Prairie Meadows Donates $15,000 to the Iowa European Cultural Connection
Betterment Grant will help fund Christkindlmarket Des Moines – an annual holiday tradition
Prairie Meadows recently awarded the Iowa European Cultural Connection (IECC) a Betterment Grant totaling $15,000. The grant will help fund Christkindlmarket Des Moines (CDM). Prairie Meadows is a nonprofit organization dedicated to lessening the burden of government by promoting economic development, jobs, agriculture, and tourism in the state of Iowa.
“We’re pleased to welcome Prairie Meadows as our Yuletide Hall Sponsor and hope to continue this community partnership for many years to come”, Suzanne Hull, the Director of Christkindlmarket Des Moines, explains. “For the last nine years, CDM has brought so much joy to the attendees, the surrounding communities and volunteers and we’re pleased to have become an annual family tradition”.
Visit prairiemeadows.com/community to learn more about the causes they support.
About Prairie Meadows
Prairie Meadows began operations as a nonprofit organization in 1989, with the goal of promoting economic development, jobs, agriculture, and tourism in the state of Iowa. Through taxes, grants, and charitable donations, Prairie Meadows has given $2.3 billion to the state of Iowa. Prairie Meadows offers slot machines, table games, live and simulcast racing, sports wagering, hotel accommodations, entertainment, and more.
Chicago Teahouse | 2025 Annual Hut Sponsor
We’re pleased to have Chicago Teahouse as an Annual Hut Sponsor.
From our location in the heart of the Historic Gold Coast of Chicago we have been able to share our passion with even more people. Our Chicago location has continued to impress for the past fifteen years. Our woman-owned local business was named The Best Tea Shop in Chicago by Chicago Magazine. Customers can trust they are getting the best service from an incredibly knowledgeable staff as our store is managed by a Certified Tea Sommelier, Agnieszka Rapacz. We have been trusted by Top Chefs, Local Country Clubs, Navy Pier, Art Institute of Chicago, Drake Hotel, and the Chicago/Milwaukee/Carmel Christkindlmarkets to provide the perfect tea for any occasion.
Chicago Teahouse is an advocate to promote organic and fair trade tea production. Our tea producers actively encourage development of a caring and sustainable industry that generates income and improves the lives of millions of people. Our producers maintain the highest ethical standards with regard to health, education, nutrition and environmental sustainability with Fair Trade certifications. We cultivate personal relationships with our tea growers and share their commitment to improving the lives of the people who produce our tea products. Our commitment to providing you with exceptional tea is matched by our commitment to the planet and the people who grow our tea.
We are an organization with superior knowledge of, and experience in, the tea market, with a mission to bring truly superlative teas to a growing community of tea lovers around the world and in our own neighborhood. While our company continues to grow, some things do not change. At Chicago Teahouse, our Passion for Tea is at the core of everything we do.
We carry over 200 products including black, green, oolong, white, rooibush, herbal and fruit, and ranging in price from just a few cents per cup all the way up the rarest teas grown exclusively for us by some of the world’s finest estates.
Children Invited to Participate in Opening Ceremony Procession
Children are an integral component of any Christkindlmarket opening ceremony. Would your child (children) like to follow “Saint Nicholas” through Christkindlmarket Des Moines to participate in the opening ceremony?
Contact Dave Cox at dcox66@gmail.com with questions and interest. We would like at most 25 children to participate.
Children and parents are invited to gather at the Kinderkorner at 5:40pm on Friday, December 5, (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 your child does not wish to take it home.
Community Hand Up | #CDM2025 Nonprofit Partner
Christkindlmarket Des Moines is pleased to partner with Community Hand Up as a Nonprofit Partner this year.
Community Hand Up and their team of volunteers will be serving Glühwein on Thursday, December 4 and Friday, December 5, 2025. In exchange for their participation Iowa European Cultural Connection, the nonprofit that produces Christkindlmarket Des Moines, will donate up to $1500 of electronic tips received at their point of sale to their organization.
Community Hand Up, a grassroots organization dedicated to uplifting underserved families, is expanding its programming to ensure individuals can continue working and supporting themselves—even in the face of unexpected challenges.
With a mission rooted in empowerment and dignity, Community Hand Up offers support to those experiencing economic hardship through access to essential resources, financial literacy workshops, and mentorship opportunities. The organization’s practical assistance is designed to help individuals overcome temporary setbacks—such as transportation issues, childcare gaps, or emergency expenses—that could otherwise jeopardize their employment.
“Our goal is to provide a hand up—not a handout—so people can keep working, keep growing, and keep providing for themselves,” said [Spokesperson Name], Director of Community Hand Up.
Diamond Ridge Construction | 2025 Gold Sponsor
We’re pleased to have Diamond Ridge Construction as a Gold Sponsor of Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2025.
Family and locally owned and operated, Diamond Ridge Construction has been in business for four generations and we have over 100 years of combined experience as the top roofing contractor in eastern Iowa, now serving the Des Moines area.
We take pride in our competitive pricing and professionalism. Licensed and insured, our standards of using high-quality materials and professional installation are where we get our good name and referral base.
We look forward to serving you. For a FREE estimate, call (319) 251-2667. Se habla español.
Diamond Ridge Construction is a locally owned company specializing in roofing, siding, framing, and custom homebuilding in the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids and Des Moines areas.
