What's Happening In Mifflinburg

How does Mifflinburg benefit from the Christkindl Market?

Posted on 01-06-2010

by Becky Hagenbaugh

The annual Christkindl Market was another success the second weekend in December, although the first two days of the Market were bitter cold and windy. Saturday was a beautiful day and more than made up those frigid days. Attendance was estimated at 12, 000 visitors.

Did you ever stop to wonder just how this event benefits Mifflinburg and in fact our whole area? Huge amounts of money flow into Mifflinburg during this 3-day event, but where does all this money go? As Mifflinburg's main street manager, I did an abbreviated informal survey and I would like to share that information with you.

  1. The Mifflinburg non-profit market vendors, were elated with the amount of money they made. For example, the Kiwanis Club made $1,300. That money will help to pay for swimming lessons for kids at the community park next summer. The ladies of Methodist Church baked and sold 890 dozen cookies. Their cookies along with gingerbread items made a nice amount of money for the church. The other 18 non-profit vendors also did equally well (many said it was one of their best years ever) and will be returning their profits back into the area community for the good of our residents.

  2. Christkindl Market for-profit vendors were also very happy with the amount of money they made at this year’s market. Many Christkindl vendors come from a great distance year after year because they do so well at Mifflinburg’s Market.

  3. Mifflinburg businesses reap the benefits of having the Christkindl in town. It brings many thousands of dollars to Mifflinburg and Buffalo Valley businesses. Country Farm and Home had another “best ever” day topping even their 08 “best ever day in the business’s history” on the Saturday of Christkindl. And restaurants also did well: Old Turnpike Restaurant was busy serving breakfast, lunch and dinner to visitors choosing a nice warm place to eat before or after their Christkindl visit. And the beauty of it all is that many of the visitors to Christkindl had such a wonderful time that they come back to enjoy Mifflinburg at other times during the year – shop our shops, eat in our restaurants and come to our other events. Christkindl is a valuable economic helpmate to the Borough of Mifflinburg.

  4. Area Motels, B&B’s and Hotels were filled with out of the area visitors including Christkindl vendors. Some, such as Norman’s Mifflinburg Hotel had requests for next year. How do all these people know about the Mifflinburg Christkindl Market? Each year the Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau gives Union County Tourism Grants (a portion of the county hotel tax) to non-profit organizations to promote tourism to an area outside of a 50 mile radius. In the last several years MHRA has has been a recipient of a tourism grant to promote Christkindl outside of the local area. It is a “win-win” situation with many of those coming from 50+ miles stay overnight at our area hotels, motels and B&B’s.

  5. Regional visitors flooded into Mifflinburg for the Christkindl. Many saying things like “I loved the Market and Mifflinburg’s friendly hospitality. We will be coming back.” Invaluable public relations for Mifflinburg. What got these people to Mifflinburg for Christkindl? $4,000 of local regional advertising of the Christkindl Market underwritten by Mifflinburg Bank & Trust.