German traditions, treats return with ChristkindlMarkt
There's one minor feature that can make or break every outdoor festival.
Especially an outdoor, winter festival.
Portable toilets.
If they're unsanitary or just gross, people will simply leave for home when nature calls. If they're nice, people will take a quick bathroom break and return to the festivities.
Tom Kivlahan, Arlington Heights special events chairman, knows this.
This year, ChristkindlMarkt will feature new, upscale portable toilets from Black Tie Event Services, based in Frankfort. In fact the company doesn't even use the term "portable" or "toilet" when describing their product. Instead, they're called "Luxury mobile restroom suites."
"They're awesome," Kivlahan said. "They're heated and have toilets that flush. There are even nice, ceramic fixtures. It makes for a very pleasant experience."
Besides the new bathrooms, the fifth annual ChristkindlMarkt in downtown Arlington Heights will host a new clown band from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
The German-style festival will be held from noon to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. All ChristkindlMarkt events will be held adjacent to North School Park, 410 North Arlington Heights Road. Free parking is available in the municipal garage at Evergreen and Miner streets.
A free "Holly Trolley" will travel between the downtown stores and ChristkindlMarkt from noon to 5 p.m. each day, stopping at Harmony Park, Vail Avenue and Campbell Street, for Santa and his reindeer who will be at the park from noon to 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Singers and carolers will also be traveling throughout the downtown as well as the ChristkindlMarkt tents on Friday and Saturday.
There will also be more than 30 craft vendor booths where jewelry, books, wooden items and other handmade gift items will be sold. The vendor tent will be open from noon to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday of the and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Food choices include strudel, Glühwein, sweets, other German bakery goods, pretzels and items for children. There will be German and other music including the Max Drexler Bavarian Brass Band, Austrian Express, Johnny Wagner and Phenix.
All of the tents are heated.
There is no admission fee and typically about 15,000 people attend ChristkindlMarkt over the three-day event.
The Arlington Heights village tree lighting event will be at 4:45 p.m. on Friday.
If you go
What: ChristkindlMarkt
When: Noon-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday
Where: Adjacent to North School Park, 410 N. Arlington Heights Road
FRIDAY
Noon - 3 p.m. Visit Santa Claus and his reindeer. Harmony Park, at Vail and Campbell
Noon - 2 p.m. Hirsch (Musikplatz)
Noon - 12:30 p.m. Willows Academy Chamber Choir, strolling performance
2-2:30 p.m. Donauschwaben Kindergruppe (Musikplatz)
2-2:30 p.m. South Middle School Choir, strolling performance
3-4:30 p.m. St. Louis Express (Musikplatz)
4:45-5:15 p.m. Arlington Heights Tree Lighting Ceremony, North School Park
5:30-8:30 p.m. Mardi Gras Society and Phenix (Musikplatz)
9-11 p.m. Johnny Wagner (Musikplatz)
SATURDAY
Noon - 3 p.m. Visit Santa Claus and his reindeer. Harmony Park at Vail and Campbell
Noon - 2 p.m. Memories Entertainment's Clown Band (Musikplatz)
2 - 4 p.m. Hersey High School Dickens Carolers, strolling performers
2:30-3:30 p.m. Prairie Brass Band (Musikplatz)
4-5:30 p.m. Max Drexler Bavarian Brass Band (Musikplatz)
4-6 p.m. Rolling Meadows High School Madrigal Singers (strolling performance)
6-8 p.m. Austrian Express (Musikplatz)
8:30-11:30 p.m. Alpensterne (Musikplatz)
SUNDAY
Noon-1:30 p.m. Jimmy's Bavarians (Musikplatz)
2 - 3 p.m. Illinois Brass Band (Musikplatz)
3:30-5 p.m. Johnny Wagner (Musikplatz)
5 p.m. ChristkindlMarkt closes