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    Carmel Christkindlmarkt

    4.1 (350 reviews)
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    Alison M.

    My mother and I have been talking about coming here for the last 3 years. My daughter is 19 months old so, we decided to take our first girl's trip here for a weekend in Carmel to coincide with the 5k hosted at this market. It does feel authentic - but it's cramped into this small, adorable city center area which is super cute. Problem, it's a small, cramped space and was difficult to even walk down the rows (like, so cramped you were just stopped elbow to elbow pushing against people not moving) and with my daughter's stroller it was a nightmare. The lines for food were at least 50 people deep for every single vendor so, if you wanted to sample multiple things you'd be waiting hours... They did have authentic German souvenirs and the boot mugs are adorable! Lots of cute places for photo ops. There were some issues - the penny press didn't work and took my $.51 and gave me a mangled, flat penny. I had dollars and pennies but no quarters and literally no one vendor or place here had change. I feel you should not have a penny press without offering people change... it should be located in one of the customer help/service tents. The 5k was fun and well-done - small group of around 2500 runners and starts and ends at the market. It was nice bc I got to see the spaces and walk around and take some pictures without the crowds. If we ever come back, it'll be much earlier in the season and during a week day to avoid the insane crowds we had on the last Saturday before Christmas. I think the 5k should be earlier in the season so it'll be warmer and less crowded.

    Shannon N.

    I just took a DNA test turns out I'm 80% German! No wonder I've always felt drawn to Christkindlmarkt! I've enjoyed this open air market for the past several years despite the cold weather. The mulled wine, spiked ciders and other interesting hot beverages will keep you warm while you peruse the various vendors seasonal offerings. Every year they have a different Christkindlmarkt mug with the year and new theme to collect. This year we were delighted to experience a glassblowing event. Artists visit from Germany had a demo making glass ornaments and it was fun to watch and nice to be warm and indoors for a bit. Purchased a gorgeous glass hummingbird ornament as a gift for my mom. I love standing by the fire near giant lit up windmill eating the boiled potatoes topped with raclette cheese, bacon and onions. Something we look forward to every year. They added shuttle this year and there is also free parking in a couple lots nearby if you're lucky enough to snag a spot or get there early enough. Arrive early if you can! Bundle up and do a little Christmas shopping and even ice skating if you're up for it. There are tons of unique gifts and food and drinks to try. Enjoy!

    Kirsten J.

    Christkindlmarkt is absolutely amazing--it truly feels like being transported straight back to Germany. From the moment you arrive, the atmosphere is festive, charming, and wonderfully authentic. I especially loved the German vendors and the traditional feel throughout the market. There's a large ice-skating rink right in the center, which adds so much to the experience. The food and drinks are fantastic: German brats, Kartoffelpuffer (classic German potato pancakes), Käsespätzle, hot chocolate, Glühwein, and even Feuerzangenbowle. Everything felt very true to tradition and brought back wonderful memories. One tip: go during the week if you can. We visited on a Saturday, and it was packed wall-to-wall with people. While the prices are definitely on the higher side and a bit marked up, the experience, atmosphere, and authenticity make it totally worth it. Highly recommend--especially if you love German culture, food, and holiday traditions.

    Mariah C.

    (3.5 review) We saw that this Christmas market had one of the highest ratings in the country, so we made the trip from Louisville on opening day! We found parking pretty easy about 10 mins away. The booths were beautiful and festive, I was quickly put in the Christmas spirit. We ordered bratwursts with sauerkraut, mulled wine, mushrooms and potato knodel. The food was tasty but prices were steep. The items being sold at the booths were also really expensive, from ornaments to German Stein's and paper lanterns (everything was unfortunately out of budget). We watched a group play Alphorns, and saw a few unique animals (owl, fox, cervidae) on our way out. We didn't ice skate because of the crowds but it did look fun. Overall, we had a fun time looking around, I think my expectations were set a bit too high after reading that this market was one of the best in the country. Be prepared to wait in long lines and spend a bit of money if you're eating and drinking. I think this event needs a larger space with the high crowd numbers, I also wish they had more of a variety of price ranges on items to purchase.

    Glühwein
    Madison T.

    This has been a yearly tradition for my boyfriend and I and I absolutely love it! The glühwein in their yearly mug is always fun to get to collect and you can't help by stopping at every booth to enjoy their stunning pieces. Every year I stop at the crepe booth, kebab booth and raclette booth and it doesn't disappoint! There's so much fresh flavor and they do a phenomenal job with presentation. I absolutely love the hot chocolate next to the Christkindlmarkt specialty booth as it is the prettiest to look at and most flavorful. They do such an amazing job. This is a free event for the family to enjoy

    Arija D.

