Parking
FREE
Free parking is available in Lots 3 and 4 (see map below) west of Principal Park (between SW 2nd St and SW 3rd St and south of W Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy) during the following days/times:
Friday, December 6: 11am – 5pm
Saturday, December 7: 11am – 5pm
Sunday, December 8: 11am – 5pm
Park Downtown Des Moines:
ON-STREET: FREE parking all-day in these areas. Vehicles must move every 24 Hours.
Pennsylvania Avenue, E Court to Des Moines Street
River Bridges: Walnut, Locust, and Grand
North Side of Locust, from 15th to 17th (look for the Green “FREE Parking” Meter Bags)
FEE-BASED PARKING
$5 parking is available in Lots 3 and 4 (see map below) west of Principal Park (between SW 2nd St and SW 3rd St and south of W Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy) during the following days/times:
Friday, December 6: 5pm – 9pm
Saturday, December 7: 5pm – 9pm
Lot B at 325 SW 5th Street. Rates are $5/hour and are paid on exit by credit card. Lot is open 24/7.
Lot C at 444 SW 5th Street. Rates are $2/hour and are paid on exit by credit card. Lot is open 24/7.
Park Downtown Des Moines – Downtown Parking Rates
Parking Garages
Parking Garages: Parking Ramp – Market and SW 4th St
Parking Garages: Parking Ramp – 3rd & Court
British Afternoon Tea Among the Vines
Back by popular demand, this cultural experience makes for a great afternoon outing! Seating is limited, so get your ticket today!
Ticket purchase includes hot tea and traditional themed tea service accouterments in a unique setting, tables complete with their own tea pots and classic dishware.
There will be a professional photographer on site as well as photo op areas inside and outside, classical violinist, and speaker presentation on traditional tea etiquette.
Be sure to wear you best hat to be entered into a raffle.
Wine is available to taste or purchase for those guests 21 and older.
Join Des Moines European Heritage Association as a member and receive an additional 5% – 10% off. Click here to join.
All proceeds will go towards the production of Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2019, the Des Moines European Heritage Association‘s signature event and the city’s only German-inspired Christmas market. Gather your friends and don your fancy hats for a memorable afternoon!
When booking, please indicate the names of all guests in your party so that we can do our best to seat you together. Parties of two will be seated with other guests.
Please indicate dietary restrictions when purchasing your ticket; we will do our best to accommodate your needs.
If you have questions, please email [email protected].
CycleBar Private Charity Ride
Grab a friend and join us for a Private Charity Ride at CycleBar Jordan Creek (160 Jordan Creek Parkway, Suite 130, West Des Moines) in support of Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2019.
Visit https://members.cyclebar.com/buy/cyclebar-jordan-creek?schedule_entry_id=piq_896327 to create your account and buy your ticket.
Your $35 ticket (you may choose to give more) includes a Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2019 commemorative Glühwein mug that can be picked up at the festival in December.
CycleBar will provide a CycleStar Instructor and staff to facilitate the 45 minute charity ride. As always, CycleBar will provide all riders with the royal CycleBar treatment, including their amenities (complimentary cycling shoes, towels, water, fresh fruit, etc.).
Please arrive 10-15 minutes early. CycleBar is located just west of the mall on Jordan Creek Pkwy. Many apps will send you to the mall parking lot. CycleBar is behind the new Giordano’s at the corner of Jordan Creek Pkway and Bridgewood Blvd.
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.
Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2019 Radio Spot!
Listen to the 30-second radio spot Suzanne Hull recorded with Ross Peterson at iHeart Radio to promote Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2019. Who’s ready for the holidays to be here already?
Feel free to share with your friends and listen for the spot on select iHeart Radio stations as we get closer to Christkindlmarket Des Moines.
iHeartRadio is an Internet radioplatform owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. Founded in April 2008 as the website iheartmusic.com, as of 2015 iHeartRadio functions both as a music recommender system and as a radio network that aggregates audio content from over 800 local iHeartMedia radio stations across the United States, as well as from hundreds of other stations and from various other media (with companies such as Cumulus Media, Cox Radio and Beasley Broadcast Group also utilizing this service). iHeartRadio is available online, via mobile devices, and on select video-game consoles.
Ruhland Strudel Haus | #CDM2019 Vendor
Tell us about your business
Ruhland’s Strudel Haus has been in business since 2002. What began in a concession trailer has evolved into a frozen, take-and-bake business that serves the Twin City market through farmer’s markets, fundraisers and a variety of community events. We make over 47 varieties of strudel, both sweet and savory.
