Vendor applications open on Monday, April 7th.
Each December for the last 12 years, the Heurich House Museum has curated a multi-day holiday market in its Castle Garden. Christmas Markt is DC’s only multi-day holiday market consisting of ALL local makers. Inspired by traditional German Christmas markets (but featuring DMV-based makers), the event features between 40-50 local vendors annually.
Christmas Markt is the museum’s largest annual fundraiser and supports year-long Heurich Urban Manufacturing Incubator programs, which in 2024 supported over 300 local small-scale manufacturing businesses.
In 2024, our group of vendors was the most diverse in the event’s 12 year history - 80% self-identified as being part of an underrepresented community, 93% of which are women and non-binary people. 66% of the vendors were in their first 5 years of business, which is the riskiest time for a small business according to the Small Business Administration. Half of the makers last year participated in Christmas Markt for the first time.
CHRISTMAS MARKT IS AN INCUBATOR
Christmas Markt is DC’s longest running and largest incubator of local small-scale manufacturers. Over 1,000 local makers have utilized the markt as a growth point in their business’ trajectory. Christmas Markt proceeds fund a year of activities for the museum’s Urban Manufacturing Incubator program.
In 2024 the Heurich Urban Manufacturing Incubator:
- Helped found and manage the new DC Makers’ Guild, unifying over 100 local small makers to create a business environment which allows the industry to continue to grow and flourish.
- Hosted markets at no-cost to maker vendors, and planned a series of free educational programs for new makers, supporting the stability of over 200 businesses.
- Created new revenue generating opportunities by utilizing the museum for makers to host workshops with the public.
- Supported a full-time Incubator Program Director.
The Museum’s Urban Manufacturer Incubator program builds upon the 130 year legacy of craftspeople and makers at the Heurich House - those who designed, built, and decorated the historic home, and those who the museum has helped to elevate their crafts over the last decade.
How does the Christmas Markt incubate businesses?
Maker businesses generate the majority of their revenue during the last quarter of the year, with newer businesses being the most reliant on holiday season sales to make ends meet. During Christmas Markt, the Museum only works with “Beginner” and “Intermediate” businesses to help give them the best opportunities to have a successful year.
These businesses typically:
- have no additional employees,
- partake in no or minimal wholesale operations,
- are working towards generating a living wage through sales,
- cannot afford vendor fees in the city’s multi-week holiday markets.
