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Imagine the smell of roasted chestnuts and Austrian sausage in the air while you are walking through a Christmas market wonderland. Imagine feeling the open winter air brushing your face as you taste the warm mulled wine or a seasonal brew while exploring handmade gifts friends and family would love.

The Christkindlmarket is a German-inspired Christmas market that is coming to Des Moines for the first time this year.

This Christmas market will be one of only 21 such markets put on in the United States. Suzanne Hull, one of the team members with the initial idea for the market, said she is excited for the festival because there is no festival outside of Oktoberfest that celebrates German heritage.

In January 2014, Hull called a meeting of the Stammtisch-Des Moines German Club, which she founded in 2009, and began working on by laws for the Des Moines European Heritage Association. A year later, DMEHA received its tax-exempt status. In September of that same year, the city of Des Moines approved the first Christkindlmarket Des Moines in 2016.

The goal for the market is to expose the community to European-style foods, products and activities. Vendors will offer handcrafted products as well as ethnic food and drinks.

A few vendors people will find at the market are Hessen Haus, Exile, Salt & Pretzel, Royal Mile and Chocolaterie Stam. The market will also include an entertainment area with polka bands, choirs and bell ringers, as well as a kid’s area with various cultural activities.

Hull also said the market is free because they don’t want anyone to miss out on this European experience and culture due to their financial status.

“(The market) allows people of all economic levels to experience a cultural event,” Hull said.

The team behind this event hopes that with time, this market will grow into one of the most popular winter attractions in the Midwest.