In 2005, an Excelsior resident visited the Chicago Christkindlmarket. They suggested it to a committee of local business owners and residents, who agreed overwhelmingly. The Excelsior festival started small at Lyman Park (now the Excelsior Library). It continued to grow, eventually moving to its current location: the East Municipal Parking Lot.

Excelsior Christkindlsmarkt, an entirely volunteer and donation-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit, manages and coordinates the festival to this day. In keeping with the German traditional Christkindlsmarkt, enjoy the holiday sounds as you take in the aromas and delight your senses with German/Alpine Christmas traditions such as German Sausages and Potatoes, roasted Almonds, Sweet & Savory Strudel, delectable Chocolates, Cakes & Cupcakes, KinderCocoa, and “Gluehwein’’ (a warm, sweet, spiced wine).

The Market also includes stalls filled with traditional gifts, handcrafted ornaments, wooden toys, nutcrackers, vintage pieces, Alpaca sweaters and mittens, Frost River leather goods, hand-crafted wooden boards, original art, German Pottery, and German Lanterns.