Silent Auction Tree Blog Feature: Veterans in Agriculture
We are excited to welcome back Veterans in Agriculture (VIA) to our Silent Auction. They have helped beautify Christkindlmarket Des Moines every year representing their organization with gorgeous trees. This years’ theme is “Red, White, and Blue.”
“After serving throughout the world, our nation’s military is always happy to return to the Red, White, and Blue. This year’s tree will be all decked out in those colors and not only are these decorations for Christmas, but many can be used to celebrate other national holidays, like the Fourth of July, Veterans Day, Memorial Day and others,” explains Beth Grabau, VIA Executive Director.
Veterans in Agriculture are farmers, veterans, agri-business professional, educators, and other service providers dedicated to empowering veterans to thrive in Iowa agriculture. They provide three main programs/resources to help fulfill their mission statement: The Veterans in Agriculture Network, VIA Resource Guide, Rural America Hiring Heroes, and Find a Farmer Veteran.
“The Silent Auction is a great and unique opportunity for people to learn about our organization. We are able to be in front of an audience that may not otherwise hear about. It is also great fun!” shares Grabau about why VIA continues to participate in the CDM Silent Auction. “Where else can you decorate a tree that represents an aspect of the organization. And what a great way to get in the holiday spirit than to start it by decorating a tree.”
Funds earned with the purchase of this tree will be used to support the services that are provided to veterans as well as active and retired military members.
For more information on Veterans in Agriculture, please visit their website.www.veteransinagriculture.org
Silent Auction Tree Blog Feature: DMEHA Samstagsschule
The Des Moines European Heritage Association (DMEHA) Samstagsschule – German for Kinder will be making their second appearance at the Christkindlmarket Des Moines Silent Auction.
Offering immersive German classes to preschool age through 9th grade, from beginners to heritage speakers, DMEHA Samstagsschule strives to provide opportunities for kids to have fun while learning German language and culture.
“As part of our training, we like to introduce our students to German traditions. With our contribution to the CDM Silent Auction, we are excited to be part of Christkindlmarket Des Moines,” explains representative Katrin Nayak. “We would like to purchase additional interactive German language classroom materials, especially for our older students, 5th through 9th grade with the Silent Auction proceeds. Ensuring our students have access to a variety of interesting and age appropriate materials.”
Please visit the DMEHA Samstagsschule- German for Kinder for more information on classes, times, and location.
Table 20 Creativity | Silver Sponsor
We’re excited to be working with first-time sponsors, Table 20 Creativity. They will be providing time lapse footage during set up, drone work as well as B-roll.
Their business offers Professional Videography Services specializing in cinematic wedding films, real estate showcase, business promotion, aerial photography, etc.
Silent Auction Tree Blog Feature: Sons of Norway
The Sons of Norway Marsteinen Lodge are back again to add a little Norwegian flare to this years’ Christkindlmarket Des Moines Silent Auction.
“We at Sons of Norway are looking forward again to being a part of the Silent Auction. It gives us a fun activity to do and a chance to get together and team build with each other aside from our regular monthly meeting,” explains Wayne Almlie, Sons of Norway President. “It gives us an opportunity to promote our Lodge name and be involved in an activity outside of our little group.”
The mission of Sons of Norway is to promote and to preserve the heritage and culture of Norway, to celebrate relationships with other Nordic Countries, and provide quality insurance and financial products to members.
Along with supporting their mission, the Sons of Norway will use the silent auction funds to pay monthly bills and treat their lodge to special events, such as a speaker to come and present a program.
To find out more information on the Sons of Norway Marsteinen Lodge, please visit their website.
Open Ceremony and Tree Lighting
Join us for the Christkindlmarket Des Moines Opening Ceremony and Tree Lighting. Listen to das Christkind deliver her festive proclamation to open the Christkindlmarket and see the large tree lit. The opening ceremony will begin at 6pm on Friday, December 6 at 6pm.
Joining us to flip the switch this year is Jarred Carter, President of Flexible Packaging at Siegwerk, one of our sponsors.
St. Nicholas will be accompanying das Christkind during the ceremony and they will both make a tour of the venue after the ceremony. Be sure to visit Christkindlmarket Des Moines on Saturday and Sunday from 2pm – 4pm for another chance to see the duo in action.
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 2019 to the stage where they will watch the opening ceremony?
Contact Dave Cox at [email protected] with questions and interest. Space is limited.
Participating children and their parents will be provided with the meeting time and location as we get closer to the festival. They will receive a luminary and battery-operated candle. Please return the luminaries and candles to a volunteer at the end of the opening ceremony if the child does not wish to take it home.
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.
