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Donwtown Black River Falls

Christkindl Festival Schedule of Events

*Check back for details on the 2010 Christkindl Festival for the first weekend of December 2010 (December 3 & 4, 2010) 

Click here to go to vendor/participant information & forms.

Friday, December 4, 2009 - Christkindl Festival Opening Ceremonies starting on the Courthouse Lawn at 307 Main Street to a candle light procession to the Christkindlmarkt tent off of North 2nd Street.

4:00pm - 5:30pm

  • Special family movie showing at the Black River Falls Public Library at 222 Filmore Street of A Christmas Story, rated PG; humorist Jean Sheperd's American Christmas is brought vividly to life in A Christmas Story, a nostalgic and witty remembrance of a time gone by. Family movie showing is free of charge. Free refreshments of cookies & cider will be provided. Sponsored by the Black River Falls Public Library.

6:00pm - 8:00pm

Saturday, December 5, 2009 - Christkindl Festival - 8:00am to 9:00pm - Christkindlmarkt & Festival area will be in the parking lot area beside Dale's Refrigeration & Heating at the corner of Harrison & North 2nd Street. Most all events will take place in heated festive tent. Free admission.

8:00am - 10:00am

  • Breakfast with Christkindl & Father Christmas in Christkindlmarkt tent. Hosted & sponsored by the Black River Falls Lions Club. (heated tent)


8:30am - 11:30am


9:00am - 9:00pm

  • Christkindlmarkt with local & regional artisians, crafters & vendors in the Christkindlmarkt tent throughout the day. (heated tent)
  • Christkindlmarkt will offer a variety of food & warm drink refreshments with some old world European & German cruisine located in the Christkindlmarkt tent throughout the day. (heated tent)
  • Beer Garden in the Christkindlmarkt tent from 11:00am - 9:00pm. Brews from our local brewery, Sand Creek Brewing in Black River Falls. (heated tent)
  • Come try the traditional Christkindlmarkt Gluhwein (Glugwine), a German warm spiced mulled wine along with a variety of other warm festive drink refreshments.


9:00am - until sold out


10:00am - 5:00pm

  • Kindermarkt - Children's activities, art & craft projects - greeting cards, ornaments, learn how-to-get your parade lantern & be in the Children's Lantern procession in the parade, write letters to Santa & many more children's activities located in the Christkindlmarkt tent from 10am - 5pm. Most of Kindermarkt activities will be free of charge. (heated tent)
  • Kindermarkt Cookie Decorating Station. Children will enjoy decorating their own cookie sponsored by the Perkin's Restaurant & Bakery. Located in the Kindermarkt with other children activities.
  • Santa's Mail Box for drop off of letters to Santa for direct delivery to the North Pole will be at the Christkindl Festival Post Office in the Chriskindlmarkt tent. Santa's Mail Box will be available throughout the day. Santa will take the letters home with him to read each and everyone. We have been told that Santa will be returning a letter to each child before Christmas. This service will be free of charge.
  • Craftsman & Artisan Demonstrations & Exhibits - Spinning, needle felting, needle punch, quilting, art of tatting, crocheting, knitting, Swedish weaving, rosemaling and other demos & exhibits. Click on each with a link to get detailed information.


10:30am - 9:00pm

11:00am - 12:30pm

  • Demonstrations & exhibit on Swedish weaving by Joan Brown. This will be in the Craftsman & Artisan Demonstration area of Christkindlmarkt tent, which will spinning, needle felting, needle punch, quilting, crocheting, knitting, rosemaling and other demos & exhibits throughout the day.

11:30am - 3:30pm

  • Christkindl Festival Post Office Station will be in the Christkindlmarkt tent for the official Christkindl Festival postmark stamp. So bring your letters, post cards or anything you would like postmark stamped to the Christkindl Festival Post Office for the official Christkindl Festival marking. It's a rare opportunity for stamp collectors! Post cards will also be available with the Christkindl Festival postmark for a small fee. Best of all the postmark stamping will be free of charge! Sponsored by the Black River Falls Post Office.


