Hoosier Gemütlichkeit
If you want to transport yourself into a Christmas movie without leaving Indiana, visit the Carmel Christkindlmarkt and you will feel the warm coziness of the holiday season. Since its inception in 2017 the Christkindlmarkt (the Market) has captured the essence of an authentic German Christmas market. Chalet-style wooden huts adorned with twinkling lights and red-and-white decorations line the Market streets, all centered around an ice rink where the giggles of young and old balancing on the ice ring in the air.
The enchanting lights and sights, the scent of warm spiced wine, the sounds of nostalgic music and the tempting tastes of German food all contribute to an environment bubbling with Gemütlichkeit. That’s the German word for the feeling of warmth, coziness, friendliness and good cheer.
Crowning the decorations is a wood crafted Glühwein pyramid, a Christmas tradition that finds its origin in the folklore of the German Erzgebirge in Saxony. Small pyramids (or carousels) that turn on the hot air created by candles can be found in households throughout Germany and neighboring countries, while towering tall ones grace their Christmas markets. The one at Carmel stands 33 feet tall, sparkles with thousands of lights and houses drink stands offering Glühwein (mulled wine), cold beer and Glühbier (mulled beer) imported from Belgium.
CEO Maria Murphy is a leading force behind the Market. In high school she spent a year in Steinbeck (Luhe), a small village south of Hamburg in northern Germany as a foreign exchange student after earning a Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) scholarship, which was a scholarship put in place by Richard G. Lugar. She learned the German language and was immersed in the local culture, including experiencing the traditional local Christmas market.
In 2017, Maria attended an event where Mayor James Brainard brought up the idea of starting a Christmas market in Carmel. Murphy quickly volunteered to help bring his idea to fruition, and the mayor soon asked her to be the Market’s CEO thanks to her love of German culture and language, as well as her business expertise (she had worked 10 years in the banking industry). She accepted, went back to Germany to do research and establish connections, and created the first Carmel Christkindlmarkt in just a few whirlwind months.
Maria was able to build relationships with existing organizations such as the Indiana German Heritage Society, the International Center, Indianapolis-Cologne Sister City Committee and the Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany for Indiana, Sven Schumacher.
The success of Christkindmarkt comes out of CEO Maria Murphy‘s love of the German culture and language combined with the good cheer brought by the thousands of celebrants who attend each year. She stands near the towering Glühwein pyramid in the midst of the Market that is buzzing with entertainment and excitement.
In a few years, the Market grew into an award-winning event that last year drew in a crowd of over 450,000 people, grossing $5.8 million in total Market sales, including what vendors took home to their families and ticket sales at the ice rink. The Market has topped USA Today’s Reader’s Choice Best Holiday Markets list since 2019, outranking old-timers like Christkindlmarket Chicago, Houston’s Nutcracker Market and the Kerstmarkt in Holland, Michigan.
A small but mighty year-round team, amplified by a small army of seasonal employees, makes the Market come together every year. But the time when the season approaches, and the actual Market takes shape again, feels extra special to Maria.
“At the beginning of the Market when the vendors are arriving, the huts are being decorated and there is a flurry of activity, I love walking around the Market and saying hello and getting to hug all the vendors I haven’t seen since the prior year,” she says. “This will be our sixth Market, and some of the vendors have participated since the very beginning. I have seen their children grow up. We also have returning seasonal staff each year and it really does feel like a family reunion.”
One of the highlights of the Christkindlmarkt is its diverse lineup of vendors. You’ll find unique and handcrafted gifts, ornaments and holiday decorations that make perfect souvenirs or presents for loved ones. From intricate blown-glass ornaments to warm knit scarves, the Market offers a wide range of holiday treasures that cater to all tastes and budgets. Whether you’re looking for a special keepsake or simply want to soak in the festive ambiance, the Market has something for everyone.
The well-established Market invokes a sense of community around food, drink, ice skating and unique goods that visitors experience in a reflective way. Set around Advent, the four weeks leading up to Christmas, it also attracts visitors to the restaurants nearby, boosting the local economy.
Entertainment is a key component of the Christkindlmarkt experience. Performances by local musicians, choirs and dance groups grace the stage, filling the air with melodious tunes and adding to the festive spirit.
No visit to the Market is complete without indulging in some mouthwatering food. The food vendors serve up a delicious array of traditional German delicacies, from sizzling bratwursts, pretzels in all sizes, Kartoffelpuffers (crispy-fried potato pancakes), to apple strudel, hot chocolate and, of course, mulled wine.
This year, an exciting new accolade is added to the City of Carmel’s accomplishments: They will announce a new sister city in Germany. The Market is excited about ways in which to partner with the Sister City to enhance the cultural experience of the Market.
For the people of Carmel, and those who travel from near and far to experience it, the Carmel Christkindlmarkt is more than just an event — it’s a cherished holiday tradition. It’s a place where memories are made, where the spirit of Christmas comes alive, and where the magic of the season can be felt in every corner. It’s not just a market—it’s a journey into a winter wonderland, a celebration of tradition, and a testament to the spirit of the holiday season and Gemütlichkeit.
BITS AND BITES FROM A FEW FIRST-HOUR VENDORS
Have a fix of locally grown Indiana kettle corn from Tipton-based Groomsville Popcorn; www.GroomsvillePopcorn.com
Dig into oozing-good melted cheese at Joe Burns Baked Cheese Haus, aka Cheese Santa; Instagram @BakedCheeseHouse
Follow the irresistible sweet scent of waffles from local local Carmel family–owned The Walking Waffle Company;www.TheWalkingWaffleCompany.Square.site
Tick-tock, need a cuckoo clock? Browse the German handcraft stall of Frankenmuth Clock Co.; www.FrankenmuthClock.com
Find colorful locally crafted Polish pottery at Out of the Blue Pottery’s decorative stall; www.OutOfTheBluePottery.com
CARMEL CHRISTKINDLMARKT FUN FACTS
63
number of booths and attractions for 2023 (not all are ‘public facing’ | includes Pavilion, First Aid hut, Operations hut, etc.)
16
number of local vendors (from Hamilton County and the surrounding ring of counties, and not including market-operated huts such as alcohol, steins or Werksttat, or the ice rink)
202
hours that we’re open to the public
3,149 GALLONS
volume of Glühwein sold in 2022
14,905
number of pretzels (includes “Giant Pretzels” and “Pretzel Bites”)
36
Outdoor heaters
40,000
approximate number of sausages sold
