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Summary

This German Christmas Market Near Toronto Will Transport You To Europe For The Holidays

It's one of the oldest in Canada!

A Christmas market with wooden kiosks and a glowing Christmas tree is seen from above. Right: Two people hold pretzels while standing outside.

Christkindl Market. Right: Pretzels at the Christmas market.

Writer

Feel like spending Christmas in Europe? One of Canada's oldest Christmas markets is opening near Toronto this December, and it'll whisk you away to the streets of Germany for the holidays.

Christkindl Market is an annual Christmas market in Ontario that recreates the sights, sounds, smells and spirit of Christmas festivals found across Germany, which date back 700 years.

The holiday market is returning next month to downtown Kitchener, about two hours from Toronto.

The area will be transformed into a winter wonderland with sparkling lights, a fully lit Christmas tree and a menorah that will be lit daily starting on the first day of the market.

Here, you can enjoy a cup of hot chocolate or a tasty holiday treat and listen to Christmas carols while perusing the festive wooden huts like the kind used in a traditional European market.

People are seen standing at glowing wooden kiosks at Christkindl in Kitchener.The wooden kiosks of the Christkindl Market. Courtesy of City of Kitchener

Visitors will be able to shop for one-of-a-kind gifts and artisan items from 80 vendors selling things like Christmas decor, clothing, accessories and jewelry, toys, arts and crafts, and more.

There will also be plenty of festive food and drinks, including traditional German treats like Christstollen (German Christmas cake), Spitzkuchen gingerbreads and spiced Gluhwein (German mulled wine).

People are seen skating on an outdoor rink surrounded by glowing wooden kiosks. People skate at Carl Zehr Square. Courtesy of City of Kitchener

Visitors can also take in live entertainment like carollers and choir singers at the Christkindl Stage and enjoy free skating on the outdoor rink at Carl Zehr Square.

The Christkindl Market will take place from Thursday, December 7, to Saturday, December 9, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on Sunday, December 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with free admission.

Christkindl Kitchener

Price: Free admission

When: December 7-10, 2023

Address: 200 King St. W., Kitchener, ON

Why You Need To Go: You can visit a sparkling German Christmas market in Ontario this winter with holiday shopping opportunities, traditional German treats and festive entertainment.

Christkindl website

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  • Contributing Writer

    Katherine Caspersz (she/her) is a contributing writer for Narcity Media, covering travel, things to do and more. She has written for various news sites and magazines, including Yahoo Canada and The National Post, and worked as an editor for the Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail. She loves shopping, travel and all things spooky.