Christkindlmarkt Eve – November 18th, Herald in the Season
Every year, thousands of people pour into Ferdinand to visit the unique Christkindlmarkt Heritage Markets. These markets, which are the result of a concept beginning in 14th century Germany, feature lavishly decorated booths spilling over with Christmas wares, antiques, and gifts of exemplary quality, delicious regional food, live entertainment, a free concert, free tours, and so much more.
The Christkindlmarkt operates at five sites: Ferdinand Community Center at 1710 Community Drive, Ferdinand Library at 112 East 16th Street, the new Tri-County YMCA at 131 East 16th Street, Forest Park High School at 14th & Vienna, and our newest site, the Ferdinand American Legion at 425 Main Street.
All markt sites will be open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. EST on Saturday, November, 19th, and 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. EST on Sunday, November 20th.
More Information
For more information on Christkindlmarkt, visit http://www.ferdinandindiana.org/ or email dhopp@psci.net or call 1-800-968-4578.
Christkindlmarkt Eve – November 18th, Herald in the Season!
Imagine a Christmas Angel appearing from the Gothic doors of an old world monastery crypt. Imagine a live Nutcracker waving a banner as he stands guard. Imagine the resounding chords of monks as they chant, trumpeters heralding in the season, and a bell choir of nuns performing angelic tunes.
Better yet – don’t imagine – live it – during opening ceremonies for the 14th annual Christkindlmarkt to be held in Ferdinand, Indiana. All who wish to experience the magic are invited to gather on the west side lawn of the majestically domed Monastery Immaculate Conception at 6:30 p.m. EST on Friday, November 18. There, the Christkindl, or Christmas Angel, will appear (as she has done at traditional German Christkindlmarkts for over 500 years) and regale the assembled with her angelic, melodious voice. Children will light the way as trumpeters herald in the markt and the Sisters of St. Benedict Bell Choir will perform.
This outdoor Christkindlmarkt Eve event is free and open to all who wish to live a little magic.
Parking is available on the grounds at Monastery Immaculate Conception. Additional parking can be found at St. Ferdinand Church with a complimentary shuttle service to the monastery.
Following the free opening ceremonies, a very special dinner is planned inside St. Gertrude Hall at the monastery. The menu for the Christkindlmarkt Eve Dinner includes: Chicken Cordon Bleu w/creamy noodles, Red Potatoes seasoned w/garlic butter, Cranberry Salad, Antigua Vegetable Medley, Dinner Rolls, Bread Pudding, Cherry Delight, Coffee, Tea and Water.
Pianist, Sr. Kim Mandelkow will entertain the guests with seasonal music. The dinner with entertainment starts at 7:00 p.m. Reservations are required and tickets ($25) can be purchased at Tin Lizzie’s Home Décor & Gifts, LLC or by calling 812-367-1874. All proceeds benefit the Sisters of St. Benedict.
Five markt sites
The Ferdinand Christkindlmarkt will expand to five markt locations this year, including the new Tri-County YMCA at 131 East 16th Street, the Ferdinand Community Center at 1710 Community Drive, the Ferdinand Library at 112 East 16th Street, and the Ferdinand American Legion at 425 Main Street.
Vendors at the five sites will be offering furniture, rocking chairs, bath and body, quilted items, primitives, Christmas décor, antiques, vintage linens, loom woven rugs, purses, felting, German books, glassware, vintage clothing, toys, dollhouse furnishings, chainsaw carvings, quality handcrafted , hand carved, chocolate turtles, Springerles, cream puffs, German food and drink, jewelry, florals, boutique baby items, wooden decorations, enamelware, paintings, folk art, honey, jams, leather, snowmen, birdhouses, and even rocking horses.
Four wineries, French Lick Winery, Carousel Winery, Winzerwald Winery and Monkey Hollow Winery, will be on hand at various sites offering wine tasting, gift baskets, and wine to be purchased by the bottle or by the case.
Ferdinand American Legion to Serve as a NEW Vendor Location
The Ferdinand American Legion at 425 Main Street is slated to be one of the five markt locations for the 14thannual Ferdinand Christkindlmarkt.Vendors there will showcase primitives, solid children’s rockers, tables & chairs, stained glass, birdfeeders, hand drawn pendants, ornaments, key chains, plates, glass tile pendants, woodcarvings, watercolor paintings, gemstone jewelry, purses made of upholstery fabric in multiple colors and sizes, primitive handmade fabric snowmen, Santa figures, hand painted wood, banners, sleds, rocking horses, furniture, rocking chairs, picture frames, candle holders, decorative bowls, Monkey Hollow wines, German and domestic brews, and German plate lunches.
