The Carmel Christkindlmarkt is the premier holiday attraction in Carmel, Indiana, welcoming more than 400,000 visitors in 2021 alone. The sights, smells, and vendors transport visitors into the world of an authentic Christmas market in Germany. Enjoy authentic German treats, sip warm Glühwein or Glühbier, ice skate on a gorgeous outdoor rink, and more.
The market is free to attend and open to all. There is a fee for ice skating and any food, drink or gifts that are purchased.
Maria Adele Rosenfeld is CEO of the Carmel Christkindlmarkt, and has served in this role since the Market’s opening in 2017.
Maria spent a year in Germany as recipient of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange scholarship supported by Senator Richard Lugar. While there, she developed a fluency in German and met a wide network of contacts that she still keeps in touch with today.
Prior to her work at the Market, Maria spent 10 years in the banking industry. In 2017, she was selected by former Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard to serve at the helm of the Carmel Christkindlmarkt, thanks to her love of German culture and language, as well as her business expertise.
Under Maria’s direction, the Market has been named the Best Holiday Market by USA Today’s 10Best competition four times. In 2023, the Market welcomed 475,000 visitors, and total Market sales eclipsed $9.1 million – an almost 59% increase from the previous year.