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ByAmanda Stout

Grand View University – In-Kind sponsor

Grand View University has been providing meeting space for all of Des Moines European Heritage Association and Christkindlmarket Des Moines meetings. This has been a great help to our organization. We love and appreciate all of our sponsors, but would like to tell you a little bit more about Grand View University.

Grand View University has public meeting space available. If you would like to schedule an event or meeting, they would be pleased to host you. They have classrooms, meeting rooms, performances areas, and other rooms available for use to support the community and its events when not serving the University’s events.

As well as available space to rent, they have a professional caterer on-site. If your event needs those accommodations, they have an additional form you can fill out to request this service. They also have a new Student Center which allows for expanded dining, performance, and meeting facilities.

If you would like to book their public space directly from this page, here are a few hyperlinks that lead to their facility request forms. We hope you enjoy their public space as much as we do!

Viking Theatre Request (capacity = 204)

Facility Reservation Form

Catering Event Request Form

Image result for grand view university meeting space

 

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.

Support[1]

ByAmanda Stout

Bravo Cultural Enrichment Grant Recipient

Christkindlmarket is a Cultural Enrichment grant recipient from Bravo! Bravo Greater Des Moines strives to have a community where arts, culture, and heritage is spread across Iowa. You can find their mission, vision, and values on their website.

By spreading culture and arts across Iowa, they add to a more vibrant and exciting life in our community as well as diversity. These grants also help heritage organizations draw more tourism and economic activity in our community. Bravo provides support to 56 organizations in the central Iowa region.

 

 

The mission of Bravo Greater Des Moines is to provide reliable funding and support that strengthens arts, culture and heritage organizations serving Greater Des Moines. Bravo Greater Des Moines envisions a community where arts, culture and heritage organizations across central Iowa are recognized and supported as vital contributors to the region’s vibrant quality of life. Some of the values Bravo encourages most in the community is to be collaborative, inclusive, accountable, regional, opportunistic, and passionate. Bravo uses collaboration and inclusion to partner communities with organizations such as Des Moines European Heritage Association. The long-term goal is to have success in Iowa for arts and culture outreach.

The Cultural Enrichment Grant provides operating support to arts, culture, and heritage organizations in Iowa which are three of of the main things Christkindlmarket Des Moines brings to central Iowa! This funding supports investments in growing our community culture and stability. Christkindlmarket Des Moines is happy to receive this grant, and continues to grow our event and outreach!

BySuzanne Hull

Alsatian Cuisine and Conversation, March 22, 2017

Say “oui” to a three-course French dinner at Le Jardin on Wednesday, March 22. Choose from several specialty dishes prepared by chef Tag Grandgeorge. Chef Tag will talk about his French 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 and their production of Christkindlmarket Des Moines. Call Le Jardin at 515-255-5787 to reserve a table. Only 44 seats available. Bon appétit!

 

 

Seating Times: 5:30pm, 5:45pm and 6pm

Menu:

Mixed greens salad, basil vinaigrette, blackberries, mandarin oranges, peppered bacon, brie croustade

Entrées

Smoked pork shoulder, buttermilk polenta, horseradish-dill-citrus sauce
Stuffed cabbage rolls (beef and pork), roasted vegetables, garlic broth
Sausage and chicken spaetzle, tarragon cream, caramelized onions, roasted carrots

Desserts

Apple fritter, vanilla ice cream, caramel
Cherry clafoutis, blackberry syrup, whipped cream

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.

 

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.

Support[1]

ByMike King

Christkindlmarket Des Moines Launches New Look after Strong Debut

DES MOINES, IOWA, Feb. 7, 2017 – More than 23,000 visitors attended the inaugural Christkindlmarket Des Moines in downtown Des Moines last December. Building on this success, the Des Moines European Heritage Association (DMEHA), which created and produces the event, is launching a new logo and branding scheme for the market’s 2017 marketing and communications campaign.

“We were absolutely amazed by the turnout in our first year,” says Suzanne Hull, DMEHA president and founder. “We always believed that people in Iowa and beyond would support and enjoy this type of culturally based holiday event, but the attendance and enthusiasm was incredible. It certainly spurs us on to make it even bigger and better this year.”

The 2017 Christkindlmarket, slated for Dec. 1 to 3, will take place again at Cowles Commons in downtown Des Moines. To help enhance the promotion of the three-day market’s planned improvements in 2017, the association collaborated with the locally based advertising agency, Lessing-Flynn, to help create a stronger visual identity.

“The new logo and overall new look for our branding will help us convey what the market represents – excitement and warmth of the holidays in Iowa’s capital city,” Hull says. “The ‘Christkind’ angel is central to a German-inspired Christmas market and the rich gold color with a dark blue accent also helps set us apart from the traditional red-and-green motif used by so many others.”