Live Entertainment
Don’t miss the continuous live musical performances on center stage at the Forest Park Markt site, the Glockenspiel, the Marionette Theater, Stillpoint concert, and more.
Stillpoint and St. Benedict Concert to be Held Sunday, November 20
Stillpoint and the Sisters of St. Benedict will perform a free concert in Monastery Immaculate Conception’s beautiful domed chapel on Sunday, November 20 at 3:00 p.m. EST. This group of musical nuns will be singing Advent and Christmas songs along with popular favorites from their CDs. The concert is being held in conjunction with Ferdinand’s 14th annual Christkindlmarkt, November 19-20. For more information, contact Sr. Christine Kempf at 812-367-1411, Extension 2657. Admission is free, goodwill donations gratefully accepted. The heady aroma of authentic Bavarian specialty foods and an incredible array of Christmas wares, antiques, quality hand-crafted, and primitives in over 125 booths await the public at Ferdinand’s Christkindlmarkt, Saturday and Sunday, November 19 and 20.
Antiques Markt
Christkindlmarkts began in Germany in the 14th Century. Artisans would display their wares in the churchyard in the weeks leading up to Christmas. While antiques were probably not a feature of those first Christkindlmarkts, the new Tri-county YMCA at 131 East 16th Street on the Ferdinand Community Center campus in Ferdinand will provide a treasure trove of wonderful antiques, primitives, food, and wine.
The Antiques Markt will take place in conjunction with Ferdinand’s 14th annual Christkindlmarkt, Nov. 19-20, 2011. Available for purchase will be china, glassware, kitchen collectibles, linens, jewelry, antique Christmas collectibles, antique furniture, tools, primitives, old store items, early baskets, wooden ware, tin, iron, old toys, decorated stoneware, old paint folk art, early textiles, fine art, and pottery. Winzerwald Winery and Carousel Winery will also have booths at the Antiques Markt where they will offer wine sampling and sell their delicious wines by the bottle or case. Schnitzelbank Catering will be serving fried chicken, pork schnitzel, livers & gizzards, and trimmings, while the FPHS Dance Team will offer hamburgers/cheeseburgers and desserts. The smell of cinnamon roasted nuts will once again fill the air with samples and bags of freshly roasted almonds and pecans for sale. Yoder’s Bakery will be on hand, as well, on Saturday, Nov. 19th only with freshly baked goods and Amish candy.
Local Wines a Fine Feature at Christkindlmarkt
Four of Indiana’s finest wineries will make an appearance at Ferdinand’s Christkindlmarkt the weekend of November 19 and 20. The French Lick Winery, Winzerwald Winery, Carousel Winery, and Monkey Hollow Winery will offer samples and sell their wines by the bottle or case. French Lick Winery will be situated at the Ferdinand Community Center markt site. Winzerwald Winery and Carousel Winery will vend their wares at the Tri-County YMCA’s Antiques Markt. Monkey Hollow Winery will offer samples and sell their wines at the newest Christkindlmarkt site, the Ferdinand American Legion. Sample delectable foods and wines while visiting the five markt sites throughout town where vendors will be displaying a huge variety of artwork, quality hand-created items, antiques, folk art, wood carvings, candles, jewelry, fabric purses, Christmas wares, furniture, toys, accessories, and more in over 100 booths.
Marionette Theater
Melchoir Marionettes have been entertaining internationally since 1952. Half life size marionettes will perform Holiday Cabaret on Strings on Saturday, November 19, at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. in the Commons Area at Forest Park High School. This event is sponsored by Dubois County Contractual Library and Psi Iota Xi Sorority.
Live Glockenspiel
Don’t miss the enchanting live Glockenspiel, performing Saturday and Sunday at 11, 12, and 1 EST at the High School Markt Site.
2011 Ornament
There will be a new ornament for 2011. Information will be posted as soon as it is available.
Lodging
For hotel or bed and breakfast package information, go to http://www.visitduboiscounty.com/ or call the Dubois County Visitors Center at 1-800-968-4578.
