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 a curated market. Vendors are selected by a Jury composed of three community members, Carlos Carmonamedina, Messay Derebe, and Rebecca Ravenal, together with the Museum’s CEO, Kim Bender, and Assistant Director, Alex Fraioli. These members are well-versed in the local maker community and will use a rubric to curate which makers are selected.
Vendor applications are open April 7th to September 2nd.
Christmas Markt 2025 Jury
Carlos Carmonamedina
Creative Director & Illustrator, The Culture Curious
"My career and business got a significant boost thanks to the Christmas Market at the Heurich House Museum. I am eager to pay it forward by helping open doors for other talented artisans and makers within our community."
Messay Derebe
General Director, Anacostia Arts Center
“Supporting makers in accessing markets and receiving the training they need to succeed is a priority for the Anacostia Arts Center. The Heurich House Museum’s annual Christmas Market is a fantastic opportunity to showcase talented local entrepreneurs, connect them with new customers, and help them grow their businesses. I’m honored to serve on the jury for Heurich House, a valued partner of the Anacostia Arts Center, and excited to help select vendors who will bring their incredible products to the market.”
Rebecca Ravenal
Board President, James Renwick Alliance for Craft
"I'm excited to help jury the Christmas Markt, to see the range of creative crafts being produced in the area and be part of this lively event at such a beautiful historic space."
Vendor FAQs
Overview:
The Heurich House Museum’s 13th annual Christmas Markt will be held Thursday, December 4 through Sunday, December 7, 2025.
- Thursday, December 4th 4-8pm
- Friday, December 5th 4-8pm
- Saturday, December 6th 12-8pm
- Sunday, December 7th 12-6pm
- April 7th: Applications Open
- September 2nd Midnight: Applications Close
- September 15th: Vendor Notifications
- October 15th: Vendor Agreements & Payment Due
- Early November: Vendor Orientation (Dates TBD)
- December 4th - 7th: Christmas Markt
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.
Visitors to Christmas Markt mostly come from throughout DC, Maryland, and Virginia, although some people travel from afar. They tend to be ready to shop and come seeking interesting and unique holiday gifts. Daily sales can vary based on weather.
- Daily Expected Attendance:
- Thursday: 500 - 750
- Friday: 750 - 1,000
- Saturday: 1,500 - 2,500
- Sunday: 1,000 - 1,500
No. Christmas Markt is held in the museum's Castle Garden regardless of weather conditions. All Vendors will be provided with a tented 10x10 foot space assigned to them by the museum.
Fees:
Vendor Applications:
- Nonrefundable $15 fee
Accepted Vendor Fees:
Accepted vendors pay nonrefundable Vendor Fees as noted below. Vendor Fees are used to cover event overhead, mainly equipment rental expenses. The museum does not take a percentage of any vendor sales.
- Thursday, December 4th: $150
- Friday, December 5: $160
- Saturday, December 6th: $320
- Sunday, December 7th: $240
Accepted vendors may rent tables from the museum at $10/table.
Equipment:
The Museum Provides Each Accepted Vendor:
- 10’ x 10’ Tent
- Basic overhead lighting
- 2 folding chairs
Vendor Acceptance Process:
Christmas Markt is a curated market. Vendors are selected by a Jury composed of three community members (see bios above) together with the Museum’s CEO, Kim Bender, and Assistant Director, Alex Fraioli. These members are well-versed in the local maker community and will use a rubric to curate which makers are selected.
- Does the vendor have well-presented products that will appeal to the Christmas Markt audience?
- Does this vendor have interesting marketable products? (ie. coolness factor)
- If there is another maker that makes similar products, is this vendor better?
- Will this vendor’s participation in Christmas Markt add value to the market over
If you participated in 2023 AND 2024 for a total of four or more days, you are not eligible to apply.
All vendors are required to meet all of the following requirements:
- Be a “Beginner” or “Intermediate” as outlined in the Incubator program’s business lifecycle chart
- Have an active business license
- Have participated in an all day in-person pop-up market before (if you have not, check out our Mini Markt program to gain experience)
- Have a business that converts raw materials into finished physical products. (ie. woodwork, jewelry, pottery, textiles, printmakers, etc.)
- If your business sells food products, pre-package the products for retail sales
- Consider DC your business’s primary sales market
- Design your products in the DC metro area (within 40 miles of DC)
- Produce your products only in the USA
- Have products that are designed and/or manufactured only by the maker/owner
- Have an average product price under $150.
- Commit to the owner of the business being present at the Christmas Markt at least one day
- Have a contactless payment method
- Agree to the terms outlined in the museum’s “Maker Bill of Rights”
No, vendors will be selected for 1-3 consecutive days of the market.
Accepted vendors will be required to send their vendor acceptance and contract materials within a few weeks of being accepted and attend a virtual vendor orientation.
The Christmas Markt jury panel does not take into consideration your membership in or affiliation with the DC Makers’ Guild when assessing your vendor application. The Museum manages the DC Makers’ Guild through its Urban Manufacturer Incubator program; however, Christmas Markt is unaffiliated with the DC Makers’ Guild. Christmas Markt is the Heurich House Museum’s largest fundraising event of the year.
More Questions:
Please email christmas@heurichhouse.org