Experience the Magic of the 12th Annual Kriskindlmarkt!
Join us for a festive celebration of holiday cheer at the Kriskindlmarkt – a German-Style Christmas Market supporting the Clifton Forge School of the Arts!
Dates & Hours:
- Friday, Nov 17: 2:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- Saturday, Nov 18: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Entry Fee:
- $5 cash admission for adults, free entry for children
- Proceeds support arts education programming at CFSOTA!
Discover the enchantment of an Appalachian mountain town’s take on a European advent market. The heart of our event is nestled within “The Mill,” a beautifully repurposed 100+ year-old lumber mill right behind the Clifton Forge School of the Arts. In addition to The Mill, explore the main CFSOTA building, where you’ll find our Silent Auction, more artisan vendors, The Art Store full of great gift baskets filled with art supplies, a special weaving exhibit and kids activity in the Gallery, and information about the wide range of creative classes offered by the School of the Arts.
What to Expect:
- Indoor Shopping: Delight in the unique offerings of talented artisan vendors. All items created by the people selling them!
- Festive Atmosphere: Bring your friends and family for a joyful experience filled with unique shopping, holiday fun, and a taste of German-inspired food and drink.
- Entertainment: Enjoy live performances, see the Christmas-themed model train display, and visit with Santa throughout the event.
- Garden Illumination: Witness the magic of our seasonal holiday light display starting Friday evening at dusk.
- Tree Lighting: On Saturday at 6:00 pm, following the close of Kriskindlmarkt, join the whole community at Clifton Forge’s Town Hall for the annual tree lighting event hosted by Clifton Forge Main Street.
Artisan Vendors: Explore an array of handmade treasures, including wooden bowls, cutting boards, hand-knit items, decorated gourds, bags & purses, soaps & lotions, pottery, antique tiles, jewelry, stained glass, wreaths, ornaments, candles, notecards & journals, candies & chocolate, maple syrup, handcrafted BBQ sauce, apple butter, baked goods, and more!
Live Music & Dance: Immerse yourself in the sounds of the season with German folk music, dance performances, local musicians, and student ensembles. Sing along to your favorite Christmas carols!
Raffle & Silent Auction: Participate in our raffle for a chance to win artisan-made items and explore a wide variety of offerings in our Silent Auction.
Gallery Exhibit: Take a look at our beautiful weaving exhibit, find a self-directed weaving activity for children, and catch one of the weaving demonstrations (Friday at 5pm, Saturday at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm).
Food & Drink: Savor holiday breads & pastries, German beer & authentic Gluhwein (for ages 21+), mulled apple cider, hot chocolate, and more. Don’t miss the delicious German-inspired food options, including bratwurst, sauerkraut, and hearty soups. We even have Gebrannte Mandeln (candied roasted almonds)!
Event Sponsor: Kriskindlmarkt is proudly sponsored by CHEFs Catering.
Supporting Arts Education: Your attendance supports the Clifton Forge School of the Arts, providing arts education to people of all ages and abilities in the Alleghany Highlands of Virginia.
Location: 518 Church Street, Clifton Forge, VA 24422
Parking: There is street parking along Church Street and Commercial Ave (and surrounding areas), a couple of small parking lots on Commercial Ave, a small lot off of Pine Street, and a town parking lot on Main Street right next to town hall.
Google Maps says the walk from Town Hall to Clifton Forge School of the Arts is 3 minutes.
We have handicap parking available directly outside the main event entrance at the rear of the CFSOTA main building. There are additional reserved spaces outside the handicap accessible entrance used to access the upper level of the event.
Need Accommodation?
Find a place to stay here.
Questions?
Feel free to reach out to the School of the Arts:
- Email: info@cfsota.org
- Phone: 540-862-7275
Come and create cherished holiday memories with us at Kriskindlmarkt 2023!
Schedule of Events
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17
2:00-3:00 Cathy Drummer, Flute
3:00-5:00 Madison Barnett, Violin
5:00-6:00 Weaving Demonstration (Gallery)
5:00-8:00 Willie Hayes & the Alpen Travelers
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18
10:00-11:00 Don Drummer, Pedal Steel Guitar
11:00-11:30 Allegheny Mountain String Project Students
11:00-12:00 Weaving Demonstration (Gallery)
12:00-1:30 Ryan Ratliff, Saxophone
1:00-2:00 Weaving Demonstration (Gallery)
1:30-2:00 Storytime with Santa
2:00-4:00 Madison Barnett, Violin
3:00-4:00 Weaving Demonstration (Gallery)
2:00, 2:30, 3:00 Cora Dance Professional Company
4:00-5:00 Cathy Drummer, flute
THROUGHOUT ENTIRE EVENT
Children’s Activity (Upper Level- Gallery)
Weaving Exhibit (Upper Level- Gallery)
Silent Auction (Upper Level)
Raffle
Visits with Santa
Model Train
Shopping
Food & Drink
🌲🌲🌲Here is our amazing lineup of vendors for Kriskindlmarkt 2023! Support local artists while you knock out your holiday gift list! 🌲🌲🌲
A Touch of Glass- Stained and Fused Glass
Adalia Taylor Art and Design
Alleghany Highlands Arts Council
Andrea Curry
Art Nouveau Tiles
Blue Spring Run Farm
Branches by Kathy
CFSOTA Woodworkers
CHEFS Catering
Clifton Forge School of the Arts
Cora Dance
Cutes by Ann
Daddy’s Girl Craft BBQ Sauce
FieryWire Unique Gifts
Deb Broughman
Doug’s Millworks
ELF Boards
Everything Chenille
Favorite Things by Annette
Fire and Clay
Gail Craft Stollen
GlitzNGlaze Studio
Hamilton Roots
Historic Masonic Theatre
Hometown Soaps and Totes
Houses for Bluebirds by a Flicker
Kay’s Apple Butter
Kiki’s Kreations
Lee Gillespie
Love.Dee Creations
Magnolia South
Marianne’s Craft Shop
Mick’s Media Jewelry
Mill Gap Farms
Mountain Field Market
Nancy Erikson Fused Glass
Num Num Farms
Out Of Our Gourds
Patchwork Palettes and Passion
Queen George’s Ginger
RiverBend Wreaths & Things
Robin Ayars Flowers
Roselawn Bake Shoppe
SockMob Designs
Suzanna Garrett Designs
Sweetwater Studio
The Art Store
The Peacock Soap Co.
The Ruffled Feather Candle Co.