GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Thousands of Christmas lights, a variety of performers and local, regional and national vendors will take over the Grand Rapids Downtown Market’s parking lot starting Friday for the second annual Christkindl Markt.

“It’s growing exponentially every single day. As far as how many people (have been helping set up), I couldn’t even give you a total. I feel like everybody is all hands on deck. Everybody at the Downtown Market is so excited to get set up so we can have our big kickoff on Friday,” Karen Carpenter, general manager of the Christkindl Markt, said.

Carpenter said that this year is an expansion of last year’s inaugural market. There are twice as many vendors, twice as many holiday beverage options and twice as many curling sheets.

Vendor booths are selling everything from European sausage, sweet and savory crepes, raclette, Polish food and Greek delights to homemade decor, alpaca fleece, soy candles, German Christmas favorites, pet accessories and more.

The 2024 Christkindl Markt commemorative glassware collection: (left to right) the beer stein, the champagne glass, the gluhwein mug and the eggnog glass. (Courtesy of the Grand Rapids Downtown Market)

Just like last year, the 2024 Christkindl Markt will feature year-specific commemorative glassware with two additional beverage options.

“What we thought was that we ordered plenty of commemorative glassware last year and we actually ran out. So this year we ordered almost twice as much — actually, more than that because we’re offering even eggnog and Champagne or ‘bubbles…'” she said.

The glasses include a boot-shaped mug for gluhwein and a ceramic beer stein with ornate details and vignettes of the Christkindl village. New this year are frosted eggnog and Champagne glasses with red text and Markt theming.

A new Champagne bar — dubbed the Bubbles Bar — will be located on the second floor of the market’s greenhouse.

“Champagne’s sparkling effervescence is synonymous with the holiday season around the world, but especially at traditional Christmas markets in France! Guests will enjoy a menu of bubbly expressions from around the world, including the Champagne region, served in a frosted glass with a classic and elegant shape,” a post on the market’s Facebook page said.

Just like last year, the beer will be Brewery Vivant‘s Dunkelweizen. Hot cider and hot chocolate will also be available.

If you purchased a commemorative glass last year, you can bring the glass back to receive the refill price on your drink, organizers told News 8.

One complaint the first year was long waits in beverage lines. Carpenter said the solution was more purchase points this year.

The Alpenglobe’s at the 2024 Christkindl Market in Grand Rapids. (Courtesy of the Grand Rapids Downtown Market)

For those looking to escape the elements and enjoy a more private area, guests can reserve an individual seating area dubbed an Alpenglobe for three hours. They come with a server to skip the lines for a beverage. Exclusive food and beverage add-ons will be available.

“For those of you who may have been here last year, we had some other types of shelters that you could reserve, keep warm. They had some heaters in there. And these are just way new and improved from what we had last year…” Carpenter said.

The Alpenglobes seat up to eight people. Reservations can be made here.

The curling stations at the 2023 Christkindl Market in Grand Rapids. (Courtesy of the Grand Rapids Downtown Market)

This year, the number of curling stations has doubled to four. Each of the 38-foot synthetic “ice” curling sheets is stocked with eight curling stones. Market organizers recommend groups of up to eight people for reservations, which can be made here.

Just like the inaugural year, guests can buy s’mores in the information booth and roast them over an open fire. Also available at the information booth and new this year is a commemorative Christkindl Markt knit hat that costs $24.

A photo of the commemorative Christkindl Markt hats. (Courtesy of the Grand Rapids Downtown Market)

Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus and other performers will stroll around the market this year instead of in a fixed location. Santa will visit on Sundays.

“We have our banquet room upstairs and the greenhouse. Both of those will be open for public seating, and Mr. and Mrs. Claus will make their way through there and that’s actually, up in our banquet room, is where you can write your letters to Santa and possibly see him,” Carpenter said.

The market will be open Wednesday through Sunday weekly run through Dec. 23, with varying hours each day. For those wanting to bring their furry friends, Carpenter said that dogs are welcome outside but only service animals are allowed inside the building.

Parking is available on the street, at the parking lot across the street and at parking structures nearby. Tips for planning a visit to the Christkindl Markt can be found on the market’s website.