For Lessing-Flynn, partnering with a local non-profit organization is nothing new. “As a creative agency, we believe it’s essential to support local opportunities to experience art and culture,” said Lessing-Flynn Vice President, Jessica Held. “Events such as Christkindlmarket Des Moines, which promote diversity and education, are always a worthwhile investment for our community.”

The DMEHA continues to seek volunteers to assist in all of its year-round activities, as well as the. Hull encourages anyone interested in volunteering or becoming a sponsor to visit www.christkindlmarketdsm.com or the group’s Facebook page.

Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2017 sponsors include: Modern Woodmen of America, Centennial Warehousing Corporation and Grand View University.

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The Des Moines European Heritage Association (DMEHA) is a 501c3 tax-exempt non-profit that connects Iowans with European traditions, language education and cultural experiences and that provides resources and tools to other cultural heritage organizations.

 

BySuzanne Hull

#CDM2016 Volunteer Appreciation Dinner

In January, we held our volunteer appreciation dinner to thank those that helped produce the inaugural Christkindlmarket Des Moines. We couldn’t have done it without you!

Thank you to Barilla for supplying the pasta and sauce and to Graziano Bros. for supplying the sausage. And to Perry Wehrle for supplying the venue.

Are you interested in getting involved to help plan this year’s event? Complete our volunteer interest form indicating your committee interests.

Are you interested in volunteering at the event this December? Opt in to our e-newsletter to be notified when opportunities are available. The Glühwein serving shifts go fast!


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.

Support[1]

BySuzanne Hull

2017 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.

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, 2017
Send photographs representing you or your group to – [email protected]
Receive feedback from Christkindlmarket Des Moines staff by April 1, 2017

 

Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2017 Performer Information Guide

Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2017 Performer Needs Assessment

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BySuzanne Hull

Chocolaterie Stam | 2017 In-Kind Sponsor

A huge thank you to Chocolaterie Stam who continues as our 2017 in-kind vendor stall logistics partner. Not many people understand the logistics behind this process, so let me explain.

Materials are purchased from Lowes and Gilcrest/Jewett and delivered to either Waukee High School or Johnston High School.

 

 

After each stall is built, it is torn down, palletized and transported from WHS or JHS to Centennial Warehousing Corporation for storage until Christkindlmarket Des Moines. Chocolaterie Stam is donating the use of their dock-height delivery truck so we can transport each individual stall to Centennial Warehousing Corporation! Prior to this partnership, we were renting UHaul trucks. Thank you so much for your continued support!

 

 

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.

Support[1]

BySuzanne Hull

2017 Call for Vendors

Des Moines European Heritage Association invites you to become a vendor at the 2nd Annual Christkindlmarket Des Moines.

In 2016, this cultural experience attracted 22,000 – 26,000 attendees.

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.

Pickle Creek Herbs, 2016

 

 

In addition to food and gift/specialty item vendors, we seek vendors that can provide demonstrations.

 

 

  • Over 62,000 website pageviews/year
  • 1,517 Facebook Likes
  • E-newsletters: 11 issues per year, 924 subscribers, 40% open rate
  • Promotional flyers (Jul – Dec): 2,000

 

I had high hopes for this event, and in terms of both sales and marketing, this event exceeded all my expectations.

Pickle Creek Herbs, 2016

View all 2016 Vendor Testimonials
Read the 2017 Vendor Guide (Required)
Apply to be a 2017 Vendor

Application Deadline: February 15, 2017

 

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.

Support[1]

BySuzanne Hull

Opening Ceremony | Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2016

Join us for the opening ceremony of the inaugural Christkindlmarket Des Moines. Hear the Christkind deliver her festive proclamation to open the Christkindlmarket and see the large tree sponsored by Drake University’s World Languages and Cultures Department lit. The opening ceremony will begin at 6pm on Friday, December 2.

Children Needed for Opening Ceremony Procession

Children are an integral component of any Christkindlmarket opening ceremony. Would your child (children) like to follow “Das Christkind” through Christkindlmarket Des Moines to the stage where they will watch the opening ceremony?

Contact Betsy Penisten at [email protected] with questions and interest. We would like at most 50 children to participate.

Children and parents are invited to gather in the East Entrance of Cap Square at 5:40pm on Friday, December 2, 2016, (please be on time) to receive a luminary and battery-operated candle. Please return the luminaries to a volunteer at the end of the opening ceremony if the child does not wish to take it home.

BySuzanne Hull

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. | Vendor Stall Sponsor

We are pleased to announce that Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. is a Vendor Stall Sponsor of Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2016! Their generous donation will help fund wooden vendor stalls—a must-have for a traditional European-style Christmas market.

Exploring your live priorities is one of the ways Merrill Lynch understands your financial priorities; it’s not just about the market returns, it’s about your goals and priorities. In plain language, your advisor will make sure you understand the reasoning behind any financial suggestion, what your alternatives are, and all the risks and fees involved.

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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.

Support[1]