#CDM2022 Venue Performers Announced
Friday, December 2, 2022
3:30pm – 4:30pm AND 5pm – 5:30pm: Top Hat Carolers is a local singing group that has performed holiday music for over 25 years. They sing traditional Christmas carols and contemporary holiday tunes dressed in Victorian garb.
Saturday, December 3, 2022
1:30pm – 2pm AND 3pm – 3:30pm: Betruken Messing is the perfect accompaniment to a Christkindlmarket Bier or two. They are a local Des Moines low brass quintet who specializes in holiday music, polkas and polka-ized versions of various music.
2022 Call for Performers
Iowa European Cultural Connection (IECC) invites you to become a performer at the 7th annual Christkindlmarket Des Moines taking place December 1 – 4, 2022 at Principal Park.
If you have applied in the past, but were not accepted, we encourage you to complete an application each year. The programming committee takes several factors into consideration when choosing the slate of performers each year.
Performances typically seen at Christkindlmarkets include (but are not limited to): European folk music players, European folk music singers, yodeling, guitarist, accordionist, clogging, folk dancers, Scottish pipes & drums, high school choirs, children’s choirs, violinists, bell choirs, church choirs, storytellers, brass bands, alpine horn blowers, marionette/puppeteers, Schuhplattler Verein, vocal performances in European languages, harpists, etc.
Yuletide Hall is a four-sided, forced-air heated tent at a location to be determined by the CDM event planning committee at Principal Park’s Main Lot. A lighted stage within the tent will be provided. The size of the stage in 2021 was 16x32x32″ tall.
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.
What is the timeline for the process?
- Fill out the online needs assessment below by March 1, 2022
- Send photographs and links to audio files/videos representing you or your group to christkindlmarketdsm@gmail.com (REQUIRED; your application is not complete until we receive this)
- Receive feedback from CDM staff by March 15, 2022
CDM 2022 Performer Information Guide
CDM 2022 Performer Needs Assessment
Dueling Fiddles | #CDM2021 Performer
Tell us about your group
The Dueling Fiddles consists of two violinists, Hanna Wolle and Genevieve Salamone. Formed in 2016, Hanna and Genevieve first met as stand partners in the Des Moines Symphony. Their shared love of music led them to form the Dueling Fiddles. Over the past 5 years, this dynamic group has had the opportunity to share their music with communities and fans across the Midwest.
What are you most looking forward to at Christkindlmarket Des Moines?
We are most looking forward to getting into the holiday spirit! We are working on several new holiday arrangements and releasing a holiday EP that we will debut at Christkindlmarket Des Moines.
What’s your favorite thing about performing at events like this?
Our favorite part about performing at events like this is the opportunity to share our music with festival attendees. Having people dance at our shows and enjoy our music is the reason why we do what we do.
Mackenzie Highlanders Pipes and Drums of Iowa | #CDM2021 Performer
Tell us about your group
“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,” explains Dawn Baldwin, the organization’s representative.
“He moved to Newton, Iowa and founded the Mackenzie Highlanders Pipes and Drums about the mid ’70’s. 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.”
The Mackenzie Highlanders Pipes and Drums, currently 11 members in size, 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.
What are you most looking forward to at Christkindlmarket Des Moines?
We’re really looking forward performing at Christkindlmarket Des Moines. It’s a fun, unique family event, and we’re looking forward to seeing the smiling faces again. The volunteers, facilities and location are top notch. We’re very honored to play at this event.
If you’re interested in learning to play please visit our web site or find us on Facebook.
Heartland Youth Choir | #CDM2021 Performer
Tell us about your group
Cantilena Choir is one of six choirs at Heartland Youth Choir. This year, our enrollment is 28 students! Heartland Youth Choir is in its 19th year.
What are you most looking forward to at Christkindlmarket Des Moines?
We are looking forward to performing for a live audience. After last year, any chance we get to share our music is important to us. Families of our singers look forward to the fun they have after we are done performing and can enjoy the market.
What’s your favorite thing about performing at events like this?
Cantilena choir, families, and musicians love performing at Christkindlemarket Des Moines. We love the atmosphere that it provides, and the family time we spend after we perform walking around the festival.
