Kick off the holiday season in true German style at the inaugural Weihnachts Markt: New Ulm Holiday Market! This brand-new event is being planned by the Downtown Action Team, a committee of the Heart of New Ulm, the New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce, and the City of New Ulm.

Taking place in German Park on the same day as New Ulm’s 37th Annual Parade of Lights, this outdoor event will feature live reindeer, shopping, music, food, and family fun all afternoon – concluding with the Official Lighting of New Ulm’s 40-foot Upside-Down Christmas Tree at 5:00 PM.

Make a day of it! Spend the afternoon exploring New Ulm's beautifully decorated downtown - our locally owned shops will be open and ready to welcome Black Friday shoppers! Several restaurants are located just blocks from German Park, perfect for warming up between activities.

Download the printable flyer here!

Click here for the Event Map!

Event Highlights

🎄 Vendor Market (12–5 PM)
Browse a festive outdoor market featuring local vendors, handmade gifts, and holiday cheer.

• The 507 Outskirt 
• Schaefer Sweets and Treats 
• Mallory's 3D Merch
• Plexus 
• Color Street 
• Perfectly Preserved MN
• Toad's Family Homestead Products
• Woof'em Down Bakery 
• 9th Street Bakery
• Little Lambs Closet
• Honeybees Boutique 
• Hogens Woodcrafts 
• Everything but the Kitchen Sink
• Bluestem Garden Works
• Green Roots Farm, LLC
• JoAnn Grieble, The Wanda Gag House

🍴 Food Trucks & Tasty Treats (11 AM–5 PM)
Treat yourself to something delicious from our food vendors along German Street.

• Confirmed Food Vendors:

  - Legacy BBQ
  - Gouda Q
  - Momma Maria's Rolling Taco Kitchen

✨ Holiday Fun All Afternoon

• Christmas trees decorated by local businesses & organizations (trees will stay on display through the holiday season - see below for more information)
• Fire pits and s’mores station (sponsored by New Ulm MomCo)
• Photo opportunities throughout the park
• Live entertainment, including music, choirs, carolers, and New Ulm’s own Narren

 

• Confirmed entertainment:

1:00 pm - Honor Choir from Cathedral High School

1:30 pm - "KinderKlingelingelingMitsingen" (Kids Jing-a-Ling-a-Ling Sing Along)*

2:00 pm - Grace Community Church

2:30 pm - Ulm Sweet Ulm Community Sing

3:00 pm - "KinderKlingelingelingMitsingen" (Kids Jing-a-Ling-a-Ling Sing Along)*

3:45 pm - Schell's Hobo Band

5:00 pm - Official Tree Lighting - arrive early for caroling with the Schell's Hobo Band!

 

*Kids of all ages are invited to join in a guided sing-along! Free jingle bells for the first 60 participants.
Throughout the day: The Narren of New Ulm *weather permitting*

🦌 Live Reindeer (1–4 PM)
Get up close and personal with real reindeer – a magical experience for the whole family! Complete with a sleigh for your family photo ops!

📸 Holiday Sleigh Portraits
Capture the magic of the season with a festive family portrait alongside Santa's sleigh! Thanks to the generosity of Kamra Joosten Photography, attendees can enjoy professional photos at an affordable price while supporting the continuation of this new community event. 

Each session includes one edited digital image delivered via online gallery within 72 hours - perfect for holiday cards and memories! No reservation needed - stop by between 2-4pm to capture a keepsake from this festive community celebration!
- $10 per family/group for one image
- Add a second image for $5
- All proceeds support Weihnachts Markt

🌲 Upside-Down Christmas Tree Lighting (5 PM)
Don’t miss the official lighting of New Ulm’s famous 40-foot Upside-Down Christmas Tree with Mayor Kathleen Backer and the New Ulm Royalty. The Upside-Down Tree, a German tradition that dates back to the Middle Ages, made its debut in New Ulm last year, hanging from a crane near the Hermann Monument. The tree drew national attention, with features in Forbes Magazine, Fox 9 News, and more. This year, it will shine in German Park throughout the holiday season! Click here to read more about the 40' Upside-Down Tree.

🎆 Parade of Lights (6 PM)
Head just a block away to experience New Ulm’s annual lighted parade, which draws thousands of spectators each year.


Contacts -
Market Vendors: Erika Hoffmann, The 507 Outskirt, 507outskirt@gmail.com, 507-276-2939
Entertainment: Lorie Jewell, State Street Theater, ljewell@statestreetnewulm.org, 507-359-9990
Food Vendors: New Ulm Chamber, chamber@newulm.com, 507-233-4300

Thank you to our event sponsors!
Upside Down Tree Sponsors:

Elektrish (Electricity) Sponsor:


Reindeer Sponsor:
Still Available!  Contact the Chamber!

Dasher Sponsor:


Dancer Sponsor:



Prancer Sponsors:
New Ulm MomCo
Woodstone Senior Living
Sid's Signs on Broadway
Oak Hills Living Center
Design Home Center
Thrivent Action Team
Card My Yard
Domeier's German Store
BeMobile - Verizon Wireless

Tannenbaum (Tree) Sponsors:
United Way of the Brown County Area
Becky Bakes
Herbie Hedgehog & Gertie Goose
Woodstone Senior Living
Grace Community Church
Gallery 512 Boutique
Thrivent Financial Group - New Ulm Area
GSM
Ann Vote - IMPACT to Influence
Grand Center for Arts & Culture
Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc.
New Ulm Regional Veterinary Center
Optimist Club
Mecklenburg Weber Ganser Clemente Family
Alliance Bank
Citizens Bank MN
MVAC - Courtesy of Herbie Hedgehog & Gertie Goose
dsm-firmenich
Fernweh Adventures
Turner Hall
Garden Club - Courtesy of Herbie Hedgehog & Gertie Goose
New Ulm Sertoma Club
Physicians Group of New Ulm
Green Roots Family Farm
Lakes on 1st
Wunderberg Collective
Gutes Essen
Jensen CJDR
The Journal, New Ulm

Thank you to these other in-kind donations supporting this event:
B & L Bar
Runnings
A.R.R. Construction
A to Zinnia Floral & Gifts
Donations of any amount are also welcome and are tax-deductible! Click here to make your donation online through PayPal. Checks payable to the New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation (a registered 501c3) can be dropped off at the Chamber or mailed to: PO Box 384, New Ulm, MN 56073.

Contact the New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce to sponsor, or with any questions: chamber@newulm.com or 507-233-4300.