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Visit European Christmas Markets in 2020 with DMEHA
In the Heart of Europe you will find a wonderful surprise – colorful Christmas Markets just waiting to be explored. The dramatic architecture of Europe’s spectacular cities is the perfect backdrop to the charming stalls that offer traditional items from handmade crafts to tasty foods and unexpected joys.
Join Des Moines European Heritage Association for a tour of European Christmas Markets December 7 – 14, 2020. During this tour, you will enjoy the following:
Prague walking tour and Christmas Markets
Walking tour of Cesky Krumlov and time at the Christmas Markets
Vienna walking tour and Christmas Markets
Schloss Hof tour and Christmas Market
Walking tour of Bratislava and time at the Christmas Markets
Budapest city tour and Christmas Markets
Download the complete brochure
Download the registration form
We hope you can join in the fun. Space is limited, so reserve today!
Garland for Sale – After Christkindlmarket Des Moines
Help us find a second home for the hundreds of feet of live fraser fir garland used at Christkindlmarket Des Moines.
Receive 10′ of garland for $10. We’ll throw in a box of stringed lights for $5 extra.
Pick up on Sunday, December 8 at 7pm at Principal Park. The specific location will be provided to the purchaser.
O Tannenbaum! Help Give Our Non-Profit Holiday Trees a Better Home
For 2019, Christkindlmarket Des Moines is excited to be moving to its new home at Principal Park. As part of this move, we want to give our 15 non-profit partners* a better, safer and more weather-proof venue to display the holiday trees they have so thoughtfully decorated for our annual Non-Profit Tree Silent Auction (event.gives/cdm2019).
Click here to give
As a true, outdoor German-style Christmas market, we are at the mercy of the elements to some extent, but we think we have a solution—our first-ever covered Weihnachtswald (Christmas Forest). It would keep both our beautifully decorated evergreens and our marketgoers a bit cozier and more protected from potential weather issues and hopefully help us raise even more money for so many worthwhile causes across Iowa.
Click here to give
Won’t you please consider helping us create this amazing new place for our non-profit partners to showcase their amazing Tannenbaum Silent Auction from Dec. 5 -8 at Christkindlmarket Des Moines? Danke schön!
p.s. Have you reserved your limited-edition 2019 Christkindlmarket Des Moines collectible mug yet? It’s not too late. Get yours today before they’re gone.
*These include: Mackenzie Highlanders Pipes & Drums of Iowa, Mosaic in Central Iowa, Veterans In Agriculture, Greater Des Moines Sister City Commission, The Pet Project Midwest, Danish Brotherhood/Danish Sisterhood, Scottish Heritage Society of Iowa, Alliance Francais of Central Iowa, Marstienen Lodge, Sons of Norway, Taysia Blue Rescue, Urban Heights Covenant, DMEHA Samstagsschule, Hope Animal Rescue of Iowa, Waukee School District – International Club
Click here to give
Silent Auction Tree Blog Feature: Hope Animal Rescue of Iowa
Hope Animal Rescue of Iowa is a new addition to the Christkindlmarket Des Moines Silent Auction. They are excited for market patrons to see their “Home for the Pawlidayz” tree, which will be decorated with a warm, country chic feel and highlight their adoptables.
Providing “Hope” is the main goal of this animal rescue which was founded in June 2014. According to their website, they are “a no-kill rescue whose mission is to rescue, protect, and provide hope as we search for loving homes for stray and neglected animals.”
Bidding on this tree will give Hope Animal Rescue much needed funds to continue providing care for their animals. Ninety percent of all money raised within the organization is used for medical care while the other ten percent is used for food and supplies while forever homes are found.
For more information on Hope Animal Rescue of Iowa, please visit their website.
Silent Auction Tree Blog Feature: MacKenzie Highlanders Pipes & Drums
Christkindlmarket Des Moines’ Silent Auction has become a fun and thoughtful tradition over the past three years. Each year, non-profit organizations across Iowa are invited to decorate a tree for display at the market.
MacKenzie Highlanders Pipes & Drums is returning to Christkindlmarket Des Moines’ Silent Auction for the second year in a row. They have chosen a “military and first responders” theme to represent their organization.
“The band was founded by Thomas S Coulson, a distinguished piper, who served during World War II. 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,” explains Dawn Baldwin, the organization’s representative.
The MacKenzie Highlanders Pipes and Drums represent the Greater Des Moines, Iowa metro area. Their primary mission is to support Active and Reserve Military Units, Law Enforcement Agencies and Fire Departments and regularly perform at the events that support these agencies.
Money earned from the Silent Auction will be used to upkeep uniforms and equipment for the band and to help offset start-up costs for new members.
The Silent Auction bidding will take place during Christkindlmarket Des Moines December 5th– December 8th.
For more information on the MacKenzie Highlanders Pipes and Drums, visit their website.