Come sample delicious seasonal treats and wrap up some of your holiday gift list at open-air, artisan huts.
The first weekend for this socially distanced artisan market, held December 4-6, was deemed a great success for vendors and festival-goers alike, even functioning at it’s state-mandated 25% capacity. The Market will return 11-13, 4pm-8pm on Friday, 9am-6pm on Saturday and from 11am-4pm on Sunday, for three more days of open-air shopping.
Event rules require that everyone wear a mask at the site, unless they are eating or drinking; only grab-and-go food and drink sales are allowed (meaning there are no common areas or tables); and vendor booths have been spaced 30 feet apart to ensure proper distance between groups browsing the huts. Dedicated entry and exit points allow event staff to monitor the crowds and ensure that the park’s occupancy is under the 25% capacity.
Food and drink vendors include local institutions such as Tangled Roots Brewing Company, which will pour tastes of its seasonal craft beers, as well as sell cans of some of the favorites alongside a line of holiday ornaments and nutcrackers.
Looking for some authentic eats? The Austrian Lodge hut will serve glühwein, goulash soup, kilometer sausage, leberkäse sandwiches, landjäger and sauerkraut and many more regional delicacies. August Hill Winery will offer spiced wine and gift baskets, while Nuts To Go returns with its classic selection of roasted nuts. The Frau Crust hut serves up Bavarian pretzels all weekend long, while St. Roger Abbey offers organic French pastries, macarons and other inspired snacks.
Beyond the great selection of food and beverages, you’ll find ample choices of curated artisan vendors, like fan-favorite Albo Acres, which specializes in making hats, socks and gloves from locally sourced alpaca wool. Shopping for someone who loves candles or skincare? Stop by the Wicks and Wax hut, which will be selling soy candles and wax melts, or the Gracie Pie Apothecary, offering a line of goat-milk-based skincare products.
If you’re in the market for some fresh art or home decor this holiday season, check out Angelia’s Woodburning booth, offering a wide-ranging selection of pyrography-based art, or Lori’s Cottage, featuring a line of handmade home decor. No trip to the market would be complete without paying a visit to The Chris Kringle Hut, where you’ll find this year’s collectible mugs, personalized ornaments and general event information.
For a full vendor list, visit pickusottawail.com/event/chris-kringle-market or follow Chris Kringle Market on Facebook. The event is set along the Jordan Block space at 539 Columbus St., Ottawa.