Carmel Christmas Market

The Carmel Christmas market, the Carmel Christkindlmarkt, takes place on Carter Green, 25 km north of Indianapolis, from 21 November to 24 December 2026. Dozens of German food and craft huts and an ice rink fill the plaza between the Palladium and the Tarkington Theater, Wednesday to Sunday. Admission is free, and the organiser points to national and local awards, including first places in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025.

Carmel Christkindlmarkt 2026: dates and opening hours

The market opens on 21 November 2026 and closes on 24 December, with one day off on Thanksgiving, 26 November. It is closed on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday and Thursday the huts are open from 4pm to 9pm, on Friday and Saturday from noon to 9pm, on Sunday from noon to 8pm.

A few days fall outside that schedule: Wednesday 25 November, the eve of Thanksgiving, from noon to 9pm, 21 to 23 December from noon to 9pm each day, and 24 December from noon to 4pm. A preview evening, the Wundernacht, for ages 21 and over, takes place on 19 November.

Carter Green, between the Palladium and the Tarkington Theater

The market fills Carter Green, at 10 Carter Green, Carmel, Indiana, a plaza set between the Palladium (1 Carter Green) and the Tarkington Theater (3 Carter Green), the two venues of the Center for the Performing Arts. On the plaza, the rink, The Ice at Carter Green, is ticketed, skate hire extra, while access to the market stays free.

German huts, ice rink and awards

The huts on Carter Green sell German food and crafts: around fifty in 2025, several dozen in 2026. The organiser, Carmel Christkindlmarkt, Inc., sets itself the mission of promoting German culture and traditions. It points to national and local travel awards: five first places (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025) and a third place in 2024.

Getting to Carmel from Indianapolis and from Europe

Carmel is a small city north of Indianapolis: 24.9 km and 35 minutes by road from Monument Circle, in the centre of the Indiana state capital. Parking is free throughout the city, and free shuttles run at weekends. From Europe, flights to Indianapolis are worth comparing between airlines.

The continent’s other markets are gathered on our page of Christmas markets in North America, including the Chicago Christmas market, the Midwest’s other big Christkindlmarket.