Chattanoogans celebrate both old-world traditions and modern flair at holiday markets in the area

Whether shoppers are looking to travel back to the Old World to meet Krampus or buy modern gifts like a 3D printed dragon, there is a holiday market for every Chattanoogan.

Christmas markets are a European tradition that dates back to the late 1200s, but people worldwide now continue the communal experience of selling, buying and eating outdoors every year when the holiday season rolls around.

When the markets began, most notably in Germany and Vienna, vendors sold anything they had a hand in making, such as steaming mugs of mulled wine, stollen (sort of like a German fruitcake), gingerbread, woodcarvings and toys.

Here in Chattanooga, the Christkindlmarkt, which means “Christ child market” in German, keeps that heritage alive, says Robert Davis, who is the founder and CEO of Shop the Market At.

“We are trying to replicate [the European markets],” Davis says.

The horned folkloric figure Krampus, who is said to visit children during the month of December, is rumored to chase kids down the street and whip them with a stick in Europe.

A still scary but friendlier version of Krampus walks through Chattanooga’s Christkindlmarkt waving at shoppers, while Christkind, a fairyesque angel, hands out small pieces of candy to children.

“Ours is there for good fun,” Davis says. “He’s not going to chase kids. The history is so great.”

Despite some of the Christmas elements of the market, Davis’s Christkindlmarkt is not religious in nature. It’s a place where everyone is welcome and that everyone can enjoy, regardless of their background.

Chattanoogans can sip spiced red wine known as glühwein and munch on brats and spaetzle while perusing wooden trays shaped like Christmas trees and gingerbread night lights. There are sterling silver amulets and soaps made from goat’s milk. Whether a person has $200 or $5, there is an item for everyone.

There are many modern-day treats that go beyond the holiday season, like marijuana-infused lotion, speciality dog kibble and homemade hot honey.

“It’s a one-stop shop for sure,” Davis says.

Heidi Cook, who is the owner of HeartBeat Designs custom apparel and crafts, sells her sublimation tumblers at Christkindlmarkt and other local holiday markets throughout the season. The designs range from CoComelon to the Grinch.

“I love the Grinch,” she says. “I just got my Grinch tree at home.”

Cook loves the holiday season and enjoys selling at the markets, as her busiest sale months tend to run from October to December.

When she makes a batch of her custom cups, it’s a labor of love. Cook spends time searching for a design she enjoys, prints it on sublimation paper and then transfers it onto a stainless steel tumbler, she says.

“I originally started making shirts for my son because I’m a single mom,” she explains. “He actually bought me my first laptop to get me started.”

Many of the markets, including the Chattanooga Market, focus solely on handmade goods, says Melissa Lail, assistant executive director of the Chattanooga Market. So shoppers can tick off their Christmas lists while supporting local artists, crafters and bakers.

“You’re not going to find anything that is at the mall,” she says. “You have to have baked it, made it, sewn it or grown it to sell at any of our markets.”

This year, the Chattanooga Holiday Market will be held indoors during the first and second weekends of December at the Chattanooga Convention Center, and typically, a couple thousand people show up each day, Lail says. It’s free admission, and it’s very highly attended. There will be lots of decorations, holiday music, spirits and activities such as a selfie photo booth.

“People come from all over the region,” Lail adds. “It’s sort of a Chattanooga tradition. It is definitely the holiday market that people come to if they live here.”

For those who live further from the downtown area, there are markets nearby that stretch beyond Hamilton County. Touch the Sky Events is putting on the Mistletoe Market at Bradley Square Mall in Cleveland where there are many things to do besides just shopping. Locals can enjoy a petting zoo, pony rides, trackless train rides, inflatables and pictures with both Santa and the Grinch during the first weekend of December.