Christkindlmarkt 2025

Indy Polkamtion, led by Bob Klemen, affectionately known as “Polka Bob,” is a lively polka band with 30 years of experience igniting festive spirits with classic polka tunes. Rooted in Slovenian and Macedonian heritage, Polka Bob’s journey began at age six, studying accordion under 1950s TV musician Walter Brown. The band’s polished performances have graced prestigious events, including Indiana’s Bicentennial Celebration and gatherings for state dignitaries. Known for their upbeat renditions and joyful energy, Indy Polkamtion is dedicated to the timeless tradition of polka music, ensuring every performance is a celebration that gets the crowd moving.

The Shawn O’Connor Quartet is based in Indianapolis and is comprised of professional jazz musicians. Dr. Shawn O’Connor is a Yamaha Performing Artist and Vandoren Artist Clinician who plays clarinet, saxophone and flute. Dr. O’Connor is also Chair, Music and Theatre and Associate Professor of Music at Marian University.

Grupo Folclórico Macehuani is a dynamic Mexican folkloric dance group based in Indianapolis, dedicated to celebrating and promoting the rich cultural heritage of Mexico. Featuring both adult and children’s ensembles, the group brings the vibrant traditions of Mexican dance to life through colorful costumes, lively music, and captivating choreography. With a passion for creativity and community, Grupo Macehuani shares the joy of Mexican culture while creating an unforgettable experience for audiences of all ages.

Mariachi Sol Jalisciense is a dynamic mariachi band that brings the vibrant traditions of Mexican music to life. With powerful vocals, lively rhythms, and skilled musicianship, they capture the heart of mariachi, performing classic songs that celebrate Mexico’s rich cultural heritage. Perfect for festive gatherings, their performances are filled with energy, passion, and the authentic spirit of Jalisco.

The Fort Wayne Tanzer is a vibrant local German dancing troupe based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, bringing lively performances to the community since 2012. Our troupe celebrates German culture through energetic and colorful dance routines, showcasing traditional moves and music. We’re passionate about sharing the joy of German dance with audiences of all ages.

Jay Fox & the Jammin’ Germans consists of all full time pro-musicians. Along with Jay on accordion, vocals, yodeling, cowbells and schuhplatting, the female singer vocalizes on all styles of music with lead and backup vocals and also performs on cowbells and schuhplatting. The drummer also is a schuhplattler and vocalist along with percussion.

FC Dingers is the advanced handbell choir at Franklin Central High School. All students volunteer their extra-curricular time to participate in this elite ensemble. Their mission is to ring in the holiday season for all of their audiences.

Epiphany Dance Collective is an African dance company based in Indianapolis. This dynamic group of adult and teen performers has been cultivating West African dance since 2010. Through quality artistic performances, Epiphany Dance Collective entertains, educates, and preserves African traditions.

The Freedom Train Storyteller; “Momma Portia” discovered storytelling in an unusual way – “She wasn’t deemed talented enough to sing in the church choir, so she was encouraged to do dramatic readings instead.” From that inauspicious beginning, Portia has become one of the best-known storytellers in Indianapolis. Portia believes that the oral tradition of storytelling is an important and unique component in the field of education with her degree in education from Indiana University, she seized the opportunity to utilize her talent/gift as a teaching tool.

Rob Dixon, a dynamic jazz musician and educator, brings his impressive talents to the Athenaeum Christkindlmarkt. Originally from Baltimore, MD, and raised in Atlanta, Dixon honed his skills under the mentorship of Atlanta Symphony clarinetist Charles Bradley. A graduate of Hampton University and an alumnus of the Jacobs School of Music, Dixon studied with the legendary David Baker.

Dixon’s career flourished in New York City, where he collaborated with jazz icons like the Count Basie Big Band, Tony Bennett, and Dakota Staton. Since moving to Indianapolis in 2003, he has performed with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra and The Headhunters, among others. Dixon leads the Indianapolis Jazz Collective and serves as Artistic Director for Indy Jazz Fest. He’s a dedicated educator, mentoring young talent through the Jazz Futures program and teaching at IUPUI and Earlham College. Audiences can find Dixon regularly performing across Indianapolis.

Indy Polkamtion, led by Bob Klemen, affectionately known as “Polka Bob,” is a lively polka band with 30 years of experience igniting festive spirits with classic polka tunes. Rooted in Slovenian and Macedonian heritage, Polka Bob’s journey began at age six, studying accordion under 1950s TV musician Walter Brown. The band’s polished performances have graced prestigious events, including Indiana’s Bicentennial Celebration and gatherings for state dignitaries. Known for their upbeat renditions and joyful energy, Indy Polkamotion is dedicated to the timeless tradition of polka music, ensuring every performance is a celebration that gets the crowd moving.