Yuletide Hall Entertainment
Thursday, December 2, 2021
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Barefoot Becky & the Ivanhoe Dutchmen are based out of Mt Vernon, IA and have been performing all over the country for 31 years. We play polkas, waltzes, big band, old country and party songs! We like to have fun and hope you do too!
Friday, December 3, 2021
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Barefoot Becky & the Ivanhoe Dutchmen are based out of Mt Vernon, IA and have been performing all over the country for 31 years. We play polkas, waltzes, big band, old country and party songs! We like to have fun and hope you do too!
4:00 pm – 5:00pm – Top Hat Carolers Carolers in Victorian garb. Traditional to contemporary Christmas carols.
6:30 pm – 9:00 pm The Jim Kucera Band has been performing since 1984. The group has not only performed in Iowa and Nebraska, but throughout the Midwest. The group has 5 recordings on CD, one of which (Play A Polka Daddy), was featured in the Polka Countdown top 10 recordings in 2001. The group specializes in all styles of polka music, and enjoys playing many Oktoberfest celebrations each year throughout the Midwest.
Saturday, December 4, 2021
12:00 pm – 12:30 pm – MacKenzie Highlanders Pipes & Drums Bagpipes and drums
1:00 pm – 1:20 pm – Schuhplattler Gruppe Edelweiss German-Bavarian & Austrian Folk Dancing
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm – Heartland Youth Choir Our singers will provide choral music of the holiday season. Our selections will include traditional Christmas tunes as well as lesser known melodies including those from other countries. Our singers will be the ages of 2nd-4th grade.
2:45pm – 3:15pm – Schuhplattler Gruppe Edelweiss SG Edelweiss, the award winning Bavarian dance group from St. Paul, MN, will perform traditional German and Austrian folk dances.
3:30 pm – 4:00 pm – Foy School of Traditional Irish Dance Celebrate Irish culture with the Foy School of Irish Dance. The revelry includes delightful traditional dances and contemporary choreographed numbers that both enchant and entertain!
4:15 pm – 4:45 pm – Schuhplattler Gruppe Edelweiss SG Edelweiss, the award winning Bavarian dance group from St. Paul, MN, will perform traditional German and Austrian folk dances.
5:15 pm – 5:30 pm – Schuhplattler Gruppe Edelweiss SG Edelweiss, the award winning Bavarian dance group from St. Paul, MN, will perform traditional German and Austrian folk dances.
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Malek’s Fishermen Band European Dance Music
Sunday, December 5, 2021
11:30 am – 12:10 pm – Schuhplattler Gruppe Edelweiss SG Edelweiss, the award winning Bavarian dance group from St. Paul, MN, will perform traditional German and Austrian folk dances.
12:15 pm – 2:15 pm – The Metro Brass Quintet performs a fun variety of music from polkas to jazz and has been entertaining the Des Moines metro since 2014.
2:30 pm – 3:10 pm – Schuhplattler Gruppe Edelweiss SG Edelweiss, the award winning Bavarian dance group from St. Paul, MN, will perform traditional German and Austrian folk dances.
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Dueling Fiddles The Dueling Fiddles are an energetic and engaging performance group that mix the rich sounds of the violin with layered accompaniment for fun shows that audiences of all ages will enjoy. We perform a variety of music, ranging from World folk music to fiddle to modern pop covers. We performed at Christkindlmarket Des Moines in 2019, and we received so many wonderful compliments from the crowd that they loved our show and music. We would love the opportunity to come back in 2021!
Iowa European Cultural Connection connects Iowans with European traditions, language learning and cultural experiences.
![Support[1]](https://christkindlmarketdsm.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Support1-1024x487.png)
Host Your Holiday Party in Yuletide Hall at Christkindlmarket Des Moines
‘Tis the season for celebrating! Your reserved table in Yuletide Hall (heated) comes with drink tickets and souvenirs.
Reserve an 8-person table in Yuletide Hall at Christkindlmarket Des Moines on Thursday, December 2 and get into the holiday spirit as you enjoy performances by Barefoot Becky & the Ivanhoe Dutchmen. Perfect for families, social club outings, corporate holiday parties, volunteer appreciation outings, social hours, etc.
