked by the Picker. The Checker writes the customer name on each bag and adds a few stickers. The Checker also identifies orders that are incomplete and escalates any issues to a Manager.

Order Fulfillment – Bagger – Indoors: The Bagger works with the Checker to confirm the customer orders picked by the Picker. The Bagger adds printed materials and ribbon to the bag and transports the orders to a holding area adjacent to the fulfillment area while organizing the orders alphabetically by last name by pickup day.

Transporter – Indoors/Outside: Transports fulfilled customer orders from Principal Park’s Cub Club Suites to Principal Park’s Main Lot using a hand cart and Caryall Utility Cart while keeping the orders organized alphabetically.

Production Set Up – Outside: Do you have an eye for detail? Work with a team to set up Christmas trees, assemble signage, hang stringed lights, decorate wooden vendor stalls, etc. **Some heavy lifting required**

Curbside Pickup – Traffic Controller – Outside: Stationed at the entrance to Principal Park’s Main Lot, the Traffic Controller will make sure people pulling into the Main Lot are CDM Curbside customers. If not, send them off with a friendly smile and a flyer for Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2021.

Curbside Pickup – Greeter – Outside: Checks in customers driving through the Principal Park Main Lot to pick up their online orders. Customers will be instructed to write their name and where they want their order placed (back seat or trunk) on a piece of paper in their windshield for contactless delivery. The Greeter will direct the customer to the shortest pickup lane and call ahead via walkie talkie to a Manager with the customer name and pickup lane.

Curbside Pickup – Stager – Outside: Collates customer orders and delivers to assigned pickup lane.

Curbside Pickup – Checker – Outside: This volunteer role needs to complete online I-PACT (Iowa – Program for Alcohol Compliance) Training. Attention to detail is a must! Once the customer’s vehicle pulls up to the loading area, the Checker will confirm the customer’s identity and tell the Runner which name to grab. If the customer ordered alcohol, the Checker will need to check an ID. The Checker will verify the order one final time and mark it as “Delivered”.

Curbside Pickup – Runner – Outside: The Runner brings the customer order from the staging area (adjacent hut) to the Checker for final verification and then places the order in the vehicle’s back seat or trunk.

Production Tear Down – Outside: Remove Christmas trees, disassemble signage, remove stringed lights, remove decorations from wooden vendor stalls. **Some heavy lifting required**

BySuzanne Hull

#CDM2021 Gift Guide | Steins to Represent Your Culture

Use this guide to find gift ideas from “an der Weihnachtsecke”, our store at Christkindlmarket Des Moines.

Situated between the Rhine River, the mouth of the Lahn River and Saynbach Creek, Kannenbackerland has exceptional clay deposits. Known for its pottery since the 1400s, they have been creating unique and varied styles for centuries. Now YOU can have one of these original German beer steins celebrating your personal heritage.

Kannenbaeck – Irish Crest, $20

This half-liter, classic gray stoneware kannenbaecker mug is decorated with a pewter embossed appliqué depicting an eagle with crown above an Ireland banner.

Material: Stoneware
Origin: China
Volume: 0.5 L Dimensions: 5-1/4 in.


Kannenbaeck – Scottish Crest, $20

This half-liter, classic gray stoneware kannenbaecker mug is decorated with a pewter embossed appliqué depicting an eagle with crown above a Scotland banner.

Material: Stoneware
Origin: China
Volume: 0.5 L
Dimensions: 5-1/4 in.


Kannenbaeck – Italian Crest, $20

This half-liter, classic gray stoneware kannenbaecker mug is decorated with a pewter embossed appliqué depicting an eagle with crown above an Italian banner.

Material: Stoneware
Origin: China
Volume: 0.5 L
Dimensions: 5-1/4 in.


Kannenbaeck – English Crest, $20

This half-liter, classic gray stoneware kannenbaecker mug is decorated with a pewter embossed appliqué depicting an eagle with crown above an English banner.

Material: Stoneware
Origin: China
Volume: 0.5 L
Dimensions: 5-1/4 in.


Kannenbaeck – Danish Crest, $20

This half-liter, classic gray stoneware kannenbaecker mug is decorated with a pewter embossed appliqué depicting an eagle with crown above a Denmark banner.

Material: Stoneware
Origin: China
Volume: 0.5 L
Dimensions: 5-1/4 in.


