Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
FERDINAND – Ferdinand’s Christkindlmarkt has about everything you’d want from a German Christmas market. There’s music, artisan crafts, a Marionette show, live glockenspiel, ice skating and so much German food.
But one thing was missing – a Christmas pyramid. After a 10-year fundraising effort, a 32-foot tall Christmas pyramid made in Germany will be erected later this month. It will stand north of the historic Wollenmann Home on Main Street in Ferdinand.
A dedication and blessing is set for Nov. 2. The Ferdinand Christkindlmarkt is Nov. 15-16.
“The community came together in so many ways and people are so excited about it,” said Kathy Tretter, member of the Ferdinand Tourism Commission.
Made of German spruce and steel, each tier will feature wood-crafted images. The pyramid will be assembled on top of a base, called a hut, that was designed by Universal Design and constructed by Seufert Construction, both Ferdinand businesses.
Later this month, two builders will travel from Germany to assemble the pyramid and show the tourism commission how to assemble and dismantle it for future Christkindlmarkts.
The pyramid will remain up until early January. The hut is permanent and can be used throughout the year, Tretter said.
In addition to the money the Ferdinand Tourism Commission saved for the project, the commission received a grant from the Dubois County Tourism Commission. A generous gift from Dubois County resident Mary C. Lange put the fundraising effort over the top.
Tretter said the Ferdinand Christkindlmarkt attracts about 10,000 visitors each year and the tourism commission expects the new pyramid to bring more visitors.
“This will be the 28th annual Christkindlmarkt hosted in Ferdinand. It’s exciting to see the committee and community leaders continuing to find ways to enhance the experience of such a successful event. Investments like this not only elevate the experience for event attendees that have been enjoying the celebration for years, but it provides new opportunities to expose new visitors to the magic of this event, and allows us to continue to tell important stories to visitors and community members alike,” said Kristal Painter, Discover Southern Indiana COO.
Unfortunately, the pyramid, which was ordered before tariffs took effect, was hit by tariffs coming into the United States.
“We were hit with over $30,000 in tariffs,” Tretter said. “We are a nonprofit organization and that really hurts.”
The pyramid was custom made and reflects the town’s unique German heritage. The first tier will contain the Nativity. The second tier will include figures important to the town – founder Rev. Joseph Kundek, Emperor Ferdinand I of the Habsburg Empire for whom the community is named, and Mother Benedicta Berns, the first prioress of what would become Monastery Immaculate Conception, along with the fifth pastor, Father Eberhard Stadler, standing next to a chair symbolic of the craftsmanship of Clem Lange and Best Home Furnishings of Ferdinand.
The third tier will feature figures representing the occupations of Ferdinand’s earliest settlers, and the fourth will include a choir of angels.
Pyramid lighting
What: Ferdinand Christmas Pyramid Lighting
When: 6 p.m. Nov. 2. Dedication is open to the public; the dinner requires a ticket and reservation
Christkindlmarkt details
What: Ferdinand Christkindlmarkt, 200 artisan crafts, antiques, food and wine vendors; free live music, ice skating, children’s activities and a concert by the Evansville Philharmonic. Admission and parking are free. Shuttles available.
When: Nov. 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Nov. 16 from 10 to 4.