Located in downtown Vancouver on the Plaza at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre (on Georgia, between Cambie and Hamilton), the Vancouver Christmas Market will open for 31 days in 2010, opening on Wednesday November 24th and closing on Friday December 24th.

It is so much more than just a craft fair. An authentic German Christmas Market creates the perfect atmosphere for purchasing Christmas related merchandise and food. It also serves as an ideal setting for multiple cultural activities and events. The romantic setting of the Christmas Market with its customary rows of little wooden huts that are decorated in pine branches, strung with little white lights showing off the merchandise, will develop into the focal point of the holiday season in the city.

During the pre-Christmas season the market is the perfect destination for combining a family outing with some Christmas shopping. A special children’s area known as the Kinderweihnacht will give youngsters the chance to make their own Christmas gifts and visit with Santa Claus. Business people will find a fun meeting place for a quick bite during lunch time or a drink after work. Companies will host their Christmas parties there. Since there is quite a bit of entertainment offered as well it also becomes a place for young people to enjoy before night on the town. School groups of all ages, social clubs and senior organizations will incorporate a visit in their holiday activities.

The centre piece of the Christmas Market will be a marvelous tall evergreen with fairy lights which creates a unique Christmas atmosphere surrounded by more than 30 traditional wooden booths, one or two stages and festive decorations.

There will be a mix of food and merchandise booths including some specialties such as German bratwurst and Leberkaes, traditional Christmas cookies, Lebkuchen, roasted chestnuts and spiced Christmas Cake (Stollen). Beverages will include hot spiced apple cider and authentic hot spiced red wine (Gluehwein) and a selection of German beers.

The merchandise will include authentic wood carvings and wooden toys, knitted cloves and scarves, Christmas pyramids and tree balls, tin toys, stain glass, and nutcrackers in various sizes as well as live glass blowing demonstrations.

During the day a culture program and entertainment will take place on the Pavilion Stage including classical Christmas concerts, carolers and choirs in addition to artistic fire shows, story telling and puppet shows and appearances of Santa Claus. Children will parade with their handcrafted lanterns during the weekly Lantern Procession through the market.

Traditional German Market Food & Beverages

A sampling of the terrific food and drink you can enjoy at the Vancouver Christmas Market

Artisan Bake Shoppe, North Vancouver

Originally from Germany, Markus Jaeger prepares a vast variety of German style bread and cakes in his bakery in North Vancouver. He is looking forward to presenting the famous Christstollen during the Vancouver Christmas Market. Stollen is a bread-like fruitcake made with yeast, water and flour, and usually with zest added to the dough Candied orange peel and candied citrus peel, raisins and almonds, and different spices such as cardamom and cinnamon are added. Except for the fruit added, the dough is quite low in sugar. The finished cake is sprinkled with icing sugar. What a delicious tradition!

Coffee-Specialities, Diana Briglio, Vancouver

Two families with Italian heritage cooperate to serve “tutte le specialità di caffè” at the Vancouver Christmas Market. Besides cappuccino, latte macchiato and espresso the “la mamma italiana” prepare biscotti and nuts as roasted almonds in a variety of flavors. You can even enjoy freshly roasted chestnuts which are a big tradition at German Christmas Markets.

Black Forest Meats & Sausages, Vancouver

Originally from the Black Forest region in Germany, Juergen Burckhardt relies on traditional products with a top quality. In his sausage production in North Vancouver he uses fresh ingredients and many original spices from Germany. You will taste it! The small Nürnberger Rostbratwürschtl, the original Bratwurst and the Bavarian Weißwurst will be served at the Vancouver Christmas Market. For many Europeans in Vancouver this will feel like home!

Dundarave Olive Company, Vancouver

The healthy olives and olive oils of Dundarave Olive Company by Nico Boleslawsky come in a lot of different variations. Thanks to the added flavors and spices you can give your favorite dishes additional variety – your salads, vegetables and meats will never taste the same again. What a great gift for Christmas!

Okanagan Vinegar Brewery, Okanagan

Alois Thun has German heritage and is proud to present his great product line at the Vancouver Christmas Market. He brews vinegar with the same care as wine is ripened in kegs and bottles. His fruit vinegars with different flavors and ripening ages are unique and a very unique gift for Christmas.

Ploeger Delikatessen, Vancouver

The Ploeger family has moved to Vancouver in 2009 and their shop with food specialties in Kitsilano has opened this year. If you want to enjoy a nice breakfast or lunch break with handmade food and good coffee you can certainly find it there. At the Vancouver Christmas Market, the Ploeger Family will serve their tasty freshly prepared soups, quiches and a lot more right at the market. You will also find a variety of delicious handmade marmalades at their market stall!

Sascha Fels, Feuerzangenbowle

Feuerzangenbowle is a traditional German alcoholic drink for which a sugar cube is flambéed with rum, dripping into mulled wine. It is often part of a Christmas or New Year’s Eve tradition. The name translates literally to “fire-tongs punch”. The resulting punch is served in mugs while the burner keeps the bowl warm. More important than the drink itself is the ceremony, conveying a notion of Gemütlichkeit.

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