The band was founded by Thomas S. Coulson, a distinguished piper, who served during World War II, as a pipe major with the Essex Scottish 4th Brigade of Canada and as a piper in the Seaforth HIghlanders. He moved to Des Moines during the 1980s and founded the Mackenzie HIghlanders Pipes and Drums at that time. We are a paramilitary pipe and drum band and our uniforms are steeped in traditional attire worn both on Scottish and American soil. Our tartan is Ancient Mackenzie. We regularly perform at local events and parades in support of the military, active and reserve, law enforcement agencies and fire departments. Currently we have 9 members, with some members having performed with the group since it began to those only being with the group for the past year.
Being able to perform for a new audience, both those familiar with bagpipe music and those who aren’t
Being able to introduce new people to the music of the Great Highland Bagpipes and being able to be involved with the community.
The DSM Dueling Fiddles are comprised of two violinists, Hanna Wolle and Genevieve Salamone. We have been performing together for almost five years, but have both separately been playing the violin for over 20 years! Hanna started playing the violin when she was four, and Genevieve when she was ten. We decided to begin playing together after connecting and becoming friends through both playing in the Des Moines Symphony. The DSM Dueling Fiddles was a passion project that has turned into so much more! Genevieve takes the lead in writing our arrangements and producing our layered accompaniment, and Hanna handles the business side of the endeavor. Our most exciting recent performance was at Bacon Fest this past year, where we performed on an entertainment stage and then were the featured musicians in the night club, where we played with professional DJs. We are looking forward to bringing our music to the audiences at Christkindlmarket Des Moines this December!
We are most looking forward to engaging with the crowd and helping to create a festive atmosphere at the market through our music and performance! Christkindlmarket Des Moines is also a unique festival in Des Moines, and we are excited to explore the market and all the different things it offers in our spare time!
Our favorite thing about performing at events like Christkindlmarket Des Moines is sharing our music. Our passion is creating and sharing our music, and it’s the greatest feeling to walk away from a performance knowing the audiences enjoyed our music. We put so much time and effort into creating our music and perfecting our performances, and seeing just one excited face in the audience makes it worth it for us!
Thank you for the opportunity to play. We can’t wait!
We’re excited to announce Iowa State Bank’s support of Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2019.
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.
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.
One of the best parts of living in Des Moines during the summer months is the Downtown Farmer’s Market. Is there a better way to spend a Saturday morning than grabbing a breakfast sandwich or burrito and browsing the local produce offerings? Add some great weather and live music and it can’t be beat.
The great opportunities don’t stop there. Did you know you can learn more about what’s happening in Des Moines at the Downtown Farmer’s Market? Each week the market gives non-profit and charitable organizations the opportunity to connect with the community and create awareness for their causes.
On June 1, Des Moines European Heritage Association was at the Downtown Farmer’s Market at the community corner to share our mission with market goers. Check out these fun photos!
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.
Several people were the first to view Christkindlmarket Des Moines’ 2019 Glühwein mug design at Jasper Winery on Tuesday, May 21.
They sipped the signature drink (warm mulled wine) while shopping a mini market featuring foods and handcrafted items from Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2019 vendors. The first 25 attendees to donate $25 (or more) to guarantee their 2019 mug received a goody bag. Make your donation today!
One of the best parts of living in Des Moines during the summer months is the Downtown Farmer’s Market. Is there a better way to spend a Saturday morning than grabbing a breakfast sandwich or burrito and browsing the local produce offerings? Add some great weather and live music and it can’t be beat.
The great opportunities don’t stop there. Did you know you can learn more about what’s happening in Des Moines at the Downtown Farmer’s Market? Each week the market gives non-profit and charitable organizations the opportunity to connect with the community and create awareness for their causes.
On June 1, Des Moines European Heritage Association will be at the Downtown Farmer’s Market at the community corner to share our mission with market goers. Get a preview of what the market will look like and learn more about what it takes to make a Christmas market happen. You can also sign up for our e-newsletter while you’re there.
Our booth is located on the intersection of Third Street and Court Avenue, near Johnny’s Hall of Fame. Volunteers will be at the booth from 7 a.m. until noon. We hope to see you there!
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.
At our Christkindlmarket DSM Mug Unveiling Party and Open House on Tuesday, Des Moines European Heritage Association launched our annual membership drive. Join today and enjoy the following benefits:
All items listed above plus:
DamonLayne Woodworking is an Iowa business located in Earlham. For the past 6 years, I have spent my free time working from a renovated Madison County, one-room school house to create beautifully designed items for your home. My woodworking products include cutting boards, cheese slicers, and amazing cribbage boards.
I am excited to be a part of Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2019 because it displays the unique European holiday traditions. Talented artisans will be displaying their creations while families stroll along listening to music, sampling the food, and sipping warm mulled wine. This is an amazing event to have in Des Moines.
My products for this year’s Christkindlmarket Des Moines include cribbage boards, cutting boards, and cheese slicers. These handmade items make wonderful gifts to include in your holiday baskets.
I am happy to be a part of this magnificent event again this year. The little vendor huts, the wonderful smell of food, and lively polka music are sure to make this event a holiday tradition for your family.
Andy Klindt is an Iowa artisan who creates using wood and iron.
Andy uses native Iowa timbers for his wooden creations, utilizing anything from chainsaws to traditional hand tools. When blacksmithing, Andy uses time-honored methods to forge his metal art/pieces.
Fanciful , functional, or a fusion of each…watching Andy craft original pieces is sure to delight people of all ages!
Christkindlmarket Des Moines is an AMAZING event! You can’t beat the festive holiday atmosphere and there is something for everyone…traditional Christmas market foods, live entertainment, wonderful shopping for unique gifts, and Glühwein! We love being a part of Christkindlmarket Des Moines!
This year we will have a variety of gifts to choose from! Of course there will be chainsaw carvings, but you’re also likely to find things like handmade wooden spoons and cutting boards, tradition wooden boxes for whatever you can imagine, wooden Christmas ornaments, hand forged hooks, bottle openers, grill accessories, and decorations. You just never know what Andy might decide to make next!