Carmel Christkindlmarkt

The Christkindlmarkt at Carter Green and The Ice at Carter Green are now open for the 2022 holiday season! This local favorite has become a tradition for many Indianapolis and Carmel residents. The November opening will be full of exciting fanfare and German tradition, which will be punctuated with the Carmel Christmas tree lighting and a visit from Santa Claus on November 19, 2022. Carter Green is located at Carmel City Center in Hamilton County, Indiana.

Carmel Christkindlmarkt German Christmas Market

From November 19th through December 24th, families can enjoy the “old world charm” atmosphere of a traditional German Christmas Market. There are so many wonderful foods and drink items to enjoy, gifts and decorations to shop from, and live entertainment. Only a few Christkindl Markets exist in the midwest and Carmel, Indiana is home to one of the best.

The Christkindlmarkt in Carmel isn’t anything like a holiday craft fair, but there will be some local vendors. Almost everything in the Market is handmade and most of it comes from German artisans who make these items in their homes. Many of the items are the very same items you can buy at the market during a visit to Germany, but in Carmel, Indiana instead. With 40 huts dedicated to gift items and traditional food and drink, you’ll LOVE a leisurely time at the Christkindlemarkt. Click here to see what kind of food will be served.

My kids love checking out the clock hut, shopping for Christmas gifts at the toy hut, and eating the German pretzels, walking waffles, and hot cocoa.

Glühwein Pyramid in Carmel

The German-built Glühwein Pyramid is 33 feet tall, the largest of its kind in America. You can’t miss it! Adult visitors to the Carmel Christ will love a visit to the Glühwein Pyramid where you can try a variety of mulled wine, German beers, and other holiday drinks. In addition to alcoholic beverages, the Glühwein Pyramid serves up soft drinks, bottled water, and a non-alcoholic mixed fruit beverage from Germany.

We counted nine different types of German mulled wine from egg-based mulled wine to cherry mulled wine, I’m going to have to find time to try all of them. Beer lovers will love the German beer selection, including a mulled beer!

Don’t forget to buy your 2022 collectors Glühwein boot mug, available exclusively at the Christkindlmarkt.

Carmel Christkindlmarkt with Kids

The Kinder Club is a fun activity for kids and their adults. The Passport program gets everyone exploring the market to collect five stamps from different huts around the market and then they can be turned in for gummy bears at the Guest Services hut. There are meet & greets and special appearances with woodcarvers, Christkind, Sankt Nikolaus, Grimm’s fairy tale princesses, Santa, Mr. Daniel, and others.

Hut #6 is a favorite for my children, the Kids Corner is between the Pyramid and the Tarkington Theatre and it offers a space for families to color, craft, and play together. There are build-and-play activities in a maker space, create & takes, including special keepsake crafts on Saturdays at noon and coloring sheets.

Carmel Christkindlmarkt Parking

Free parking is available in the Veterans Way Garage at Carmel City Center

The Ice at Carter Green in Carmel

Carmel is taking the holiday scene by storm. From November 19 until the end of February, families will be able to skate underneath the stars or spend an afternoon getting active in a fun way. The outdoor ice rink is situated nicely between the Palladium and the Booth Tarkington Theatre. At 180 feet by 80 feet, it’s one of the largest outdoor rinks in the midwest and one of the few outdoor rinks in Indiana. Also, it’s chilled, which means when we have a warm winter like we did last year, you can still enjoy frozen ice outside. Up to 150 people can be on the ice at once and skates are available for rental or you can bring your own.

Tickets are available for purchase now for the whole season and in my experience, you should reserve the date and times you’d like to skate, right now! Many weekends and evenings fill up quickly and get sold out.

Carmel Ice Skating Rink Hours and Price

Ice skating sessions are 90 minutes. The ice rink is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, as well as Thanksgiving day, Christmas Day, and January 9-12, 2023. The rink is open Wednesday-Sunday and they will have additional hours the week of December 19-January 4.

Admission Pricing

Ages 10 and under pay $8 per session
Age 11 and up pay $10 per session
Skate rental is $4 per person

The best places to ice skate in Indianapolis.

Find all Indy holiday events here.