For nine years, Mimi Fritz, President and CEO of the Grand Rapids Downtown Market, worked as the director of the city of Holland Principal Shopping District.
Included in that role was the creation, management and marketing of many seasonal events and programs, among them organizing the annual Kerstmarkt, an outdoor, European-style market with holiday items, delicious food and artisan demonstrations.
Fritz's previous experience in activating public spaces with holiday-focused events stayed with her, and helped to inspire the Downtown Market's own Christkindl Markt, which was presented as a concept to the Downtown Market board in 2018. This European-inspired event concept aligned with the original goals of the Downtown Market—to have an economic impact on the city of Grand Rapids.
We connected with Fritz to learn what's new in the Christkindl Markt's second year and more.
How did your visits to European Christmas Markets shape your vision for creating a similar atmosphere?
We knew that to be successful, substantial research was necessary, including visits to some of the world's most famous Christmas Markets, many of which have been operating for centuries. In 2018, we did our first exploratory trip visiting over 40 Christmas markets. This gave us a starting point to create our plan, how to craft the aesthetic we wanted, best curate appropriate food and retail vendors, what amenities to add and how to create the magical feel we wanted guests to experience. In working to create this same experience, we now constantly ask ourselves, 'Would this be part of a European Christmas Market?' That early research became our primary filter to envision an incredibly high-quality event for our community.
How do you hope the Market adds to the local community?
Our intent has always been about growth and community. Our goal has always been to develop a model that aligns with the European style—where a city hosts multiple Christmas Markets of all types and sizes. We'd love for others in our community to take this idea and make it their own, so Grand Rapids continues to embrace the magic of early winter, and establishes us as a regional holiday destination for visitors and the community alike.
What's new with the Christkindl Markt in 2024?
The success of the 2023 Christkindl Markt was a pleasant surprise, so we decided to do even more this year. The expanded Christmas Village will host more than 60 vendor booths (twice as many as 2023), add more curling sheets and strolling entertainment, offer more commemorative glassware options, and add a "Bubbles Bar" for champagne and sparkling wine enthusiasts, and eggnog for a rich and nostalgic beverage experience. Also new is our Alpenglobe Experience—private "globes" for eight that are perfect for small group gatherings. They offer a heated, enclosed environment surrounded by panoramic views of the Christkindl Markt, a dedicated Alpenglobe attendant, and exclusive food and beverage pre-orders to enhance your intimate get-together in the middle of our winter wonderland.
Edited by Sarah Suydam, Managing Editor for West Michigan Woman.
This article originally appeared in the Dec '24/Jan '25 issue of West Michigan Woman.
Photo courtesy of Downtown Market Grand Rapids.