Kannenbaeck – Finnish Crest, $20

This half-liter, classic gray stoneware kannenbaecker mug is decorated with a pewter embossed appliqué depicting an eagle with crown above a Finland banner.

Material: Stoneware
Origin: China
Volume: 0.5 L
Dimensions: 5-1/4 in.



Kannenbaeck – German Crest, $20

This half-liter, classic gray stoneware kannenbaecker mug is decorated with a pewter embossed appliqué depicting an eagle with crown above a German banner.

Material: Stoneware
Origin: China
Volume: 0.5 L
Dimensions: 5-1/4 in.

BySuzanne Hull

What is Feuerzangenbowle?

We enjoy bringing European culture to Christkindlmarket Des Moines! New this year, we’re featuring a Feuerzangenbowle mug in An der Weihnachtsecke (Christkindlmarket Des Moines store) in the CDM Curbside online marketplace. The rum-soaked sugar cube sits over the handle. Once lit, the caramelized sugar flows straight into your Glühwein!

Feuerzangenbowle is a traditional German alcoholic drink in which a rum-soaked sugarloaf is set on fire and drips into mulled wine. It is often part of a Christmas or New Year’s Eve tradition. The name translates literally as fire-tongs punch. Our Feuerzangenbowle mug allows for a single serving of this holiday tradition!

Feuerzangenbowle (click here for a recipe) is prepared in a bowl, similar to a fondue set, which usually is suspended over a small burner (rechaud). The bowl is filled with heated dry red wine spiced with cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise and orange peel, similar to mulled wine. The Feuerzange was originally a pair of tongs, but nowadays it is common for a purpose-designed metal grate mounted on top of the bowl to hold the Zuckerhut (sugarloaf), a 250-gram (9 oz) lump of sugar. The sugar is soaked with rum and set alight, melting and caramelizing. More rum is poured with a ladle until all the sugar has melted and mixed with the wine. For some the ceremony is more important than the drink itself, celebrating the gathering of friends and conveying a notion of Gemütlichkeit.

BySuzanne Hull

#CDMCurbside Vendor Announcement

We’re pleased to announce the vendors participating in CDM Curbside presented by Christkindlmarket Des Moines. Click through to learn more about their businesses and what they will be selling in the online marketplace.

Food & Beverage Vendors

Gift & Specialty Items

The CDM Curbside online marketplace will be open November 9 at 12:01am – November 22 at 11:59pm. You must schedule curbside pickup at Principal Park December 3 – 6. Vendors will not be on site during curbside pickup.


For 2020, the Des Moines European Heritage Association (DMEHA) has announced that it will change its annual in-person holiday experience to “CDM Curbside,” presented by Christkindlmarket Des Moines.

CDM Curbside customers can pre-order all of their favorite items traditionally found at Christkindlmarkets from the vendors they’ve come to know and love AND a few new faces. Customers can peruse traditional food and hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind gifts in advance and pick up their purchases at Principal Park during the Curbside Pickup.

No need to leave your vehicle
No need to schedule multiple pickups from multiple vendors

Shop the online marketplace virtually from the comfort and warmth of your own home November 9 at 12:01am – November 22 at 11:59pm. At checkout, schedule your curbside pickup at Principal Park on one of the following days:

Thursday, December 3: 5pm – 8pm
Friday, December 4: 11am – 8pm
Saturday, December 5: 9am – 6pm
Sunday, December 6: 12pm – 5pm

BySuzanne Hull

Nymph in the Woods | #CDMCurbside Vendor

1.    Tell us about your business
I create wearable art that brings out your own beauty and helps you meet the day with confidence! Finding jewelry that really speaks to you can help you show off your true self and feel fantastic doing it! All of my work is entirely made by me from fused glass and wire wrapping.

2.    What inspired you to get involved as a vendor at CDM Curbside?
I loved participating in Christkindlmarket Des Moines last year and am so excited to get to participate in this different form this year! The enthusiasm and support of all the people involved is wonderful to experience, whether volunteers, staff, vendors, or customers!

3. What products will you be selling at CDM Curbside and why did you choose them?
I will have all sorts of jewelry available and ready to give as gifts! Necklaces, rings, earrings and more!

4.    Anything else you’d like to share?
This will be my first virtual show and I’m thrilled that I get to try it out with CDM Curbside!