    The Christkindlmarket in Carmel has truly become a local favorite and a tradition we look forward to every year! We took advantage of a warmer winter Saturday to stop by, and it was clear everyone else had the same idea. It was definitely crowded, but that just added to the festive energy and it's great to see local vendors getting so much love. Even with the crowds, the lines moved quicker than expected. Vendor service was excellent across the board.. everyone was upbeat, friendly, and kept things moving. We grabbed the Fischbrötchen & Pommes Frites, which were tasty and hit the spot. The tornado potatoes were also a solid choice. To warm up, we stopped by Rose & Lois where I grabbed a peppermint mocha, and it did not disappoint. The food is a little pricey, but that's to be expected for a popular holiday market. Overall, it was busy but fun and a great reminder of why this market has become such a beloved holiday tradition in Carmel.

    Ashley B.

    OMG! Was very excited to get in and get off to attend. I didn't know what to expect. Actually, I thought the samples would literally be a bite size and that's it. Parking was easy. Check in was very congested and a tad overwhelming. I'm used to seeing a Yelp sign at minimum however the workers were all helpful. My girl and I really enjoyed ourselves while lines were long we did not wait for more than about 15 minutes or so. Now back to these samples! Babeeeee. Job well done They were great portions that were fresh, delicious and filling. I want to come back every year. It was such a great opportunity to unwind, connect with strangers over our thoughts of bites/sips and more. 10/10. My favorites were the crepes and the kabob place. Yummy!!! We did not try everything nor did we ice skate. Next year, I'd definitely get there earlier.

    New penny press machine
    Linda M.

    I have been to quite a few of these annual events. I have to say this is the best one yet. The Operations guy Michael did an awesome job as he was recognized at the 11:30 a.m. opening ceremony. Much more to see and do this year like the 2 or 3 reindeers you can pet and take photos with, puppet show, free trolley on Fri. and Sat. as posted, barrel seating areas, etc. It was great to get out in the sun on a warmer November day. There was so much to do that I spent 8 hrs there (including riding the complimentary shuttle and trolley). I ended up staying for the 6:30 pm tree lighting. This year I decided to again buy something. I think it is only the second time since I have been. From Chimney Cake, I ate a $15 (without tax) chimney strudel fusion with cherry, apple, and pecan without whipped cream with a "roasted" cone. I like that it was fresh to order and crunchy and probably healthy although it took about 30 minutes to prep; I was given a buzzer which allowed me to still explore the festival. I like the $7 lace bookmarks. The $8 souvenir swag boot mug was a hit that you can buy with or without an alcoholic beverage. I like the new penny press. Sleigh for photos. Parking has expanded so see their posting. There will be other special activities on different days so see what interests you.

    Christina B.

    This was the latest in the year I have visited - the Monday before Christmas. I thought a weekday would be less busy than a weekend when I normally visit but I was wrong. This was definitely the busiest I've seen it. The lines were pretty long but all the food was well worth it!

    Mikaela L.

    Every year, I look forward to this holiday event. I love the food, the music, and the environment. I'm definitely going back soon to try more food! The only downside is that they don't have the porta potties anymore. The line for the restrooms is looped around, and it's not convenient when you have a baby or kids with you. Hopefully, they'll add more accessible restroom areas.

    Beccy K.

    I've been here two other times but it has been years ago. The Christmas market has improved and grown since then! It's one of the best in the area by far. They have live music, many vendors, and indoor restrooms. The food and photo options are plentiful! The holiday mugs are adorable and there are many drink options. Parking can be a little tricky and it can get very busy. It's all part of the culture! Be sure to dress appropriately if you want to ice skate. The staff were all friendly and eager to help. It's free to get in so you can spend your money on all of the other treats. Don't miss this event! It's one you'll want make a family tradition!!

    Fatima G.

    Talk fun, colors, lights, sparkle, holiday cheer - that's Carmel Christkindlmarkt. Extremely busy over the weekends but fun and has such a festive vibe that we didn't mind the long lines, dodging people around us and exploring the unique stalls. Everything from hot chocolate, stores to hot dogs, live music and fun for every age. Definitely expensive with the extra cost for a cup of coffee, hot chocolate or even truffles. Would highly recommend for a nice trip with family, friends or kids.

    Raclette cheese
    Danielle J.

