Old Quebec's German Christmas Market
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Experience the magic of Christmas with a trip to the German Christmas Market in Old Quebec City, Canada. Modeled after the European Christmas markets, this delightful family-oriented event comes to life each year on the weekends leading up to Christmas. Admission is free.
During the fair, Upper Town is transformed into a charming village with 90 wooden stands nestled between the stunning 17th and 18th century architecture of Old Quebec City. Vendors who rent the stalls offer a wide variety of artisanal products; many that are handmade and locally produced. You will find a wide assortment of well-crafted textiles, housewares, crafts, and artwork to choose from.
Twinkling lights illuminate the village’s winding paths adding to the festive atmosphere. Everywhere you look there are unique decorations and scenes of winter wonder to enjoy. To keep revelers toasty, there are warming booths set up for visitors. These little huts feature gas fires and furred lined benches to keep shoppers toasty.
In addition to free admission, there is a full program of free indoor and outdoor programs including musicians, choirs, plays, street performers, and visits from Santa. The Kindermarkt (Kid’s Zone) features crafts, games, storytelling, and puppet shows. The quality of the entertainment, the low cost, and G-rated atmosphere make the German Christmas Market a great choice for families with children of all ages.
Interspersed between the weavers, glassware, and jewelry, there is a lot of food to sample. In the Alpine Chalet and Winterbar you can sample mulled wine, ginger cakes, pretzels, and other German delicacies. In addition, many of the wonderful Old Town restaurants are open (See our article Old Quebec City in the Winter for a list of favorite restaurants).
To round out your winter visit, be sure to take the Breakneck Stairs or Funicular rail car from Upper Town to Lower Town where the warm atmosphere and beautiful decorations are equally stunning. The adventurous might also try the tobogganing run at the Dufferin Terrace or ice skating at Place d’Youville. (See our articles Old Quebec City in the Winter and Old Quebec City in the Summer for more ideas on things to do).
We always enjoy this winter wonderland and hope you do too. Cheers! Laura and Randy
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