Sayla Shriver (left) Christina Cribrai (right) shopping during the historic Harmony WeihnachtsMarkt on Saturday November 9. 2024 in downtown Harmony. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Butler Eagle
HARMONY — Scintillating red and green decorations, a bevy of extraordinarily sweet smells and the clattering of Clydesdale horses marching through the streets captivated visitors during Historic Harmony’s annual German-style Christmas Market on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 9 and 10.
The two-day annual celebration has been around for more than two decades and raises significant funds through food sales and craft vendor fees for the Harmony Museum.
“It’s a great eclectic mix of things,” cochairwoman Lisel Moser said of what entices the crowd to keep coming back. “There’s more artisans here as opposed to regular crafts. We have demonstrators, blacksmiths, glass blowers, spinners and weavers. It’s a little bit of history mixed in with Christmas.”
In previous years, museum volunteers have been responsible for serving food, but the popularity of the event forced organizers to secure other delicious options such as Fat Fannys Too, a food truck based out of Koppel, Beaver County.
Owners Cindy and Alan Chartrand recently turned an old trolley car into an ideal kitchen space that includes new cooking equipment and food preparation stations.
They were hard at work preparing a simple menu that featured German-themed chicken schnitzel and potato pancakes.
“It’s awesome and it’s very busy,” Alan Chartrand said. “We’re really excited to be here. That’s the reason we did the menu we did, because it was a German-type feel. My wife and our other executive chef have been chefs for more than 40 years. We enjoy doing what we do. It’s my wife’s dream, and she loves it.”
The famed Christmas Market, which was ranked in the top 20 in the country by Travel Magazine, has long benefited the local businesses in the area, including the German-themed Harmony Inn Restaurant and Bottlebrush Gallery.
“This is actually our Black Friday,” Bottlebrush Gallery owner M.J. McCurdy said. “People come here for our German Christmas Market and it gives us a boost.”
She said she makes more on German Christmas Market weekend than she does on any weekend all year.
“Not only do people see the vendors, artists and food trucks, but they get to experience all of the history as well,” McCurdy said.
The Heritage Band performed during the historic Harmony WeihnachtsMarkt on Saturday November 9. 2024 in downtown Harmony. See more photos at .... Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Butler Eagle
A large crowd turned out to the historic Harmony WeihnachtsMarkt on Saturday November 9. 2024 in downtown Harmony. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Butler Eagle
Amy Pederson takes a picture of Wyatt Pederson during the historic Harmony WeihnachtsMarkt on Saturday November 9. 2024 in downtown Harmony. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Butler Eagle
The Heritage Band performed during the historic Harmony WeihnachtsMarkt on Saturday November 9. 2024 in downtown Harmony. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Butler Eagle
Patrons enjoyed horse and carriage rides during the historic Harmony WeihnachtsMarkt on Saturday November 9. 2024 in downtown Harmony. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Butler Eagle
Vendor Lori and Stu Chandler taking a moment to pose for a photo during the historic Harmony WeihnachtsMarkt on Saturday November 9. 2024 in downtown Harmony. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Butler Eagle
DJ Timmy V keep the crowd entertained during the historic Harmony WeihnachtsMarkt event on Saturday November 9. 2024 in downtown Harmony. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Butler Eagle
Vendors sold arts and crafts and other Christmas spirited items during the historic Harmony WeihnachtsMarkt on Saturday November 9. 2024 in downtown Harmony. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Butler Eagle
The Alpen Schuhplattler und Trachten Verein D’ Pittsburgher company performed for the crowd during the historic Harmony WeihnachtsMarkt event on Saturday November 9. 2024 in downtown Harmony. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Butler Eagle
The Alpen Schuhplattler und Trachten Verein D’ Pittsburgher company performed for the crowd during the historic Harmony WeihnachtsMarkt event on Saturday November 9. 2024 in downtown Harmony. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Butler Eagle
Tom Englert (left) and Eric Christian (right) of the Alpen Schuhplattler und Trachten Verein D’ Pittsburgher company pose for a picture during the historic Harmony WeihnachtsMarkt on Saturday November 9. 2024 in downtown Harmony. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Butler Eagle
Large crowds turned out to the historic Harmony WeihnachtsMarkt on Saturday November 9. 2024 in downtown Harmony. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Butler Eagle