Elizabeth Lee is a musician and singer-songwriter, local to the Indianapolis area. She typically performs in a trio with her dad, Bobby Pugh & bass player, Jason McKay. The group is known for their soothing, relaxing vibes and eclectic mix of cover songs and original music.

DysFUNKtion Brass started in 2015 as a wild idea for a completely unique ensemble to compete in an Indianapolis battle of original bands. The crew progressed pretty well through that experience and penned an incredible collection of original music and brass-line covers. They decided that this ensemble had a message to deliver and wanted to scratch out their own spot in the Midwest music scene. Since then the band has been performing regularly at bars, restaurants, street festivals, and corporate events around Indiana and Ohio.

Jennifer Mlott, a multi-talented musical sensation hailing from the heartland of America,  Indianapolis, Indiana, has established herself as a rising star in the world of music. With her powerhouse vocals, an impressive list of accomplishments and a heart dedicated to giving back, Jennifer’s journey is a remarkable tale of talent, passion, and purpose and has firmly established her as an international award-winning singer-songwriter.

The small ensemble of 16 – 24 auditioned singers, based in Carmel, IN, represents some of the finest vocal talent in the area. While some members are professional musicians, others have music as an avocation, including physicians, attorneys, educators, business professionals and students.
Our programs strive to feature a wide variety of styles including: choral standards, Broadway & Pop selections, sacred and spiritual music, multicultural choral music spanning Latin, Italian, Spanish, German, French, Russian, Bulgarian and English.
We specialize in a variety of musical styles and repertoire, from Renaissance motets to contemporary American music.
We collaborate with other organizations such as: New World Youth Orchestra, Indianapolis Arts Chorale, Fishers Chamber Players, Circle City Ringers and DePauw University Chamber Singers and Composer Dan Forrest.
VOCE has performed at many local venues including, The Fishers Arts Walk, The Switch Theater in Fishers, St. Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church, St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, The Carmel Christkindlmarkt and Athanaeum Christkindlmarkt and more.
All our holiday carols will be sung in German and is appropriate for all ages.

Brett Hardin and Faith Marie are The 78’s! Using acoustic instruments and loop technology to present a wide variety of covers and original music, The 78’s pack small but play big! Featuring acoustic guitar,  bass, melodica, ukulele, kazoos and even a Fisher Price xylophone, these multi-instrumentalists use both vocal and instrument looping to fill the room with sound.  Drawing on the latest pedals and equipment available, their sound continues to evolve.

Brett and Faith met in the spring of 2013 and quickly discovered their mutual love of songwriting. After penning more than 30 songs together in their first year, they segued into performing live. Their desire to be more than a traditional acoustic duo propelled them head first into live looping performance. From their choice of songs to the quirky way they deliver them, The 78’s are a unique musical experience. Upbeat, full of smiles and melody, they will capture your ear and your heart.

Indy Polkamtion, led by Bob Klemen, affectionately known as “Polka Bob,” is a lively polka band with 30 years of experience igniting festive spirits with classic polka tunes. Rooted in Slovenian and Macedonian heritage, Polka Bob’s journey began at age six, studying accordion under 1950s TV musician Walter Brown. The band’s polished performances have graced prestigious events, including Indiana’s Bicentennial Celebration and gatherings for state dignitaries. Known for their upbeat renditions and joyful energy, Indy Polkamtion is dedicated to the timeless tradition of polka music, ensuring every performance is a celebration that gets the crowd moving.

Andrew blends modern influences with his love for bluegrass and old-time music. He loves the elegance and simplicity of acoustic music, and is dedicated to making all of his instruments an extension of himself both through arrangements and improvisation. His lyrics have been described as honest and direct, though nonetheless beautiful. While he is only beginning to establish himself as a songwriter, the fingerprints of songwriters who came before him can be found all throughout his music.

DJ Helicon hails from Indianapolis and has been entertaining crowds of all types since 2001. Over the years he has DJ’d everything from private events to playing in front of large crowds for events such as the Super Bowl and WNBA All-Star game. Known for his eclectic sets, Helicon’s love of a wide variety of genres and artists comes through in his performances. Follow him on Instagram @djhelicon or visit his website for more info.

NoExit Performance — Indy’s most adventurous theatre company — with a tale from two “expert” storytellers uncovering the “truth” behind the myth of the mysterious German goatman.

According to folklore, a mythical demon-goat arrives every year to scare and punish those who find themselves on the naughty list. With its long fangs, menacing horns, and a switch made of birch sticks, Krampus rules the night. Our Krampusnacht (Krampus Night) celebration dates back hundreds of years to the towns and villages of the European Alps, and is traditionally followed by the arrival of a kind-hearted gift giver (Sankt Nikolaus) who arrives the following day to reward those who’ve been good.

