Ann Arbor kicks off holiday season with 4 outdoor markets

Ann Arbor residents and University of Michigan students alike sipped mulled wine, enjoyed live music and watched a live ice sculpture carving of the Ann Arbor skyline Friday night as the city marked the start of the holiday season with four concurrent outdoor events: Kindlefest, Midnight Madness, Moonlight Madness and the Liberty Plaza Holiday Gift Market.

KindleFest, which occurs annually in the Ann Arbor Farmers Market location, is inspired by the German tradition of Christkindlmarkt, or Christmas markets. German Christmas markets normally last about a month and allow people to purchase Christmas presents and other wares from local artisans. 

In an interview with The Michigan Daily, KindleFest organizer Karen Farmer said though the market had a hard time recovering after the COVID-19 pandemic, it is back to its usual state this year. Featuring vendors with holiday wares, food trucks, fires for roasting marshmallows and performances from three local groups, Farmer said she looks forward to the market’s variety of music and food offerings this year.

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