The fifth annual International Holiday Market will open three days of festivities Thursday.
European Business Council Executive Director Dr. Juergen Hartwich said the International Holiday Market began because they wanted to provide an event that would bring the American and European communities together.
He said the event, which will be held Thursday, Dec. 3 and Friday, Dec. 4, from 4-10 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 5, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., attracts more than 6,000 attendees from cities as far north as Sarasota and as far south as Naples.
“This is the only International Holiday Market in Florida. People from neighboring towns are coming, this is what they normally do in their home country,” he explained.
Hartwich said a raffle also will be held with the big prize featuring two roundtrip tickets to Germany from Air Berlin, which is a non-stop flight from Fort Myers to Germany.
The vendors for the three-day event will display various different items such as cuckoo clocks, Christmas ornaments and wooden toys in downtown Cape Coral next to McDonalds.
Hartwich said the event also will include traditional Christmas food such as Bratwurst and Schnitzel. Beverages will include Gluhwein (mulled wine) and German beer.
The International Holiday Market festivities on Thursday includes music, dancing and pictures with special guests.
The event will also feature Christmas music from 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m., 6-8 p.m. and from 9-10 p.m. on Thursday night.
Santa Claus and pictures will be held from 6-8 p.m. and pictures with Christkindl will be held from 6-8 p.m.
Bayshore Cloggers will perform from 7 p.m. -7:30 p.m., and Rhythm in Motion, a dance performance will be held from 7:30 p.m. -8:15 p.m.
On Friday, Dec. 4, the festivities will include Irish dancers from 4 p.m.-4:30 p.m., a fashion show from 6 p.m. -6:30 p.m., Latin music by Valerie Morales from 7-9 p.m. and Christmas music will end the festivities from 9-10 p.m.
Pictures with models will be held from 5-6 p.m., pictures with Santa Claus from 5-6 p.m. and pictures with Christkindl from 6-7 p.m.
Saturday’s live entertainment will include Christmas music from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and again from 9-10 p.m., along with performances from Mariner High School Jazz Band from 1-2 p.m. and Tami Gill and T.C & Tom from 6-7 p.m.
Pictures with Christkindl will be held from 3-4 p.m., or with models from 3:30 p.m. -4 p.m.
Handcrafts for children will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a fashion show will take place from 4 p.m. -4:30 p.m.
“Kids can paint wooden toys and take them home so they have a present for their parents,” Hartwich said.
Additional entertainment will feature Irish dancers from 2:30 p.m.-3 p.m. and a dance performance from Rhythm in Motion from 6-7 p.m. on Saturday night.
The International Holiday Market is free and Hartwich encourages everyone to come out and enjoy the family fun event.
For information call (239) 645-4191.