Each ticket comes with the following:
- A reserved 8-person table in Yuletide Hall, our heated entertainment tent at Christkindlmarket Des Moines (CDM)
- 2 food/drink vouchers PER PERSON that can be used for Glühwein (warm mulled wine), Kinderpunsch (warm mulled cider), Iowa craft beers, International beers, and brats
- A 2021 commemorative Glühwein mug OR CDM pint glass PER PERSON
- A 2021 commemorative pin OR ornament PER PERSON
Choose from two seatings on Thursday, December 2, 2021:
5:30pm – 7:30pm
6:30pm – 8:30pm
Early bird pricing per table before October 1, 2021: $225
Pricing per table after October 1, 2021: $250
Your purchase will support Des Moines European Heritage Association, the 501c3 tax-exempt non-profit that produces Christkindlmarket Des Moines.
Call for Performers
Thank you for your interest in performing at Christkindlmarket Des Moines taking place December 2 – 5, 2021 at Principal Park!
Dec 2: 5pm – 9pm
Dec 3: 11am – 9pm
Dec 4: 11am – 9pm
Dec 5: 11am – 5pm
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 culinary specialties to provide an experience filled with European elegance and charm. See Google Images of Christmas markets around the world.
CDM may offer options regarding performing spaces:
Option 1: A four-sided, forced-air heated tent at a location to be determined by the CDM event planning committee at Principal Park’s Main Lot. A lighted stage within the tent will be provided. The size of the stage in 2019 was 16x32x32″ tall.
Option 2: A three-sized, forced-air heated tent with roof at a location to be determined by the CDM event planning committee at Principal Park’s Main Lot. A lighted stage housed within the three-sized tent will be provided. The size of the stage in 2019 was 16x32x32″ tall.
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.
What is the timeline for the process?
Fill out the online needs assessment no later than May 1, 2021
Send photographs and links to audio files/videos representing you or your group to – christkindlmarketdsm@gmail.com
Receive feedback from Christkindlmarket Des Moines staff by May 15, 2021
Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2021 Performer Information Guide
Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2021 Performer Needs Assessment
2020 Call for Performers
Des Moines European Heritage Association invites you to become a performer at the 5th Annual Christkindlmarket Des Moines taking place December 3 – 6, 2020 at Principal Park.
In its first four years, this cultural experience has attracted over 145,000 visitors.
If you have applied in the past, but were not accepted, we encourage you to complete an application each year. The programming committee takes several factors into consideration when choosing the slate of performers each year.
Performances typically seen at Christkindlmarkets include (but are not limited to): European folk music players, European folk music singers, yodeling, guitarist, accordionist, clogging, folk dancers, Scottish pipes & drums, high school choirs, children’s choirs, violinists, bell choirs, church choirs, story-tellers, brass bands, alpine horn blowers, marionette/ puppeteer, Schuhplattler Verein, vocal performances in European languages, harpists, etc.
We will provide a four-sided, forced-air heated tent at a location to be determined by the Christkindlmarket Des Moines event planning committee in Principal Park’s Main Lot. A lighted stage within the tent will be provided. The size of the stage in 2019 was 30’ x 16’.
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.
What is the timeline for the process?
- Fill out the online needs assessment no later than March 15, 2020
- Send photographs and links to audio files/videos representing your your group to christkindlmarketdsm@gmail.com
- Receive feedback from Christkindlmarket Des Moines staff by April 15, 2020
The Jim Kucera Band | #CDM2019 Performer
Tell us about your group and what to expect from your performance
The Jim Kucera Band started in 1984. Our first performance was at the Wilber Czech Festival that year. This is our 35th year!!
Our most unique performance: We were asked by the University of Nebraska to play for a Husker Men’s Basketball game in 1987. The Husker team was playing an exhibition against the team from what was Czechoslovakia at the time. They wanted polka music! We alternated our brand of exciting polka music with the Husker pep band. It was great! A pep band gig!
What are you most looking forward to at the 2019 Christkindlmarket Des Moines?
We have played at Des Moines a lot the past several years. We have always been treated great by the people of Des Moines! Performing at Christkindlmarket Des Moines not only gets us to Des Moines again, but to play something different! Playing new venues and events, that’s always exciting as a performer!
What do you enjoy most about this type of venue or crowd?
Playing events like this, we get to see old friends and have the opportunity to develop new friendships as well! We approach each gig with the mindset that it’s not just about the music, but it’s about family in the band, and it’s about the people we perform for as well. It’s about relationships with people. I guess that’s the teacher in me speaking.