German Christmas Marketplace

Saturday, November 15 and
Sunday, November 16, 2008

Main Street and Mercer Street
historic Harmony, Pennsylvania

11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday

Admission -- $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $3 for students and
free for children younger than six -- includes all-day access to the market,
museum, entertainment and wagon rides!!!

The Landmark District walking tour, at 3 p.m. both days,
is $5 per person, free for youngsters 16 and under.

A special rate for large groups is available by advance arrangement.

 All proceeds benefit the nonprofit Historic Harmony and its
nine Harmony Museum properties.

This annual event is growing to be even better!!
See the following...
* our regular vendors and new vendors - great gift items
*musicians throughout the town;
*decorated streets and shops;
*events for children and their families;
*great food and great drink
* Town Criers
*horse and buggy rides
*and more, more, more

Plan now to attend. Bring your kids,
your neighbors, your friends
and your families
to Harmony and begin your
Christmas preparation and tradition!

Historic Harmony's WeihnachtMarkt (Christmas Market) during the Nov. 15-16 weekend promises a memorable holiday experience with unique shopping as well as entertainment and foods, all reflecting the historic community's German heritage. Self-guided museum tours are part of the event, with rooms decorated in early 19th century tradition.

The festive atmosphere of the market grounds is much like that of WeihnachtMarkts so popular throughout Germany, with many individual shops, a large entertainment tent, and food and refreshment stations. There's more shopping in the adjacent Stewart Hall, Butler County's two wineries will offer tastings and sales in the museum building's 199-year-old wine cellar, weavers will occupy a nearby log house museum annex and craft activities for children will be offered in another. The museum's Christmas market also launches the holiday season for its own gift shop as well as Harmony's other specialty shops.

Outstanding artisans from throughout the region, many demonstrating their crafts, offer quality goods as diverse as silver jewelry, tin ware, iron goods, treen (wood ware), folk Santas, hand-carved Santas, folk art, paintings and drawings, dolls, jewelry, pottery, Shaker wood boxes, cuckoo clocks, beeswax candles and ornaments, marbleized paper, birdhouses, quilts, woven goods, stained glass, art glass, furniture, ornaments, greeting cards, soaps, Christmas cookies and gingerbread. In addition, Little Germany of Berks County, Pa., a longtime WeihnachtMarkt participant, offers a large selection of authentic German items including toys, ornaments and lights, nutcrackers, smokers (carved wood figures in which incense is burned), steins, recorded music, cook books, foods and chocolates.

Children will encounter Father Christmas in the market village and can take part in craft activities at the Ziegler log house. The entire family will be entertained by German songs and dances of Pittsburgh's Teutonia Mannerchor and performances of dulcimer players, fiddlers and other musicians. A horse-drawn wagon is a fun ride through the heart of the historic district, and visitors are invited to join in singing Christmas carols when an outdoor Christmas tree is lighted early Saturday evening. A home made gingerbread house will be given away through a raffle.

Traditional German foods and refreshments will be available, including soup, bratwurst and sauerbraten sandwiches, potato pancakes, German potato salad, home baked pie, the museum’s signature Harmony Society ginger cookies, home made root beer and mulled cider.

Here are a few first photos of 2007's market.

Folks lined up to come into the Christmas Market main area.

Photo taken from upper floor of Museum Shop building, looking at food tents.

Again, photo taken from upper floor of Museum Shop, looking back toward Christmas
Market. The vendors were in wonderful shed buildings and in the rear lot was a large
tent with more crafters, and the entertainment stage.

The lines were steady for the horse drawn buggy rides!! They're always great fun!!

Folks really enjoyed watching the puppet shows put on by
Puppen Meister Marionette Circus from South Williamsport

And of course, all day the Market goers could take a break from the food, fun and entertainment,
to explore the rest of Harmony! Folks enjoyed checking out and shopping not only in the Market
itself, but also the Museum Shop, The Exchange at Harmony, Frannie's Mercantile, Otto & Gerts
(where they could also grab a bite to eat) and dining at The Harmony Inn.

Weihnachtsmarkt - in Historic Harmony
A German Christmas Market.

Local Artisans

German Food

Live Music

Candle Lights

Father Christmas

Winfield Winery and Rustic Acres Winery in the 1809 Wine Cellar
beneath the Harmony Museum.

Visit Harmony's unique specialty shops.
We're loaded with lots of great antiques,
uniques, books, educational or just
plain fun, we've got something for everyone
on your list!!

Harmony Museum
218 Mercer St.
Harmony, Pa 16057
724-452-7341

 

Images of America - Harmony Coming in May 2009. Story of Harmony told by Shelby Ruch. Full of images! Part of Arcadia's classic series of books showcasing the history of America. PREORDER YOURS NOW! Be one of the first to receive this book! Preorder now and we'll ship as soon as they arrive from the printers!

Window on the Past - A Look Back at 19th Century Life in Harmony & Zelienople, Pennsylvania. by Shelby Miller Ruch

Harmony 2009 Calendar. Full of great old photos. All events are included so you'll never miss another of those great dinners or special events we have! Includes Harmony, Zelienople Historical Society, Zelienople - Harmony Chamber, Harmony Business Association events. Limited printing. Get yours now!