Christmas Market

Weekend Christmas Markets in Berlin 🎄

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Escape Covid isolation and come with us to Berlin! Virtually of course. Last year we actually ditched Thanksgiving and went to Berlin to explore Christmas markets. In hindsight best decision ever! We wrote about some of the big markets last year, but there were even more weekend Christmas markets in Berlin and we caught a few of them.

Berlin Christmas Markets During Covid-19

The uncertainties with COVID-19 of course also extends to Christmas markets. What we know today is that they will not be open the last week of November as is customary. Instead, due to the current partial lockdown in Germany, opening day has been pushed back to December 1st. Some Christmas markets have already decided to go online only or skip this year entirely. If they will open, masks and limited attendance will be the norm. Without big crowds and tourists, expect some vendors to reduce inventory or not participate at all. Check the webpages for each market or weihnachteninberlin.de (German only) for up-to-date information before you go.

Christmas Rodeo

The odd name “Weihnachtsrodeo” (Christmas rodeo) peaked our interest. The old 5-story refrigeration building, “Kühlhaus Berlin”, opened up for three weekends as a real-life Etsy site. As the name implies, it’s a non-traditional Christmas market, but heaven for those looking for creative gifts from small vendors and manufacturers. We found home decoration, food, beer, liquor, art, prints, clothing, slippers and even safety reflectors. Add to that an eclectic mix of international food stands, DIY workshops and a few wood pallet sitting areas. On the fifth floor, we were rewarded with a drink in exchange for our entry token. Cheers! Prost!🍸 Sadly, but not surprisingly, the market is closed in 2020, but hopefully it is worth bookmarking it for 2021.

Three of the five stories at the Christmas Rodeo market in Berlin, 2019
Three of the five stories at the Christmas Rodeo market in Berlin, 2019. It was a like a real life Etsy site with small independent vendors offering quality goods, often self made.
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Weekend Christmas Markets in Berlin 🎄Read More »

Weekend Christmas Markets in Berlin 🎄 Read More »

Favorite Christmas Markets in Berlin 🎄

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There is no better place to get some early Christmas magic and old world charm than traditional German Christmas markets. Whether in Germany, the US or elsewhere, most of the magic occurs after sunset when the holiday lights are shining and hot chocolate or Glühwein (mulled wine) keep us warm. This is of course also the season when safety reflectors are the most needed. We have written before about the Christkindlmarkt in Chicago and the Swedish Christmas market at the Swedish American Museum in Chicago. This year,  we had the good fortune to spend Thanksgiving week in Berlin, Germany. There, we enjoyed an incredible variety of markets, each with a different style and character. Some are open from the last week of November until Christmas or New Year, others pop up for one or more weekends. Enjoy some virtual traveling to our favorite Christmas markets in Berlin! 

Snowman, heart and star safety reflectors worn at the Gendarmenmarkt Christmas market in Berlin.
Safety reflectors are a must-have for Christmas market hopping in Berlin where the sun sets already around 4pm..

Weihnachtsmarkt am Roten Rathaus

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Favorite Christmas Markets in Berlin 🎄Read More »

Favorite Christmas Markets in Berlin 🎄 Read More »

Come and Say Hello!

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We will be at a couple of festivals and fairs this fall. If you are in the Chicagoland area, please stop by, get some safety reflectors, learn something new and say hello!

Scandinavian Fest

September 7th, Vasa Park in South Elgin, 10am – 6pm

Celebrate your Scandinavian heritage or just enjoy good food, entertainment and Scandinavian gifts anyway. Get in touch with Scandinavian organizations in the Chicago area and shop unique goods and Scandinavian foods from over 50 vendors from across the U.S.A. The festival features Scandinavian entertainment from folk music and dance to ABBA, pony rides and face painting and hopefully as much sunshine as previous years.

Scandinavian Fest at Vasa Park drew visitors from near and far.
Scandinavian Fest at Vasa Park drew visitors from near and far.

Chicago’s Green Metropolis Fair

September 14, Lake View High School, Chicago, 10am-4pm

Green Metropolis Fair 2014
Green Metropolis Fair, September 14

Evanston Green Living Festival

September 27, Evanston, 9am-3pm

The Evanston Green Living Festival is an annual community event presented by the Evanston Environmental Association  (EEA) and the City of Evanston. The festival is held at the Evanston Ecology Center and provides a venue where local organizations can present their green products, services and ideas to attendees who are looking for ways to lower their personal carbon footprint. This will be our first time exhibiting and we are excited to be part of it.

Warren Township High School Craft Fair

November 1st, Gurnee, 9am-3pm

Warren High School Band Booster in Gurnee organizes a huge craft fair early November each year.  Not only was it a good show last year, students also provided a phenomenal service and wheeled all our reflectors and displays to our booth. We are excited to be returning  as the Band Booster celebrates its 20th fair!

Student helpers at the Warren Booster Craft fair in Gurnee, 2013
Friendly student helpers at the Warren Booster Craft fair in Gurnee, 2013

Julmarknad at the Swedish American Museum

December 5-7, Chicago

The Julmarknad (Christmas Market) is our “holiday trip to Sweden” or as close as it gets. Swedish Lucia, music, food (meatball open face sandwiches!), baked goods (lussekatter & Princess Cake!) and Swedish related merchandize and hand made items. Don’t miss this weekend!

funflector® reflectors is one of many types of stocking stuffers you can find at the Julmarknad at the Swedish American Museum in Chicago.
funflector® reflectors is one of many types of stocking stuffers you can find at the Julmarknad at the Swedish American Museum in Chicago.

Come and Say Hello! Read More »

Hello Chicago!

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The old world has come back to Chicago! The German Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza is open until Christmas and offers authentic German wooden and glass ornaments as well as Bratwurst, Pretzels, Strudels and Glühwein (mulled wine). See our blog post from last year about the Chicago Christkindlmarket.

Tomtar, wooden ornaments, books and funflector pedestrian reflectors at Chicago Christkindlmarket 2013
Tomtar, wooden ornaments, books and funflector safety reflectors at Chicago Christkindlmarket 2013


For the second year, the Swedish American Museum also has a booth at the market and that’s where you go to get your Tomte fix. Tomte can be translated to gnome, elf, Santa, Father Christmas, nisse, Heinselmänchen depending on what language you prefer. Today, I volunteered in the booth and tried to count the “Cute!” (or “cuuute!”) but quickly lost track. The tomtar are all handmade in Sweden and come in many styles and sizes – and they are truly cute!

Elf or Santa safety reflector - or tomte or nisse for Swedes and Danes
Gnome, Elf or Santa safety reflector – or tomte or nisse for Swedes and Danes


Traditional Angel chimes, modern moose or dalahorse chimes are available as well as wooden toys and books. Since most Swedes wear reflectors, the museum has teamed up with funflector.com to spread some Swedish safety culture and offers a wide variety  of funflectors! There is even a tomte funflector!
The Chicago Christkindlmarket is open every day from 11am to 8pm (to 9 on Fridays and Saturdays). The Swedish American Museum Booth is #52. located outside the main market, East of the Daley Center, close to the intersection of Randolph and Dearborn. Stop by next time you are downtown Chicago and say “Hi” from The funflector Blog!

Swedish American Museum Booth at the Christkindlmarket Chicago in 2012
Swedish American Museum Booth at the Christkindlmarket Chicago in 2012


Elisabeth 

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