Cincinnati opens first-ever German Christmas market on Fountain Square

CINCINNATI - Cincinnati is making another move to show off its German heritage by opening a German-style Christmas market on Fountain Square.

The event, which city officials hope will become an annual tradition, is called CinciDeutsch Christkinlmarkt.

Christmas markets started in Germany and Austria and are now held all over the world, typically in a town square.

Cincinnati's version of the market features German themed booths that showcase local vendors selling German Christmas gifts and souvenirs, seasonal decorations, food, sweets, mulled wine and German beer.

Accompanied by German music and a choir, Cincinnati Council members joined with German group officials to kick off the new market Saturday morning.

"I enjoyed shopping at the Christmas markets in Koblenz, Cologne, Heidelberg and Frieburg last December," Council member Laure Quinlivan said. "The markets are so popular in Europe that other cities like Strasbourg, France are now adopting this German tradition."

Some of the vendors participating in the seasonal market include Servatii's, Mecklenburg Gardens and the Christian Moerlein Brewery.

The market will be open weekends through Christmas and some weekday evenings when popular events are held on Fountain Square.