BySuzanne Hull

Indianola Glass Creations | #CDMCurbside Vendor

  1. Tell us about your business.

We love glass here at Indianola Glass Creations. We make stained & fused glass items. We carry home decor, jewelry, knick – knacks and so much more. We strive to create one of a kind items, anything from everyday items to larger art pieces. We also sell stained and fused glass supplies so you can make your own projects. And if you don’t know how to work with glass we also teach glass classes.

  1. What inspired you to get involved as a vendor at CDM Curbside?

We just loved the idea of a Winter market. Glass has always been a part of German culture and we thought our one of a kind glass pieces would be a good fit for CDM Curbside.

  1. What products will you be selling at CDM Curbside and why did you choose them?

We will sell a variety of Christmas stained and fused glass ornaments as well as glass jewelry & home decor pieces. We chose these items to give the customer a variety to choose from for gift giving. It is a small sampling of the many items in our store.

BySuzanne Hull

Iowa State Bank | Bronze Sponsor

We’re excited to announce Iowa State Bank’s support of CDM Curbside presented by Christkindlmarket Des Moines.

Iowa State Bank is proud to have called Des Moines home for 75 years. Our mission is to serve customers, prosper, have fun and remain an independent bank. We are confident you will find that Iowa State Bank is able to provide the perfect mix of convenience banking and traditional services.


BySuzanne Hull

Randol Honey Farm | #CDMCurbside Vendor

  1. Tell us about your business.

I started beekeeping in 2001 after my son purchased three hives from a co-worker who was moving out of state. At the time, he knew nothing about bees but had an interest in them. He brought the hives home to our acreage and set them in the field. Unfortunately, those three hives did not make it through the winter. In the spring of 2001, I heard about a beekeeping class, enrolled and purchased three nucs of bees and was on my way to becoming a beekeeper. I took my excess honey that year to the local farmers market and sold what I had. The following year I ordered ten more nucs. Each year I have tried to expand my products. From our honey and beeswax we now have many products from raw liquid honey, to flavored honey and creamed honey. I use the wax in lip balms, beeswax lotion bars, foot bars and include it in the goat milk and honey soaps and other bath and body products you can find on our website.

  1. What inspired you to get involved as a vendor at CDM Curbside?

I had been interested in attending the downtown market for several years, but the weather had always concerned me. With the CDM Curbside I decided to try and see where it would go.

  1. What products will you be selling at CDM Curbside and why did you choose them?

I will be offering our raw liquid honey, flavored bears, creamed honey, honey sticks, bee pollen, lip balms, beeswax lotion bars, foot bars and our goat milk and honey soaps

BySuzanne Hull

DamonLayne Woodworking | #CDMCurbside Vendor

Tell us about your business

At DamonLayne Woodworking, we believe that your home should reflect your own personal style. Each corner of your life should be eye-catching and unique, just like you. DamonLayne Woodworking provides kitchen and home decor, dedicated to helping our customers discover their own design personality.

What inspired you to get involved as a vendor at CDM Curbside?

We have been involved with Christkindlmarket Des Moines for the past few years. This is an amazing holiday event that showcases the European culture. This year’s online event allows customers to shop from home and pick up all their packages from one location.

What products will you be selling at CDM Curbside and why did you choose them?

Cutting board, Charcuterie boards, Cheese slicer, Cribbage boards, Springerle cookie molds.

Anything else you’d like to share?

DamonLayne Woodworking designs unique products that are fun and functional and will make a great gift for the holiday season, a wedding, or a house warming gift.

BySuzanne Hull

Meet Dakota Tinworks | #CDMCurbside Vendor

  1. Tell us about your business

Dakota Tinworks is a family-run business, specializing in handmade reproduction tinware items as well as original designs focusing on Christmas tree decorations, including a wide variety of tin ornaments and tree tinsel/icicles. All of our items are made personally by Karl Schmidt, the owner of Dakota Tinworks.

  1. What inspired you to get involved as a vendor at CDM Curbside?

We’ve been vendors at Christkindlmarket Des Moines since 2017, the second year of the market. It’s always been a fabulous experience for us. This year, with concerns over COVID-19, the market cannot take place as it normally would, but we are excited for the opportunity to participate in CDM Curbside.

  1. What products will you be selling at CDM Curbside and why did you choose them?

We’ll be offering most of our tin products this year, including all of the ornaments and tinsel, cups, candle holders, pierced candle shades, biscuit and cookie cutters, and more.

  1. Anything else you’d like to share?

As with any new venture, CDM Curbside will be an experiment, but we are ready to provide the same great products our loyal customers have always expected from us!