Krampusnacht includes family-friendly programming (3-6pm), with a special presentation by NoExit Performance — Indy’s most adventurous theatre company — with a tale from two “expert” storytellers uncovering the “truth” behind the myth of the goatman. The show will be followed by a visit from Krampus himself—from a safe distance of course! After that, stay for our evening programming (6-8pm) — it’s not for the faint of heart!

History & Ways to Celebrate

According to German folklore, Krampus is the opponent of Sankt Nikolaus (also called St. Nicholas, which is how we get the name Santa Claus!)

While Sankt Nikolaus delivers gifts to good children, Krampus delivers punishments to the naughty ones. Those punishments can include “gifts” of switches or coal, a big scare, or worse– in some stories, Krampus has a big bag to carry naughty children away!

Krampus’ frightening appearance is a combination of religious and folk traditions. Many paintings and drawings feature his furry goat legs, monstrous devil-like face, and pointed horns. You can make your own Krampus mask at our Kids & Family Activity area.

DysFUNKtion Brass started in 2015 as a wild idea for a completely unique ensemble to compete in an Indianapolis battle of original bands. The crew progressed pretty well through that experience and penned an incredible collection of original music and brass-line covers. We decided that this ensemble had a message to deliver and we wanted to scratch out our own spot in the Midwest music scene. Since then the band has been performing regularly at bars, restaurants, street festivals, and corporate events around Indiana and Ohio.

Ballet INitiative is a project-based dance collective founded in 2020, bringing fresh, modern takes on ballet to Indianapolis. Known for performances like their feminist 1920s Nutcracker and Happy Hour series, they blend classic ballet with contemporary themes. At the Athenaeum Christkindlmarkt, catch vignettes from their upcoming Nutcracker with a Twist. Ballet INitiative fosters a positive, artist-driven environment where local dancers, musicians, and artists collaborate to create inclusive, vibrant performances. Don’t miss this festive preview of their reimagined holiday classic!

The small ensemble of 16 – 24 auditioned singers, based in Carmel, IN, represents some of the finest vocal talent in the area. While some members are professional musicians, others have music as an avocation, including physicians, attorneys, educators, business professionals and students.
Our programs strive to feature a wide variety of styles including: choral standards, Broadway & Pop selections, sacred and spiritual music, multicultural choral music spanning Latin, Italian, Spanish, German, French, Russian, Bulgarian and English.
We specialize in a variety of musical styles and repertoire, from Renaissance motets to contemporary American music.
We collaborate with other organizations such as: New World Youth Orchestra, Indianapolis Arts Chorale, Fishers Chamber Players, Circle City Ringers and DePauw University Chamber Singers and Composer Dan Forrest.
VOCE has performed at many local venues including, The Fishers Arts Walk, The Switch Theater in Fishers, St. Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church, St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, The Carmel Christkindlmarkt and Athanaeum Christkindlmarkt and more.
All our holiday carols will be sung in German and is appropriate for all ages.

Adzooks Puppets has been delighting audiences at the Athenaeum’s Sankt Nikolaus Fest for years with their enchanting and imaginative performances. With over 250 shows and workshops annually, Adzooks brings the art of puppetry to life for nearly 20,000 participants across Indiana and beyond. Since 1995, their vibrant and engaging storytelling has captivated audiences of all ages, blending humor, creativity, and heart. Don’t miss this beloved tradition at Sankt Nikolaus Fest, where puppets take center stage to spark joy and wonder! Learn more about Adzooks and their incredible journey on their website.

Join us for the traditional Tree Lighting Ceremony at Sankt Nikolaus Fest! Sing along to festive German carols with VOCE and the Liederkranz German Band of Indianapolis as we light up the holiday season. This heartwarming celebration brings the community together in the spirit of joy, music, and holiday cheer.

Step into the Court of Sankt Nikolaus, a beloved tradition where children are invited to showcase a small talent—whether it’s singing, reciting a poem, or sharing a joke—for the man himself. If they’ve been good, they might receive a special treat, but beware! Knecht Ruprecht is watching closely and may appear to remind little ones to stay on their best behavior. This magical experience brings laughter, joy, and just a touch of holiday mischief to Sankt Nikolaus Fest, creating memories for the whole family to cherish.

Jay Fox & the Jammin’ Germans consists of all full time pro-musicians. Along with Jay on accordion, vocals, yodeling, cowbells and schuhplatting, the female singer vocalizes on all styles of music with lead and backup vocals and also performs on cowbells and schuhplatting. The drummer also is a schuhplattler and vocalist along with percussion.