Freshly fried Kartoffelpuffer next to Southern BBQ ribs. Next to the hand-carved nutcracker are kitchen utensils made from bullets. A snow machine spews snow in the shade of Choctaw Stadium.
The fusion of Bavarian and Arlington culture at the Texas Christkindle Market brings a smile to Sheri Capehart’s face.
For the past 14 years, the Texas Christkindl Market, held every Christmas, has brought Arlington a taste of its German sister city, Bad Königshofen. The bazaar takes inspiration from traditional Christmas markets across Europe, and features vendors from around the world gathered behind wooden stalls decorated with holly.
The market will be open from 11am to 8pm daily from November 29th to December 23rd. Each afternoon, the market’s main stage features new forms of entertainment, including performances by local school choirs, North Texas bands, and dance groups.
The market is a passion project for Capehart, who served on the Arlington City Council for 16 years before retiring in 2020. She is a director of Sister Cities of Arlington and currently serves on the board of Sister Cities International.
Her idea for the festival came during an official winter visit to Bad Königshofen. Bad Königshofen was there to celebrate the retirement of the town’s Burgomeister, in effect the mayor.
Arlington’s relationship with Königshoven dates back to 1951, when a relationship began between the German town’s city manager and 23-year-old Arlington Mayor Tom Vandergriff. At the time, these cities were about the same size, with a population of about 7,000 people.
Located a few miles west of the East German border, Bad Königshofen was overwhelmed by the influx of refugees from the east in the post-World War II political climate and needed help with food and clothing.
Arlington residents were excited to form a healing relationship with the Germans and began donating supplies to support Bad Königshofen. The relationship has continued ever since and has now evolved into a cultural exchange between Germany and North Texas. In fall 2024, Arlington also became an official friendship city of another German city, Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
Capehart knew the German market was attractive to Texans. Returning to Arlington, she began working to gain city support and eventually debuted on the market in 2011.
The market was small the first year, open for only four days, but the German chocolates and crafts quickly sold out, drawing crowds from all over North Texas.
Eric and Kathryn Escutia stumbled upon this market on their way to Texas Live on opening day of 2024. Entertainment venue.
They said it was a pleasant surprise to find a cozy European place inside the stadium. Although they have lived in Arlington for over five years, this was the first time they had heard of the market or the city’s connection to Germany.
As Christkindl grew in its early stages, Capehart caught the attention of Käthe Wohlfault, a well-known German luxury crafts brand, which set its sights on setting up shop in Arlington. Capehart said the company is particular about where it’s visible, with 10 seasonal stores in North America, including Christkindle Market in Texas.
Kathe Wolfert would only agree to come to Arlington if the market was open for four weeks, which is long enough to justify importing products from Germany. Capehart was happy to oblige.
Henry Luchik, who manages the market, said about 20 vendors come from all over the world, most of whom return year after year. Vendors sell clothing textiles from Peru, ornaments from Egypt, and German concessions from Montana.
Rob Pocklington spends his time at the market, sitting behind a table lined with polished gemstones, custom jewelery and geodes. He is the face of Doc Pock’s Harmonious Rocks and has been a vendor since its first year.
Often surrounded by visitors staring at cracked geodes and polished stone jewelry, he has watched the market grow, change locations and attract new vendors.
“It keeps me busy,” he said.
Mr. Lewczyk has managed the market since it opened. Throughout the year, he communicates with vendors, city officials and stadium management to ensure Christkindl has a smooth opening for the Christmas season.
Luczyk’s favorite part of his job is certainly the clichés, he said. He loves watching children grow up taking pictures with Santa Claus at the market every year. Santa Claus’ face has not changed since 2011. I love showering my family with synthetic snow every night. Some of them have never experienced snow.
Most of all, Lewczyk loves seeing people smile. So in a cheerful place like Christkindle Market, he feels he’s in the right job.
Drew Shaw is a reporter for The Arlington Report. Contact him at draw.shaw@fortworthreport.org or @shawlings601.
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