Christmas Markt is a curated market. Vendors are selected by a Jury composed of three community members (see bios above) together with two Museum staff members. These members are well-versed in the local maker community and will use a rubric to curate which makers are selected.
2026 vendor applications open on April 7th and close on July 25th.
Before completing your application, please review the FAQ below.
Christmas Markt 2026 Jury
Adam Godet
Maker, Godet Woodworking
Adam Godet is a DC-based woodworker whose clientele has included everyone from the White House to his 8- and 10-year-old nephews. His work includes everything from high end custom furniture, small home goods, custom urns, as well as store and restaurant fixtures. Additionally, he teaches woodworking classes and writes about the craft for Fine Woodworking Magazine.
Lindsay Morton
Vice President of Community Engagement and Corporate Impact, Redbrick LMD
Lindsay M. Morton leads placemaking and neighborhood-building efforts focused on strengthening local communities. Her work prioritizes the growth and sustainability of small and local businesses, fosters meaningful community partnerships, and advances cultural preservation to create vibrant, inclusive neighborhoods.
Jess Randolph
Associate Creative Director, Anacostia Arts Center
You can find Jess at the Anacostia Arts Center working with the HIVE 2.0’s co-working space, helping set up the next art exhibit, or developing creative media strategies. Over the past 4+ years, Jess has led and curated a variety of programs, art shows, events, and workshops in partnership with the local community. Her experience in film production, communications, and development show up in every project she works on. Her goal is to help small businesses, artists, and non-profit owners better connect with the world.
Vendor FAQs
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: Vendor application opens & Jury member announcement
- July 25th: Vendor application closes
- August 14th: Museum sends vendor notifications
- September 10th: Vendor agreements & payment due
- October 1st: Public vendor announcement & Early bird tickets on sale
- December 4th - 7th: Christmas Markt
Since 2013, the 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 local makers 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 3rd: $170
- Friday, December 4th: $180
- Saturday, December 5th: $340
- Sunday, December 6th: $260
Accepted vendors may rent tables from the museum at $12/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 two Museum staff members. 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
Please Note: If they have participated consecutively in Christmas Markt for five years (2021-2025) they are not eligible to apply and must take a year off before applying again.
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 makes artisan craft goods.(ie. woodwork, jewelry, pottery, textiles, printmakers, etc.)
- If your business sells food products, pre-package the products for retail sales
- Consider DC/DMV 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
- 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. Days will be assigned upon acceptance.
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