Christkindlmarket in the works
Free festival is first announced for plaza
A Christkindlmarket will be held at the entertainment block outside the new Milwaukee Bucks area, the Bucks announced Monday.
The free “authentic German holiday festival” will be held Nov. 17 through Dec. 31. It’s the first event to be announced for the arena’s outdoor plaza.
On a sweltering July afternoon, the Bucks decked out Bango in a holiday sweater, red Rudolph nose and a Santa hat. They pumped “Jingle Bell Rock” and other tunes and celebrated the holidays a few month early.
The Christkindlmarket started in 1996 in Chicago and replicates Christmas markets in Germany, especially a famous one in Nuremberg, said Mark Tomkins, president and CEO of the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest.
The nonprofit also operates a Christkindlmarket in Naperville, Ill.
The Chicago event last year generated an economic impact of $170 million, Tomkins said. It draws international,
out of state and local visitors, he said.
“Christkindlmarket will offer the delight of a German festival in the heart of one of America’s most German cities while celebrating the holiday season with festive shopping, delicious European and German delicacies, hot spiced wine, fine beer, hand-crafted ornaments, entertainment, family fun and more,” the Bucks said in a news release.
The entertainment plaza, which lies just east of the main entrance to the $524 million arena, will be transformed into a “picturesque holiday village featuring around 30 vendors in traditional candy cane-striped wooden huts,” the Bucks said.
“Rooted in German tradition, the Christkindlmarket is a place for celebration and holiday cheer. Visitors will be delighted by live entertainment and activities throughout the event, and will make holiday memories to last a lifetime.”
The Bucks plan to “activate” the plaza with concerts and events like the market to draw visitors to the area — and not just on arena event days.
“The plaza will be an excellent place for fans to gather throughout the year,” Bucks President Peter Feigin said.
The Christkindlmarket will include vendors from Germany, Europe and around the world who display handcrafted ornaments, toys and unique holiday gifts as well as traditional German foods, sweets and beverages, the Bucks said.
“The markets are rich in cultural tradition and include special events, entertainment and activities that are fun for the whole family.”
The grand opening of the new Bucks arena is Aug. 26.