In 1996

Christkindl Market was brought to Kitchener's City Hall by founder Tony Bergmeier. It was designed to breathe life into the core of downtown Kitchener. Today, over 35,000 visitors from across North America come to experience our award-winning festival.

Top 50 Festivals & Events

Christkindl Market continues to qualify as "Top 50" Festivals and Events in Ontario.

Awards include
Top 10 Events & Best New Festival

Christkindl Market was awarded ‘Best New Festival 1999’ by Festivals and Events Ontario and 'Top 10 Events in Ontario.' Other awards include: Oktoberfest Parade - Wunderbar (won 2X), Harvest, Sponsorship and Spirit and Enthusiasm. Kitchener Downtown Business Association (KDBA) - Arts and Culture Contribution.

Tell us about your personal experience.

"By almost all accounts, it was a banner year for those in the business of mulled wine, donkey shows and woollen crafts who hawked their goods at Kitchener City Hall in recent days. Organizers of the Christkindl Market, in its 11th year as a traditional German Christmas bazaar, think the five-day event drew more than 35,000 people.

"I'd say it's a record year," said Astrid Braun, president of the festival committee. "We had retailers downtown who kept the same hours as us this year, because we were so busy."

The festival, which included a dozen new vendors as well as German musical acts and dancers, also hauled in more than $4,000 for the Children's Wish Foundation.

For the partially outdoor market, the weather couldn't have been much better, Reid said. Early snow helped set the Christkindl mood, and it was cool but not frigid -- an inviting temperature for skating or sipping a cup of hot apple cider.

"Last year was the 10th anniversary, and we thought we couldn't top that," said Debbie Wurm, who sold baked goods from her Grainharvest Breadhouse. "But this was even bigger." - GREG MERCER, RECORD STAFF, 2007