Kids running through a bustling crowd, the aroma of freshly grilled bratwurst floating in a winter breeze, and dazzling performances for the whole family to enjoy on a custom stage.
These are only a few of the things that can be experienced at Philadelphia’s own Christmas Village in LOVE Park.
Opening its jolly-filled doors in 2008, founder and CEO, Thomas Bauer began this event-based organization to bring German festivities to the City of Brotherly Love itself.
“He wanted to show everyone what a Christmas village looked like and because we're so used to Christmas markets back home in Germany, the concept of [it] is brilliant. It’s basically giving people a platform and small [businesses] the chance to open a booth.” Marketing Manager, Christiana Weiland says.
Photos by Julian-Moore Griffin
In her first year with the organization as well as her first time experiencing such a wonderful holiday season in Philadelphia, Manager Chrissy loves the fact that she can bring merriment to the masses.
“It is exactly my thing. I love Christmas markets back home. And the Christmas Village here is like a real German traditional market. I was like, ‘I would love to bring a little bit of my culture to America and make people happy. That’s why I took the job.’
Partnering with companies such as Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia, Chrissy’s team collaborates ideas with them and in turn creates holiday spectacles such as Festival of Trees.
Making its debut this season, The Festival of Trees is a Christmas Village exclusive that allows visitors to view trees decorated with the assistance of professional designers that are sponsored by local companies as they traverse LOVE Park’s welcome center.
“Basically, admission is free. But we ask the visitors to leave a small donation of any kind. And everything that we get will be donated to the Children's Hospital. This adds something unique to this whole event…doing something so amazing by only donating a small amount makes a big difference.”
However, the largest part of the whole event cannot be overlooked: Vendors. Approximately 120 vendors make up the largest portion of the whole event.
Each one sells and distributes their goods from tiny little cabins that line up around City Hall as well as LOVE Park, creating the spitting image of a small village.
For Collective Curiosities owner, Vanessa Links, this is her first year in the ‘tiny town’ and it marks a place for her to express herself and sell her metaphysical goods.
Photos by Julian-Moore Griffin
“Technically, we're a metaphysical shop on wheels which is how I like to describe it. We just sell a lot of stuff I honestly really like. But it is all within the theme of celestial Zodiacs. We have a lot of different religious representations in here: spirituals, religions, civilizations, cultures, kind of all-in-one pot, really.” Owner Links informed Clifsidethoughts.
When the pandemic first began, Links quit her restaurant job of 16 years to pursue her true passion.
“I quit, because I was not treated well, and I decided to work for myself and to create a business where I could help sustain my family [and] do something I enjoy.
Collective Curiosities has continued to grow both business-wise with its expansion into two different villages: Boston and Philadelphia, and staff-wise with an increase in management.
“So, I have an employee that's been with me now for two years that I met when she was working for a different booth …Now [she’s] our manager in Baltimore. She hired a friend of hers that she trusts that was a gig worker at the show because everything is gig work really in our little world.”
Despite being the main attraction, the vendors are not the only part of the village. Additional Events are listed as follows:
(One time event)
· Christkind Opening
(Family events)
· German American Weekend: German Games
· Storytime
· Family Weekend
(Food events)
· Vegan Vurst Wednesday
· Thirsty Thursday Spirits Tasting
Each event features a cultural custom that connects the community to the Christmas Village even closer than before.
Photos by Julian-Moore Griffin
With the event closing on December 24th, If you haven’t had a chance to check out Christmas Village, staff members like Chrissy urge you to make the trip before it is too late.
“I think, if [people] come to Christmas Village, they are guaranteed to have an amazing experience. We have so many kinds of vendors, so many different things to explore, to see, to experience for the whole family…and we're happy for anyone to come over here and say, hi and to have as much fun with Christmas Village as we do every day working here. So, I hope that's good enough.”
If you would like more information on Christmas Village or would like to be a vendor, please contact the Christmas Village team’s website
Photos done by Julian Moore Griffin Philadelphia, PA | Freelance Photographer (jmooreg.com)
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