Christmas market presents arts, crafts, entertainment

Story and photo by Petra Lessoing
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs


Kaiserslautern’s concert hall, the historical Fruchthalle, will be the stage for the 28th annual culture market Monday through Dec. 22.

More than 50 exhibitors and vendors will display handcrafted artifacts and unique gift ideas and products made by local charity organizations from noon to 7 p.m. each day.

Visitors will find unique jewelry creations, handmade ceramics, textiles, toys, Christmas ornaments, glass products, furniture, books and diversified accessories made of different material and techniques. An international atmosphere will be provided by works from other countries such as ponchos from Bolivia, saris from Sri Lanka and more.

Exhibitors from Kaiserslautern’s sister cities St. Quentin, France, Banja Luka, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Silkeborg, Denmark, will show off and sell typical crafts from their countries.

Vendors will take turns on the different stands so visitors will be able to discover new items every day during market, which lasts for 31 days.

Deputy Mayor Dr. Susanne Wimmer-Leonhardt will officially open the culture market at 6 p.m. Monday. The wind section ensemble of the Emmerich-Smola Music School will provide the musical entertainment. Then Günther Fingerle from the Pfalztheater will auction off advent wreaths. Proceeds will be donated to the Kaiserslautern Aids Support. The stands will open at noon Monday.

The entertainment program will feature Palzpepper, a female barbershop choir, at
4 p.m. Nov. 27. Jazz music, swing and Latin will be presented by the Peter-Glanzmann-Trio at 3 p.m. Dec. 4. The ballet of the Emmerich-Smola Music School will perform the Spanish dance from “Swan Lake” at 5 p.m. Dec. 8. The music group Farbklänge, consisting of members of the local Lebenshilfe, will present Christmas music at 5:15 p.m. Dec. 9.

An entertaining German-American afternoon with music, dancing and typical American food specialties is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. Dec. 12. The Ministrings of the music school will perform 4:30 p.m. Dec. 16 and its jazz choir will provide the right atmosphere at 5 p.m. Dec. 20.

Children can take part in handicraft workshops in the kids’ play room. They also can play and sing and listen to stories.

Two cafes will serve homemade cakes, coffee and little snacks for lunch.

The Fruchthalle, meaning fruit hall, is a huge building that was built between 1843 to 1846. In former times, the fruit and vegetable market was held
there. Today, many events such as concerts, dance balls and official ceremonies are held in the red sandstone building across from the Pfalztheater and next
to the soldiers’ war memorial and tourist information office on Fruchthallstrasse.