Christkindlmarkt at Heurich House
Christkindlmarkt at Heurich House is a German-style Christmas market held at the mansion of the founder of the historic Christian Heurich Brewing Company.
Christian Heurich was a German immigrant who founded the largest production brewery in DC history, the Christian Heurich Brewing Company. After his death, Christian’s former mansion in Dupont Circle was turned into a museum. Each year, the Heurich House Museum honors the family’s German roots with Christkindlmarkt, a holiday market held in the private garden of the mansion.
Christian Heurich was orphaned at the age of 14 and arrived in the United States as an immigrant with only $200 to his name. He eventually became the largest employer in DC outside of the federal government. Christkindlmarkt celebrates Christian’s entrepreneurial spirit by showcasing local artists and crafters from the DC region. The vendors are set up in the “castle garden” behind the Victorian-style mansion (which does resemble a castle). The event is held rain or shine, so dress appropriately for the weather, and be ready for muddy paths if it has been raining.
A pop-up of Cafe Berlin is on sight, so you can you can get a cup of glühwein (warm, spiced wine pronounced “glue-vine”), a beer, or a snack to munch on while you’re browsing the vendors. Although much smaller than traditional German Christmas markets, Christkindlmarkt vendors will be selling art, jewelry, candles, baked goods, and gifts. It’s a great place to add a local touch to your Christmas shopping. Don’t miss the Heurich House Museum’s shop with shirts, ornaments, and posters featuring logos and designs from the historic brewery.
In addition to the Christkindlmarkt vendors, the admission ticket includes a self-guided tour of the Heurich House mansion decorated for the holidays. Docents throughout the house will provide some information about the Heurich family, the brewey business, and construction of the mansion.
Three floors of the house are open to tour during Christkindlmarkt, and the rooms are set up with presents, Christmas trees, and greenery as it would have been during the Heurich family’s holiday celebrations. The museum is kept fairly dark for preservation purposes, but you can imagine how cozy it would have been with the curtains open and full of excitement as Christmas day neared.
With the abundance of holiday markets in the DC area, it can be hard to justify paying to attend Christkindlmarkt at Heurch House. I don’t hesitate to recommend you attend at least once, though, to get the holiday tour of the mansion and check out local artisans.
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Address
1307 New Hampshire Avenue NW
Metro Station
- Dupont Circle (RD)
Cost
Admission is typically around $15.00
In 2019, early bird tickets are available in October for $8.00 and in November for $10.00. Tickets at the door will be $13.00.
Hours
Saturday, December 7 from 12:00 – 8:00 pm
Sunday, December 8 from 12:00 – 6:00 pm
Length of Adventure
1-2 hours
Website
http://www.heurichchristmas.org/
