You’ll find a number of activities taking place at the “Christkindlmarket Meeting Spot” during the 2nd weekend of Christkindlmarket Des Moines. Plan your visit accordingly!

Thursday, December 10, 2026

Duane Groenenboom with the Des Moines Woodturners will be providing demonstrations.

Schedule:

5:30pm – 6pm
6:30pm – 7pm
7:30pm – 8pm

Friday, December 11, 2026

Sensory-friendly area equipped with adaptive devices on loan from Easterseals Iowa.

Schedule:

11am – 9pm

Saturday, December 12, 2026

The Christkindlmarkettreff will be transformed into a Krampus Lair to host demonstrations by the Band of Iron Lions Historical European Martial Arts and Hammerschlagen!

Band of Iron Lions Historical European Martial Arts Demonstration Schedule

Schedule:

11:30am – 12pm
1pm – 1:30pm
2:30pm – 3pm
4pm – 4:30pm

Hosted Hammerschlagen. Free will donation: cash, Venmo or Paypal. Proceeds support the Iowa European Cultural Connection, the 501c3 tax-exempt nonprofit that produces Christkindlmarket Des Moines.

Schedule:

12pm – 1pm
1:30pm – 2:30pm
3pm – 4pm
4:30pm – 6:30pm

Sunday, December 13, 2026

The Christkindlmarkettreff will be filled with tables and chairs for patron seating. Enjoy Hammerschlagen in the tent and a Bierstacheln Demonstration from West Hill Brewing Company just outside the tent!

Bierstacheln is a traditional German/Bavarian way of drinking beer by heating it with a glowing-hot iron rod. The name literally means “beer stinging” or “beer poking” (Bier = beer, stacheln = to prick/sting). It’s particularly associated with Bavaria and Austria and has roots in traditional blacksmithing/medieval beer culture.

Enjoy a beer heated with a glowing-hot iron rod! Purchase beer, a beer glass and “a poke” inside Yuletide Hall or the Biergarten and bring your digital receipt to the Bierstacheln demonstration area.

Schedule:

11am – 5pm

Schedule:

11am – 5pm