St. Vincent de Paul of Des Moines | #CDM2025 Nonprofit Partner
Christkindlmarket Des Moines is pleased to partner with St. Vincent de Paul of Des Moines as a Nonprofit Partner this year.
St. Vincent de Paul of Des Moines and their team of volunteers will be serving Glühwein on Saturday, December 13 and Sunday, December 14, 2025. In exchange for their participation Iowa European Cultural Connection, the nonprofit that produces Christkindlmarket Des Moines, will donate up to $1500 of electronic tips received at their point of sale to their organization.
SVdP is a community assistance organization dedicated to serving and uplifting individuals and families who are facing the challenges of poverty and resource scarcity. With programs established on the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive and reach their potential, SVdP’s mission is to help those in need to achieve self-sufficiency through access to basic needs, education, community connectedness, and unconditional support.
The organization offers a variety of assistance options designed to meet the needs of a diverse community. Its programming focuses on alleviating critical issues while also addressing the systemic causes of poverty in the community.
SVdP provides a variety of services, including access to a food and clothing pantry, a workforce preparedness program, a reentry program for individuals exiting incarceration, and opportunities for adult education. The organization also operates a 24-hour sobering center for those struggling with alcohol use, as well as an intervention team dedicated to keeping parents and young children together. In addition, SVdP manages four thrift store locations, with the most recent opening in Ankeny in the spring of 2025.
As SVdP continues to evolve, the organization aims to address the unmet needs of our community. This is done by engaging with the individuals and families we serve, community members, and local leaders to identify issues and develop solutions for ongoing and evolving challenges faced by those most in need.
First Christian Church | #CDM2025 Nonprofit Partner
Christkindlmarket Des Moines is pleased to partner with First Christian Church as a Nonprofit Partner this year.
First Christian Church and their team of volunteers will be serving Glühwein on Thursday, December 11 and Saturday, December 13, 2025. In exchange for their participation Iowa European Cultural Connection, the nonprofit that produces Christkindlmarket Des Moines, will donate up to $1500 of electronic tips received at their point of sale to their organization.
First Christian Church is a bridge to Christ in the heart of Winterset, Iowa. From support for AA to scholarships for students, they join other Disciples Churches as a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world.
Heartland Swing Inc. | #CDM2025 Nonprofit Partner
Christkindlmarket Des Moines is pleased to partner with Heartland Swing Inc. as a Nonprofit Partner this year.
Heartland Swing Inc. and their team of volunteers will be serving Glühwein on Saturday, December 13 and Sunday, December 14, 2025. In exchange for their participation Iowa European Cultural Connection, the nonprofit that produces Christkindlmarket Des Moines, will donate up to $1500 of electronic tips received at their point of sale to their organization.
Heartland Swing is a nonprofit dedicated to building community through the joy of swing dancing. We offer monthly social dances, classes, performances, and events for everyone that celebrate the rich history of Lindy Hop and other swing-era dances. Whether you are brand new or a seasoned dancer, our goal is to create a fun, welcoming space where people can connect, learn, and share in the music and movement that brings together.
See our upcoming classes and events at HeartlandSwing.com and follow us on Facebook & Instagram @HeartlandSwing
Big Grove Brewery | Krampus Parade Sponsor and Annual Hut Sponsor
We’re pleased to have Big Grove Brewery as the Krampus Parade Sponsor and an Annual Hut Sponsor of Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2025.
In 2013, Big Grove Brewery opened its doors in Solon, Iowa, built on a foundation of quality beer, exceptional food, and genuine Iowa hospitality. Over the past decade, we’ve experienced incredible success, driven by our commitment to crafting authentic beer and food. Along the way, we’ve made it our mission to give back, partnering with local organizations to uplift the communities that have been by our side.
2025 Christkindlmarket Des Moines Christkind Application
Welcome! We appreciate your interest in applying to be the 2025 Christkind at Christkindlmarket Des Moines (CDM) taking place Dec 4 – 7 & Dec 11 – 14, 2025 at Principal Park. Please complete this application PRIOR to your interview. You will receive a confirmation email with additional details upon successful application submission. We are pleased to offer a financial scholarship to this year’s Christkind. Learn more about the Christkind and its history.
To Apply
1. 1st and 2nd Weekend Christkind Applicants: Complete the online application
2. 1st Weekend Christkind Applicant: Email video of applicant reading the opening ceremony proclamation to christkindlmarketdsm@gmail.com
IMPORTANT DATES:
Application Deadline: October 1, 2025
Interviews Held: Week of October 7, 2025
Christkind Announcement: October 15, 2025
Note: CDM will provide the costume, wig and accessories; Christkind can wear their own shoes.
To be eligible to be the 2025 Christkind, all of the following criteria must be met:
• Must be at least 16 years of age by December 31, 2025, and no more than 22 years of age before January 5, 2026
• 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
• 1st Weekend Christkind: Must be able to memorize and recite opening ceremony proclamation in front of 200 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 2025 Christkind
1st Weekend Christkind ($300 Scholarship):
5:30pm – 7:30pm, December 5, 2025 | Opening Ceremony
2pm – 4pm, December 6, 2025 | CDM appearance
2pm – 4pm, December 7, 2025 | CDM appearance
2nd Weekend Christkind ($200 Scholarship):
2pm – 4pm, December 13, 2025 | CDM appearance
2pm – 4pm, December 14, 2025 | CDM appearance
