Christkindlmarket Milwaukee

Without knowing what to expect except for the fact that this has been a popular, big event in Chicago, hubby and I went to Fiserv Forum Plaza to check out the Christkindlmarket Milwaukee on their first Sunday.We picked the evening to go hoping to see the beautiful yellow lights (and I recommend you to go in the evening too - same food same drinks same shops but the view is more beautiful). The ornaments and lights indeed made it festive, but there were surprisingly not many tents and people. And there was no music. The market felt kind of tiny, empty and quiet on the huge, open Fiserv Forum Plaza ground. Maybe as the holiday season approaches, the vibe will get better.Here are the things that we did and enjoyed:1. Got the warm, creamy, rich Belgian hot chocolate in the super cute Milwaukee souvenir mug. It's $11 with the mug which is pricey for such a small size of drink. But I liked the mug a lot and thought sharing a mug of hot chocolate with someone you love on a cold winter evening is kind of sweet.2. Different handmade crafts from Germany, blankets from Peru, outwear, tea, coffee cakes, chocolates, pies, candies, cookies, cream cheese, soap... We walked around the outdoor area to check out all the vendors. It took us less than 30 mins but it was fun.3. Checked out the indoor Christmas décor and gift shop before getting food. The staff were super nice.4. Got the Raclette cheese sandwiches! Watching the melty raclette got scraped into the bread was delightful. With $1 extra, you could add a brat to the sandwich with a similar amount of cheese (we thought, as I got one with just raclette and hubby got one with a brat). * My suggestions are: 1) eat the sandwich as soon as possible when it is still warm and moist. Don't spend too much time looking for seats or taking photos lol. 2) Your hands may smell stinky later if you touch the cheese, which is highly likely to happen as there is so much cheese!5. Found the warming house and sat down and enjoyed some simple, traditional live Christmas music performed by a band.

Absolutely a fan of Christkindlmarket Milwaukee or CK/MKE, and have many thoughts after having lived in Chicago for 20 years, with their market being one of my absolute favorite things about the Holidays in Chicago. A Christkindlmarket is a traditional European or German "Christ Child Market". Say "Kindle Fire". Now say "Krist Novoselic of Nirvana." Now say "Krist Novoselic has a Kindle." Then say "Krist Kindle Market". You've got the pronunciation! Love:- Gluwein in the heart-shaped souvenir mug! So tasty and festive!- Pierogi, sausages, sauerkraut- Raclette is so hot right now, and they've got it! (Tastes better than it smells, trust me.)- Hot chocolate in a souvenir mug- The warming house is huge, and sometimes has carolers- Bathrooms are the indoor kind by the Fiserv Beer Garden- It's.not.that.crowded (Seriously, just walk slowly, wait your turn at the stands, and practice patience). - Especially not crowded on a weeknight - Handmade crafts from Germany, and small businesses like Taylor Street Soaps from Little Italy in Chicago - Kaethe Wohlfahrt ornament and handcrafted nativities- Fiserv Forum Plaza/Herb Kohl Way makes a perfect location Improve:- More, more, more, make it bigger!- More crafts from Germany, please. Like those wooden handcrafted moose, dragons, animals, and those goofy toys like the squirrel whistles- More local businesses, and perhaps add Makers (from Milwaukee) that do Holiday signs 'n' stuff. This doesn't have to be just like Chicago's.- Add some high tops outside so people can post up to eat/drink - Can we get some Kinder Uberraschungs up in here? We won't choke on the prize, promise! - Commemorative art print really needs improving. Big missed opportunity to make a good art print into $ for charity, including cards, magnets, and an annual ornament. A good first year for Christkindlmarket Milwaukee!

I went to the Christkindlmarket last year in Chicago and was so charmed by the experience, I decided to make it an annual tradition. What a delight to find that the trek to Chicago wouldn't be necessary as the same group that does that market, expanded to Milwaukee.Huzzah!My family was visiting for the holidays so I was excited to bring them here. What I love:+The collectible mugs. Make this your first stop. Get yours filled with cocoa or warm, mulled wine and then wander around and enjoy the market as you sip. Then, of course, you have a cute little mug to bring out every year at the holidays+The vendors are amazing. Beautiful, classic ornaments, German chocolate (Milka? Amazing!), and gifts--in addition to all the food.+Like Chicago, it can get pretty busy on the weekends and in the evenings. I was lucky enough to be able to go on a weekday morning and it was delightfully quiet. We had no problem getting a table to dine at and weren't bothered with any lines for merchandise or food.+The location. Right outside the Fiserv Forum. Perfect!The parking is a pain, but that's kind of what one would expect. Definitely making it an annual tradition.Get to it! (You know, in December)

You're not going to dissuade me from going to a Christkindlmarkt, ever, no matter how good or bad it may be.....I'm happy to report that the new Milwaukee Christkindlmarkt is good. Run by the same group that organizes the one in Chicago's Daley Plaza, our CKM is located at the Fiserv Forum Plaza, technically called Herb Kohl Way. It is a bit smaller than Chicago's, but just as nice. We didn't stay as long as we would have liked due to being a little underdressed for the weather, but we liked what we saw. Kathe Wohlfahrt ornaments, smokers, and nutcrackers were there, as were the candy tent and Gluhwein and beer tents (tents are heated and have doors). Hot chocolate is available as well. Many vendors were selling outerwear, German handicrafts and various other knick knacks and gift items.Opening night was busy, but not super crowded; however, we went early in the evening, so that may change. We found free street parking, but there is a parking garage nearby.Please come out and support this awesome "fest", we want it to stick around! Milwaukee got it's biergartens back, and having this market feels like getting the last missing piece to make our city's German heritage REALLY stand out once again!48/2018

