The Christkindlmarket has returned to Denver's Civic Center, seen in the photograph on the left, for the thrid year in a row, after being held for many years in a small, crammed area off the 16th Street Mall. Last year, it was voted the 5th best holiday market in the country in a USA Today survey, and I have to say, the current location is a great improvement. This year they have also moved the Mile High Tree, "America's tallest digital Christmas tree," to the holiday market, too. Of course, digital Christmas trees are ugly as hell during the daytime, but unfortunately, I did not have veto power over the move.
I visited the Christkindlemarket this past Friday afternoon, and was surprised at the huge line to get in, as seen in the photograph on the right. After waiting a few minutes, someone leaving the festival helpfully told everyone waiting in line that if we didn't intend to drink beer, we could just walk in and avoid the ID check, which a lot of us promptly did. Standing in line to present an ID so that I could order an overpriced beer has never been one of my favorite things.
The beer hall was packed, of course, but there were a lot of people going up and down the aisles visiting the many wooden huts selling food and clothing items, as well as various Christmas related goods. There were Christmas trees on display, Christmas carols were playing, and everyone seemed to be in a really good mood, no doubt helped along by all that German beer. Plus, unlike last year, I was there before the sun set, and therefore did not freeze my ass off. That definitely made my day.
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