25th annual Krist Kindl Markt to change location, offer ice skating

By BRITTANY FHOLER 

Cove Leader-Press 

During the first weekend of December, the Copperas Cove City Park and Civic Center will be transformed into a winter wonderland for the annual Krist Kindl Markt. 

While Krist Kindl Markt has previously been held downtown years, this relocation is part of a plan to rejuvenate the Christmas bazaar.

This year’s Krist Kindl Markt will feature the same activities as in previous years, such as live entertainment, food and craft and commercial vendors and free family activities. New this year is a snow machine and an ice-skating rink to be located in the Civic Center. Weekend skate passes will be available starting at $5, with skates included. There will also be a tree lighting and holiday light display throughout City Park and a lighted parade on Saturday that will follow the same parade route along Avenue D as in past years. There will also be a window decorating contest and a Christmas tree decorating contest. 

“The purpose behind [the skate rink and change of locations] is we’re trying to grow the event and add some new energy to it and bring things to the event that are going to really attract visitors and tourists to Copperas Cove,” said Chamber of Commerce President Alicia Menard. “December, you know, that time of year, with Christmas and things like that, there’s something going on every weekend all over Texas. In order to keep that event alive and thriving, you’ve got to add new things and really, strategically, think about what we need to do to keep it on the forefront of people wanting to attend.”

While the event changed locations to be next to the Civic Center because of the addition of a skating rink, the relocation also comes as a way to allow for expansion of the event. 

“We really could only grow it to a certain point and then at that point, we’re kind of limited, so it doesn’t provide a whole lot of room for expansion,” Menard said.

The other reason for relocating is because the park has holiday light displays throughout. 

 “In partnership between us and the city and of course the Parks and Rec Department largely, and we hope that we’re going to be able to get the EDC involved and local business owners and community members, but we want to continue to as we move forward, grow the amount of lights that are in the park and really create hopefully what will be a beautiful light display throughout the park,” Menard said. “It really made sense in the future as we all work hard to continue to do that that the Krist Kindl event be relocated in that primary area where all the lights are and attract people to our park and make that essentially a holiday destination, so to speak.”

The Krist Kindl Markt will be from Thursday, December 5 through Sunday, December 8. The event will be open form 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday; 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. 

There is no parking fee and no admission fee to get in. 

The event is sponsored by Jordan Health Services, Putters and Gutters, Heart of Texas Hospice, Home Place Floors and TAC Services. 

Special lodging rates at hotels and motels in town will be available. For questions or more information, readers can contact the Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce at 254-547-7571 or visit the website: www.copperascove.com