12:00pm - 7:00pm

  • Horse drawn wagon rides with Christkindl, Father Christmas, Santa, Mrs. Claus or St. Nicholas. Wagon rides will be free of charge. There will be break during the parade.

1:00pm - 3:00pm

  • Demonstration & exhibit on the almost "lost art" of tatting by Lois Corey. This is a knotting technique done with a shuttle, thread and fine crochet hook. Come see it in action with many finished samples on exhibit. This will be in the Craftsman & Artisan Demonstration area of Christkindlmarkt tent, which will spinning, needle felting, needle punch, quilting, crocheting, knitting, Swedish weaving, rosemaling and other demos & exhibits throughout the day.

1:00pm - 8:00pm


1:00pm - 5:00pm

  • Christkindl Festival Wagon/Carriage/Sleigh Show in the Christkindlmarkt tent. Show wagons, carriages & sleighs on exhibit along with Santa's sleigh & Christkindl & Father Christmas' sleigh. Bring your show wagon, carriage or sleigh to show them off!

3:00pm - 4:30pm

  • Rosemaling demonstrations & exhibit by Edith Kling at the Craftsman & Artisans Demonstration area in the Christkindlmarkt tent.


5:30pm - Parade


Special Guest appearances throughout the day:

  • Christkindl & Father Christmas will be spreading the Christmas Spirit throughout the day. Come help spread the magic of Christmas.
  • Santa & Mrs. Claus will be strolling around enjoying the Christkindl festivities and visiting with visitors. Come welcome them to the Christkindl Festival.
  • St. Nicholas will be visiting children of all ages throughout the Christkindl Festival. St. Nicholas Day is December 6th - Come help St. Nicholas celebrate the Eve of his day at the Christkindl Festival.
  • The Nutcracker & the Mouse King from the Monroe-Jackson Dance Theatre will be making an appearance at the Christkindl Festival.
  • Marty the Muffin Man will spicing up the Christkindlmarkt with his appearance during the day. Sponsored by Perkin's Restaurant & Bakery.


Other Christkindl Festivies:

  • Gingerbread House Show & Contest on display at the Black River Country Bank at 221 Main Street starting on November 30th through December 15th.
  • Christmas Open House at the Carngie Library Museum on Main Street from 10:00am - 3:00pm. Free admission. There is will be free-will offering for the museums.
  • Christmas Open House at the Van Schiack Gallery Museum at 13 South 1st Street from 10:00am -3:00pm. Free admission. There is will be free-will offering for the museums.
  • Christmas Open Houses and Holiday promotions in Downtown businesses. Take a stroll down the streets of Downtown to check out what the businesses have to offer and to vote for your favorite festive business window display.
  • Warming kettles on Main Street throughout the day and parade. Come warm up at the warming kettles as you stroll down the streets of Downtown and have a toasted treat as well. Sponsored by the following Downtown businesses; The Consignment Shop & More, The Merchant General Store, Buzz & Brew Shop, Cozy Corner and Moe Hardware Hank.
  • St. Joseph Catholic Church Christmas Bazaar at 407 Main Street in Church Hall starting at 4:00pm.
  • Come meet the Alpacas along with spinning & felting demonstrations at Smiley Bear Design & Fevolden Farm Alpacas at 21 N. 1st Street.
  • Much, much more

"Hat & Mitten" Drive:

  • Hat & Mitten Drive at Co-op Credit Union from now through November 28th. Drop off donation of new hats and mittens in the lobby. These will be distributed to local school children. Sponsored by Co-op Credit Union.


Community Contests:

Downloadable Brochure & Poster:

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For more information contact the Black River Falls Downtown Association at 715-284-2503 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  - web site: www.downtownblackriverfalls.com

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Questions or information on this web site contact the Downtown Association at (715) 284-2503 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it