The german Christmas Market rings in the season

STAFF REPORT
SPARTA — Marking its 15th anniversary, the German Christmas Market filled the Lake Mohawk boardwalk last weekend with shoppers and vendors, performers and sightseers, music, food, colored lights and a great deal of holiday cheer. Organizers claim it’s the biggest such Christmas market on the East Coast, and they could hardly be happier with the results of this year’s event.
“The German Christmas Market was a massive success,” said Helena Bould, co-chair of the organizing committee. In 2015, an estimated 25,000 people visited the two-day market.
“We topped that number this year,” Bould said.
Official numbers on the market won’t be out until next February or March. But Bould noted that the 115 vendors set up on the boardwalk is the largest contingent so far, so organizers expect to raise more money this year than ever before. The market, which raises funds through vendors’ rents and the sale of specialty Christmas items by the Lake Mohawk Country Club, has garnered close to $200,000 since it began in 2001.
“All the money we raise goes to local charities,” Bould said, noting that 18 charities receive help from the market.
“The wonderful thing is that this is truly a community event,” she said. “Local businesses and clubs volunteer time and expertise. Local vendors sell their goods. And local charities benefit. And everyone who attends benefits as well. We could not do this without the whole-hearted support of the Sparta community.”
Attendees are certainly not limited to Sparta or Sussex County. Bould said that people comes from all over New Jersey and throughout the East Coast, including new York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland and Florida.
The Lake Mohawk Country Club hosts the event and is its main sponsor. Other principal sponsors include Eastern Propane, the newton Medical Center and Bayer HealthCare. There were over 40 other big sponsors. In addition, over 30 local businesses, clubs and individuals volunteered time, expertise, manpower and equipment. The municipality contributed as well, with traffic and crowd logistics.
“The police did a wonderful job,” Bould said.
Among the many artisans and performers, this year’s market saw a special guest from Germany, woodcarver extraordinaire Florian Lindner. He was invited by local artisan and entrepreneur Brett McLain of Freehand Custom Carvings. McLain’s carvings has been featured on the boardwalk and at the market in years past. This year, the two artists did live demonstrations for festival goers, including Lindner's speed carving.
“The community made the market happen,” Bould said. “The businesses did well. Adults and children enjoyed themselves. The whole thing was just phenomenal.”