    This is my second year going to the christkindlmarket. Last year I tried the racklette, mulled wine, potato cakes, and chimney cakes, these made such an impression on me I couldn't wait to return this year for the same selection. I enjoyed these items again this year. All the booths I visited were friendly. Their are heaters around the market to stand and get warmth and enjoy food items. In terms of parking there are few parking garages and dedicated lots in the area to the event.

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    Very nice market! It was a bit overcrowded and lines were long for food. The mulled wine was delicious and it was fun to run into SANTA

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    Beautiful photos. Thank you, Natalie!

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    Thank you for the kind words, Mel!

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    We greatly appreciate your thorough review and feedback. Thank you!

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    Carmel Christkindlmarkt Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Carmel Christkindlmarkt

    How's the parking situation around the area?

    There's a free parking garage nearby that I use every time. I've also seen some people park a little further away in a business lot on the weekends, but I'm not sure if that's technically allowed or not.

    What's the best type of gluhwein?

    Depends on what you prefer. There is a guide at carmelpyramid.com describes each on tap and the flavor profile for each. Enjoy!

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    Review Highlights - Carmel Christkindlmarkt

    Imagine: Sparkly lights, warm hot chocolate, fresh crepes, ice skating, mulled wine, and so much more.

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    Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center - 2025 strawberry lemonade boba blast

    Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center

    4.0(315 reviews)
    9.9 mi

    We saved an inordinate amount of money by going to the Fair on $2 Tuesday with our granddaughters…read more It was a foodie paradise. I admit that it has been a number of years since I've been to the Stare Fair, so I was surprised by all the updates and building expansion. The remodeled swine barn could be featured in House Beautiful. The building is spacious, immaculate and super functional. It's an amazing state of the art facility. My granddaughters loved seeing the mother and baby pigs. The $2 specials on Fair food gave us a chance to taste many different Fair delectable. The Key Lime shakes at the dairy barn were a big hit with us. The girls also had the mini funnel cakes, which they loved. We tried the hand cut fries, which were delicious. I wanted to try more foods, but there was so much to do and see, that we just didn't have time. The kids enjoyed petting and feeding the sheep and goats in the FFA building. There were many educational activities for them. We rode the Sky Ride that ran over the Midway. The relaxing ride offered great views of the fair. We purchased tickets for rides for the kids. There was special pricing for all the rides for $2 Tuesday. The kids rode about six rides for $30, and we all enjoyed the Ferris Wheel as a family. The day wasn't without a couple issues. The Midway lost power for 20 minutes, just as the rides were getting started. The kids were antsy, but we weathered the wait. My granddaughter also got injured on a large slide/ride. She came down the slide and went airborne a bit, bruising both elbows on landing. I think they should shut that ride down. I also would have liked to see more shaded seating. The afternoon got hot! I never did find restrooms. We always love taking a trip on the tractor train around the grounds. I loved that the hostess on the train pointed out features of each stop. We got in one trip before the Fair got too crowded that there were no seats. Entry was only $2 on Tuesday, compared to $16 for other days. A family should expect to spend well over $100 to visit the Fair, including $10 parking. We got there very early and got a great parking space. Getting through security was fast early in the morning. Exiting the parking lot was easy as well. While we didn't get to see everything we wanted, we had a memorable visit for our granddaughters. The facilities are top notch.

    The Indiana State Fair this year was disappointing, if you ask me. Perhaps it was due to the fact…read morethat we attended on $2 Tuesday and the crowds were massive, but in the past, this hasn't been a problem. Inflation has $2 Tuesday feeling like less of a deal, and more like a scam! One stall's $2 deal was one potsticker! It was truly laughable. The $19 turkey legs was tough, dry and tasteless. This was the second year that I had to go home and "doctor it up" in order for my husband to enjoy it. The mini elephant ear for $2 was the perfect size for someone like me, who just wanted a little something sweet. You can't really need to a corndog, so those were good. I couldn't get an ear of corn because I have braces currently (that was a real bummer). But the jerk chicken and beef patties from Jamaican Breeze did not disappoint. Entry prices went way up this year. It was $16/ person unless you attended on one of the discounted days. The fair closed for a bit due to lightning strikes within 8 miles, and the tram was not in service. I'm guessing the shut it down due to the crowds, but that really changes the experience if you were counting on using it. I attended annually, as it is a long-running tradition in my family, but if the process keep going up and food quality keeps declining, I feel that it is a tradition that I can let go. Sidenote: I didn't see it interact with any animals this year, not did I ride any rides. There were just too many people. I was not enjoying weaving in and out of the crowds and therefore left after satisfying my fair food cravings.

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