Featured Photo used courtesy of Joe Haas Media, board member of the German Christmas Market. Photos below are property of Lake Country Family Fun.
This year we are celebrating their 11th Anniversary, and will be opening the Entertainment Tent on Wednesday, November 23, 2022 at 5pm. Then on Friday, November 25, 2022 the entire market will open at 10 AM.
Downtown Oconomowoc will be the place to be Thanksgiving Weekend in 2022! In fact, it’ll be the 11th anniversary celebration and they are going to make it more family-friendly. Woot!
The German Christmas Market of Oconomowoc is filling the Village Green in Downtown Oconomowoc with all things German. The park will be turned into a winter wonderland full of delights for all of your senses. There will be traditional German music filling the air. You will walk among the vendor huts that will have Christmas lists answered, the smell of roasted candied nuts in the air, and libations to delight your tongue.
Thanksgiving Weekend in Downtown Oconomowoc
Wednesday, November 23rd – 5pm – 10pm (Entertainment Tent Only)
Friday, November 25th, 2022 – Hours 10AM – 10PM
Saturday, November 26th, 2022 – Hours 10AM – 11PM
Sunday, November 27th, 2022 – Hours 10AM – 4PM
This is the 11th anniversary for the German Christmas Market in downtown Oconomowoc. There will be a variety of vendors, from handcrafted soaps, jewelry, glassware, barbarian specialty gifts, and so much more! You will be able to shop local from so many artisans, all in one location. Also, don’t forget that the market is centrally located within walking distance of the shops of Downtown Oconomowoc and parking offered through street parking and municipal lots.
Our tips from attending is to visit during the day with kiddos to see Santa and visit the shops. The heated tent with the band gets VERY PACKED and busy at night. We love to take the kids on a carriage house around downtown just it gets dark, and the kids find it magical.
2022 German Christmas Market Details
Santa will be making appearances at the German Christmas Market again this year in the heated German Christmas Market tent. As always, photos with Santa will be free (photos taken with your own phone or camera). There will be donations accepted to help fund the Oconomowoc food pantry.
*Everyone has been asking about who the Santa will be. The pre-2020 German Christmas Market Santa has retired. The 2022 Santa will be the same as the 2021 Santa.
What a great way to get photos with Santa and help those around you by supporting the food pantry with a kind donation. (PS. This is the BEST SANTA in Lake Country! He’s the real deal straight from the North Pole.)
Santa’s Hours 2022
In our heated GCM Santa Tent, You are the Photographer! Take pictures of Santa with your camera.
Santa’s Hours:
Friday & Saturday – 10am to 5pm
Sunday – 10am to 3pm
2022 Special Attractions:
- Live Reindeer will be at the Santa tent from 5-7pm on Saturday
If you are looking for handcrafted treats to fill your belly, no worries, The German Christmas Market has a great variety of foods available. There will be bakeries with sweet treats, and savory options, the cinnamon roasted almonds will be back, and don’t forget about the big soft German pretzels, and the other traditional German Foods. Plus, you will be within walking distance to downtown restaurants.
Please note that there is a $2 hand stamp, for all persons 21 and over, for entry into the heated Wintergarten.
Weissgerber Restaurants
Lisa Marks
Lisa return for her fifth season! Providing excellent, authentic German cuisine, this is the gold standard in the Lake Country area and The Golden Mast is their flagship. This year the team is tackling sausage (wurst), chicken schnitzel, kraut and strudel.
Kleines Bayern Nuts
Just Smokin BBQ
Gluhwein by Marijo
Nimble Coffee Bar
T-Best Kettle Corn
Say Cheese Wisconsin
- Plus, you were within walking distance to some of our favorites in downtown Oconomowoc:
- The Crafty Cow
- Sobie’s
- Whelans
- Many more!
The music is unstoppable, you will be dancing the polka through the day into the night, so to get the kids a babysitter and head out for a date night and really get into the German “Spirits”. There will be beer (of course) and also gluhwein (warm mulled wine) and specially branded wines from LoDuca Brothers. Crosspoint church will be back serving up hot chocolate and coffee.
2022 Music Schedule
For kids:
In the Kinder Cookie Haus kids can decorate gingerbread cookies & all proceeds go the Oconomowoc Food Pantry.
The Downtown Oconomowoc Business Association will once again be sponsoring a carriage ride to take a ride around downtown Oconomowoc.
We do this every year with the kiddos. Pick up will be on the south side of Wisconsin Avenue, in front of Sobie’s Restaurant.
Horse Drawn Carriage Ride Hours
Friday and Saturday 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Here is a list of the vendors that are scheduled to be at The German Christmas Market of Oconomowoc for the 2022 season.
Heart & Honey Elderberry Syrup
Hiawatha Woodworks
High Home Foods
Hope of the Heart
Infinite Warrior
JackAngeline LLC
Lake Country Growers
Marijo Weissgerber with Gluhwein
Mystic Ireland Gifts
Oak and Elizabeth
Plain Jane Hats
Present Not Perfect
Sassy Sweets
For more Information on the German Christmas Market
For more information, including frequently asked questions about The German Christmas of Oconomowoc visit their website. If you go let them know you heard about it from Lake Country Family Fun!
New this year – join the Friends of the German Christmas Market Friday Night VIP Experience. Details HERE.
Read about Lake Country Family Fun owner, Erin’s husband winning the 2016 stein holding competition and winning a trip to NYC!
Watch this video, where Lake Country Family Fun owner, Erin’s husband is interviewed on how their family enjoys the German Christmas Market every year.
Now it’s time to pack up the car with the whole family and share in the joy that is to be the 2022 German Christmas Market of Oconomowoc.
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