Things to keep in mind:1.)I've never been to the Chicago Christkindlmarket market so I have nothing to compare this to.2.)Despite being from Wisconsin, I'm really not enamored with the weather this time of year. Like specifically not enamored with standing around outside shopping like its not #$*÷ing freezing. **All that being said***...I kind of enjoyed this market for what it is!There's not a ton of vendors but theres enough...knick knacks and clothing and Christmas decor and food gifts to buy, as well as food and bevys to buy (hot cider and hot chocolate - and a sandwich called the raclette that looked delicious.Besides the outdoor booths, theres an indoor tent with tables in it that I **think** you can eat and drink in. You can also walk through a couple indoor shopping tents...one that had all sorts of items I remember from my grandmas China cabinet growing up. The market is right out front on the plaza in front of the forum and is open most days up til the new year. How crowded it is I've found greatly depends on the weather and date and time you go. With a week to go to Christmas, if you've still got people on your list to buy for, I'd head over here asap - its great for unique gifts. Wear your warm coat and hat and get some hot chocolate while youre there!

Always a fan of Christkindlmarket and am a sucker for their mugs :-) Why not get a drink and a souvenir at the same time! The hot red wine is winner for me. I don't normally drink wine hot, but when it's freezing out, it's definitely wise to do so, and it's actually good, tastes sweeter when heated up.However, Christkindlmarket Milwaukee compared to the Chicago one is not as atmospheric. It lacks that village cozy magical feel. Sorry, MKE~ I am bias! But I really enjoyed MKE!

If you are in the area, I highly recommend stopping at this market. You get all of the atmosphere (and food!) of the Chicago locations without the insane crowds. We went during one of the unseasonably warm days we had in December, and yes, it was crowded but we could still walk/talk and we got to try all of the foods that we wanted

Being the first year for this event, I wasn't expecting it to be München nor even (shudder) Chicago but I wanted to visit so I will always be able to say I was at the first one. It is a touch on the small side but the vendors that are here make up for the ones that aren't. It's also dredged up Frau Moore's high school German lessons (with a little help from a translation app.)You'll find German ornaments, clocks, nutcrackers and such, more than enough hot chocolate and cider to help warm you up, lots of German candies and chocolates, Alpaca knits, jewelry and semi-precious stones, a double booth selling warm, wonderful goods from Peru, and der Bürgermeister of State Center, Iowa, selling delicious coffee ca...er...kaffee kuchen. As you might expect, some of the products are terribly overpriced, however, many are not. In fact, many pieces are downright reasonably priced. I picked up a beautiful, Peruvian, Cashmere blend scarf for only twenty five bucks. It's soft, cuddly, and should look pretty good under several of my favorite Winter coats. I was afraid I might run out of cash, but not to worry. Unlike the vendors of the Kristkindlmarkt in medieval Munich, today's vendors accept plastic money, processed through cellular transmissions. I had receipts emailed to me before I had my purchases wrapped up!All in all, I'd say the first Kristkindlmarkt (auf Englisch: Christkindlmarket) is a success!

People, don't believe the photos that look like this is an inside venue. It is fittingly outside so you can feel the "warmth" of the holiday spirit...aka...dress accordingly unlike my dumb @$#.It is a very quaint event with everything European with quaint Cedarburg overtones. Warm up with some Gluhwein and keep the cute heart shaped mug that you need to purchase to have a drink. The tent was jamming on a Wednesday afternoon so I can't imagine the scene on a weekend. The tent is warm and worthy of your attention.There aren't a ton of vendors so I hope next year they come back again and get a few more. The food is outstanding with traditional German and Polish foods. I had the Polish bite plate and the spinach pierogi was my absolute favorite. Did I mention they also have pretzels for your noshing abilities?It is a family event so be prepared to bring your earplugs and patience. 2019 I hope for a bigger event!

Quaint, charming and great concept but this could be coordinated in a much better way. I've never been to the Chicago market, but I have ventured up to the market each season at the Osthoff in Elkhart Lake. So what is it about the Milwaukee venue that just doesn't do it for me. The little craft stands are nicely designed. The crafts are pricey, but one can expect that. The $7 for a small glass of hot chocolate also a touch on the pricey side for what you get.The Fiserv Forum square is quite large. They could easily erect 1-2 circus sized tents, enclose the sides and pump in some heat. It's winter, if you want people to truly enjoy the atmosphere and stay to spend some money, create a little warmth. If not the tents how about a few fire rings or large patio heaters spread about the grounds. This is where the Osthoff gets it right with one large heated tent. I'm still "outside", but not freezing my tail off from booth to booth. Great Holiday concept Milwaukee, my opinion is we just need to do a little tweaking to warm the heart.