On Saturday, Dec. 7, Provo Parks and Recreation is teaming up with local businesses to present the city’s first Weihnachts Markt, or a traditional German street market, in Downtown Provo.
“I’m glad that there are more events on Center Street and downtown,” said Taylor Reese, a BYU sophmore studying English. “I’m excited to see Santa Claus at the event, of course, hear local bands perform and view the fireworks show. It sounds like such a huge event!”
Mayor John Curtis, Miss Provo, Santa Claus and even the Grinch will all make special guest appearances at the event and will be available for pictures between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Musical artists like Jodie Skidmore, Table Nine, 6 Miles Ahead and Dallin McAllister will also perform half-hour sets.
“There will be tons of different food vendors selling different items,” said Eric Layland, event planner from Provo City Recreation. “A family from Europe will be providing authentic crepes and waffles, and Sodalicious will be providing drinks. There will also be a Navajo taco truck, a truck from Blue Poblano, and Charlie’s Barbeque will be there.”
Guests of the event will also have the opportunity to win prizes at the German street fair by entering into the Christmas Market Giveaway at the event’s information booth.
“Some local vendors will be giving away tons of different prizes,” Layland said. “There will also be gift cards given away from downtown businesses like The Choc’late Mousse Pie Bar, Sweet Tooth Fairy, Pioneer Book and many others. Tickets to the local Echo Theater … and other fun items will be gifted.”
At 6 p.m., there will be a Lights On Ceremony, with a fireworks show to top it off.
The history of Christmas street markets goes back to the Middle Ages in the German-speaking parts of Europe and began as a celebration to usher in the four weeks of Advent. Similar to the Provo street fair, these markets offered treats and special events all to start the Christmas season. Famous markets are still held in German cities like Augsburg, Dresden, Erfurt, Frankfurt, Nuremberg and Stuttgart. These draw thousands of people to the towns during the Christmas season as tourist destinations.
This is Provo’s first German street market and will be held on Center Street (351 West Center Street) on Saturday from 4 to 9 p.m. Admission is free.
