Anyone who knows me knows that I am a complex person when it comes to winter (and thus, the holidays). While I love wearing cozy layers, drinking hot tea, and baking Christmas cookies, I have a very low tolerance for cold weather. If there’s snow on the ground, I’m OK with winter for a few weeks, but otherwise, my mind escapes to Florida’s beaches for the majority of the winter season.

Having said that, there is one local event that makes me grin-and-bear the cold weather: Mifflinburg’s Christkindl Market. This year, the festival takes place Thursday, December 10 through Saturday, December 12. I had the pleasure of living on Market Street in downtown Mifflinburg for 2 years, so it was a breeze to walk to the festival, go back home to warm up, and then head back to the festival for more. This year, it won’t be that easy. But it’s STILL worth the drive, the parking, and the walking.

This festival is Mifflinburg’s version of an authentic Christmas Market, inspired by the 700-year-old traditional German Christkindl Market, or Christ Child Market. For three days, Mifflinburg’s Market Street, which features beautiful historic homes and pristine churches, is lined with festive outdoor huts featuring unique handmade crafts and traditional Christkindl treats. In short, three words: yummy festival food!

The food vendors go on for many, many blocks. In fact, you can smell the food from several blocks away — from homemade cookies and baked goods, to roasted almonds, hot chocolate, sweet sausages, and hot spiced wine. Mmmhmmm.

While food is definitely a central part of the festival, there are lots of other offerings, too – German crafts, a German master woodcarver, free entertainment, and much more.

A few travel tips: It will be cold — as this is an OUTDOOR festival. Dress in lots of layers (including 2+ pairs of socks!) and wear comfy shoes, since the festival spans many, many blocks. After making the rounds at the festival, warm up at the Scarlet D Tavern (a cozy and friendly tavern with all kinds of unique brews on tap), the Carriage Corner Restaurant (traditional-style home cooking) or the Old Turnpike Restaurant (inexpensive diner food).

Enjoy!