A beautiful visual marker of the Christmas season is seeing all of the lights that people put up. These colorful bulbs adorn homes, businesses, parks, and even more. It’s a subtle celebration that marks a time of cheer, creating the temporary realm of a Winter Wonderland. Some of my earliest memories as a child are seeing these extraordinary lights and how they made me feel. Seeing them gave me a sense of shared joy with my family and neighbors, and I still think that to this day.
There is also deep symbolism in these lights, as they serve more than simply looking pretty as they shine over the darkness. There are deep religious reasons for Christians regarding this, and there are also historical and practical elements to the lights. A couple of examples of this are German traditions dating back to the 1600s, where they placed candles on evergreen trees to symbolize light and hope, and the Yule Log, meant to symbolize positivity in the dreary winter months.
Something I love about attending Christmas events is that they almost always feature extraordinary lighting throughout. The Silverton Christmas Market is a fine example of a cherished holiday event. I’m not talking about just a few pretty string lights hanging here and there, but rather the Silverton Christmas Market has 1.5 million lights adorning the skies. You will be immediately immersed in the Christmas spirit before you even see all that this annual market has to offer.
This German-inspired Christmas market features activities such as snowless tubing, warm fire pits, live music, food, drinks, and yes, even Santa Claus. Everyone in the family will love spending time here. Many vendors and booths are throughout the market for you to do as much browsing as your heart desires. This is a cashless event, so make sure you have access to a debit or credit card.
The German Vendor Market features work from local artisans, including handmade puzzles, ornaments, and other gifts. Plenty of food and drink will be offered, such as fresh-baked goods and Glühwein, a German-spiced warm wine that I also happen to make myself every December. These cozy offerings will make your taste buds happy while you wander throughout the rest of the market. If your family needs something with a little more substance, there is also a Biergarten, Garden View Restaurant, and Fireside Lounge for heartier meals.
Every evening, there will be live music featuring all the classic Christmas hits, and maybe even some original holiday tunes. Snowless tubing is a major attraction in this market, and it contains four separate tracks, so the wait time in line actually moves along quite quickly. This is a fun activity that both children and adults will enjoy.
Santa Claus will also be there to meet all of the boys and girls and hear what they want for Christmas. He will be there every evening through December 23rd, and it will be a memorable experience for your little ones. Tickets to enter the market are $16.20 for ages 13 and older, $9.20 for ages 6-12, and free for ages five and under when purchased online. These prices include the service fee. You can also buy tickets at the market for an additional $5 on top of the online cost.
For those worried that Silverton might be a little too far a drive, I would recommend looking at the hotel packages they offer. This festive holiday lodging will be a delightful family getaway, creating wonderful memories. There is still plenty of lodging available, so I highly recommend checking it out. Not to mention, hotel stays include entry to the Silverton Christmas Market, breakfast, parking, and more.
There is much to offer at the Silverton Christmas Market, and it will surely be an event everyone will love. The strong ties to German Christmas Markets make for an extra memorable experience. From traditional offerings such as Lebkuchen, a sweet gingerbread cookie, to even catching a glimpse of Krampus, Santa’s counterpart, there is much to explore. Traditional Incense Smoker figurines imported from Germany, as well as Christmas Market Mugs, will also be available for guests.
This market is filled with jolly singing and dancing alongside the open-air vendor stalls, just like what you would find in Bavaria. And we must not forget about the many lights that brighten the winter skies there. Walking through this Christmas-land with your family is something to not only look forward to this year, but potentially every year.
With all this talk about lights, I had better go finish putting up our Christmas lights on our own house. It won’t be 1.5 million lights like the Silverton Christmas Market, but it’s still enough to make our own little Winter Wonderland at home.
Alex is a devoted husband and father born and raised in Portland, Oregon. He is a professional artist, author, and advisor for both Yale and Harvard University’s arts departments. His books, ‘Selling Leonardo: The Art World’s Greatest Scandal’ and ‘Holy Ghost: Decoding Leonardo da Vinci’s Final Painting’ are available wherever books are sold.