Founded in 2002, Ruhland’s Strudel Haus is a maker of fabulous sweet and savory strudel. We are inspired by the belief that food is one of life’s celebrations and is integrated in our relationship with the Earth and one another. Our mission is to provide a unique experience of common union. Our hope is that what we make will gather people around the table to celebrate the love and community found in family and friends. Our goal is to create food that brings joy and delight.
What inspired you to get involved as a vendor at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2019?
We have participated the Christkindlsmarket in Excelsior, MN for the last 15 years. When we discovered Christkindlmarket Des Moines, we thought we’d be a good fit. We loved being there in 2018 and look forward to 2019.
What products will you be selling at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2019 and why did you choose them?
We will be offering the same menu as last year. Reuben Strudel, Spinach, Feta and Artichoke Heart Strudel, Apple Strudel, Strawberry Rhubarb Strudel and handmade pretzels with beer cheese sauce. Additionally, we will be offering a new product as well, Rindergulash on a Hoagie roll with sour cream and spicy sweet pickles.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Love your event!
Heartland Youth Choir | #CDM2019 Performer
Tell us about your group.
This is Cantilena Choir, one of six ensembles that make up the Heartland Youth Choir. Cantilena Choir features singers in grades 3 – 5 from throughout Central Iowa. In addition to local performances throughout the year, Cantilena Choir also tours regionally each year. Last summer, we participated in the KidZing Choral Festival in Sioux City.
Heartland Youth Choir is celebrating its 17th year of providing top-quality music education to Iowa children, ages 4 to 18. Learn more at our website: www.joinhyc.org
What are you most looking forward to at Christkindmarket Des Moines?
Our singers enjoy the excitement of the large audience, the wonderful tented stage, and the street market atmosphere. We’re looking forward to exploring the new event location at Principal Park. Our singers are eager to share traditional holiday favorites as well as choral music they have prepared for our WinterSongs holiday concert.
What’s your favorite thing about performing at events like this?
Heartland Youth Choir strives to offer young singers unique performance opportunities just like Christkindlmarket Des Moines. It’s a chance for these young people to engage with the larger community through music and to make memories along the way. Our singers and their families love to stick around after performing to enjoy the rest of the festival.
Central Iowa Wind Ensemble | #CDM2019 Performer
Tell us about your group
The Central Iowa Wind Ensemble was started in 2002 by a group of local music educators. Over the years our group has grown to 50 members and includes musicians from a wide variety of musical backgrounds and occupations. We play 3-4 concerts a year in the Des Moines area.
What are you most looking forward to at Christkindlmarket Des Moines?
Christkindlmarket Des Moines is unique for us because it does not feature our full 50 member ensemble. It’s an opportunity to spotlight our brass section players and gives listeners who maybe haven’t heard us before a chance to find out about us.
What’s your favorite thing about performing at events like this?
Our brass section plays a variety of chamber music and holiday favorites. It’s a great way to spread holiday cheer and a love for classical/traditional music with the Des Moines area.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Check us out on Twitter, Facebook and our website www.ciwe.org. This year we have some exciting changes coming to our organization so stay tuned for behind the scenes looks, concert information and the latest news.
Barefoot Becky & the Ivanhoe Dutchmen | #CDM2019 Performer
Tell us about your group
Barefoot Becky & the Ivanhoe Dutchmen perform as a 2 to 5 person group. For Christkindlmarket Des Moines, we will be performing with our 3-piece group which consists of accordion, guitar/banjo and drums. The band has been playing for over 30 years. One of our highlights was performing on the National Mall in Washington, DC for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in 1996.
What are you most looking forward to at Christkindlmarket Des Moines?
We like the idea of celebrating our German Heritage and creating the European style Christmas market with the food and music. It’s a chance to expose our band to people that may not know we exist and share our music with them! Hopefully our music makes it the icing on the cake that makes an already fun event even better.
Farmboy | Platinum Sponsor
We’re pleased to be working with Farmboy on event branding, educational awareness, and environmental design for Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2019.
Farmboy is a Marketing and Web Development Agency based in Des Moines, Iowa, serving clients in the Midwest and throughout the United States. Since 1998, the agency has worked with entrepreneurial and forward-thinking businesses to find their right audience and scale their business with good strategy.
FARMBOY: Real. Good. Work.