A pair of new holiday and winter traditions will be launched this Saturday at Center Green as the Carmel officials cut two ceremonial ribbons marking the opening of the Carmel Christkindlmarkt and The Ice at Center Green.
The ceremony begins at 11:30 a.m. and is free and open to the public. Carmel’s longstanding tradition of lighting the official holiday tree and welcoming Santa, will also take place at Center Green beginning with the arrival of Santa at 3:30 p.m., followed by the tree lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m.
Carmel Christkindlmarkt is a traditional European holiday market that celebrates the heritage and culture of Germany and Germanic countries. More than three dozen huts will line the market with gifts and treats from Germany.
The Ice at Center Green is Carmel’s first outdoor ice skating rink. The frozen surface of the new ice rink will allow for beautiful nights of skating at the Palladium and Carmel City Center.
The Christkindlmarkt and The Ice at Center Green will be open to the public Wednesdays through Sundays. The hours of operation and skating session times are listed on their websites. The Christkindlmarkt will be open until Christmas Eve while The Ice at Center Green will remain open for public skating until March. Both are closed on Mondays and Tuesday and on Thanksgiving Day. The Ice on Center Green will be closed on Christmas Day as well.
Holiday at Center Green, Carmel’s annual holiday lighting ceremony (which formerly was held at Carmel Civic Square and the Gazebo) will be punctuated with jugglers, carolers, balloon artists, face painters and a visit from Santa, his reindeer and other North Pole animals. Entertainment on the Drees Homes Stage will include Chris and Kelli Lewis, Alphorns, Indiana Ballet Conservatory, the Carmel Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet, Central Indiana Dance Ensemble and the Carmel Middle School Choir. All children visiting with Santa will receive free goodie bags filled with surprises donated by event sponsors.
For more information on these and other holiday events in Carmel, go to holidaysincarmel.com.