Vendor search begins for Christkindl Market’s 30th anniversary

March may be in the rear-view mirror, with April only just arriving, but in the City of Kitchener, thoughts are already turning to the Christmas season as the search for vendors ahead of the 30th annual Christkindl Market has officially begun.

The regional staple is marking three decades as one of the community’s most well-attended festivals, drawing close to 70,000 visitors through its 2025 season.

“Kitchener’s Christkindl Market has been a beloved part of the annual holiday season for generations of residents and visitors in the lead up to Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and all the celebrations in December of each year,” said Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic.

“We’re proud to be celebrating this incredible 30th anniversary milestone with our community and are thrilled to offer a bigger, better and longer festival that will create memories for residents, visitors and vendors alike.”

Heading into 2026, the city said it’s hoping to surpass that number after seeing steady growth in recent years and being named as one of the Top 100 festivals and events in the province by Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO).

The City of Kitchener said it has a goal of hitting 100,000 visitors in 2026, hoping an expansion to two consecutive weekends will help the market achieve it.

“Christkindl is always a wonderful opportunity to showcase the talent and creativity of our thriving local businesses, and I can’t wait to share with everyone what we have in store this year,” said Vrbanovic.

With spring now sprung in Waterloo Region, the search for vendors is now underway to fill this year’s Christkindl Market. The city said vendor selection will be prioritized by: