Frothy hot chocolate. Savory, gooey raclette cheese on perfectly crusty bread. Shimmering salty pretzels. Warm, spiced Glühwein served in an iconic boot mug. Authentic, handcrafted German gifts and treasures. These are just a few of the gems that fans of the Carmel Christkindlmarkt missed in 2020 when events in the City of Carmel were cancelled due to the global pandemic. This year, with an opening date of November 20, the City of Carmel is excited to welcome back the Christkindlmarkt and the Ice at Carter Green skating season. Guests can shop for authentic German-made gifts and grab tasty treats, and adults will stay warm sipping the signature, spiced mulled wine called Glühwein at the first ”Tower of Glühwein” in America. Nestled in the heart of Carmel’s new downtown, the market and the ice rink are in the open space by the Palladium at The Center for the Performing Arts. It’s the perfect destination for groups of friends, family or a romantic date night after dinner at neighboring Hotel Carmichael’s French eatery, Vivante. It is not uncommon to see visitors in formal wear as they emerge from the Palladium after a performance to take a stroll through the old-world charm of the market. In 2019, the Christkindlmarkt attracted more than 300,000 visitors and was voted USA Today’s No. 1 Best Holiday Market in North America. This year, with events once again back on the calendar, Christkindlmarkt organizers are expecting large crowds once again.

“We are thrilled to ring in this holiday season with the market and the ice-skating rink and can’t wait to welcome all of our visitors,” said Maria Murphy, CEO and Market Master. “We pride ourselves at being able to attract our local residents, who have been with us since we opened in 2017, as well as first-time attendees who come from cities and towns throughout the Midwest. We hope everyone who
experiences our event builds a visit into their holiday traditions for years to come.”

Not to be overlooked is the large, authentic ice-skating rink that is built into the middle of the Market for the holiday season and can hold up to 250 skaters at a time. Skaters of all ages and talents have the opportunity to be on the ice under the crisp winter skies. After the Christkindlmarkt ends on Christmas Eve, the Ice at Carter Green season continues through the end of February. Winter-time activities there include special events such as the Festival of Ice featuring ice sculpture carvers and Carmel Winter Games with friendly team competition on The Ice. For more information about the Ice at Carter Green, visit TheIceAtCarterGreen.com.