By Kaylee Kruschke
Murphy News Service
The sound of Christmas music and aroma of hot apple cider filled the air Nov. 28 as the Holidazzle Village, featuring the Minneapolis Holiday Market, opened its doors for the first time.
The village, on the corner of 11th Street and Nicollet Mall, replaced the long-running Holidazzle Parade and will become the new holiday tradition of Minneapolis.
Resembling markets commonly found in Europe during the holidays, the village allows visitors to buy foods, gifts and crafts from countries such as Germany and Turkey.
“It’s an all-day thing and it might be more convenient for people because of that,” said Jessica Amiot, a village visitor from Brooklyn Park, adding that people can spend more time at the village and come during the day whenever they want, whereas the parade was only during the evening.
The village is more relaxing than the parade and allows visitors to stroll around and take their time exploring, said Cheryl Schleif, a village visitor from Brooklyn Park.
The village is comprised of small wooden huts where vendors sell their handmade goods.
One of the huts, Germen Brew House, run by John Selleck from Half Time Rec Bar and Grill in St. Paul offered authentic German beer.
“It’s a great opportunity to get involved in the village,” Selleck said. “It could build to be something huge.”
The village also offers entrainment geared toward children, such as a carousel and a reindeer barn throughout December.
“There are a lot of things you see in winter movies and it’s just like that — a cute holiday thing right out of the movies,” said Morgan Schleif, a village visitor from Brooklyn Park.
While exploring the village, visitors find small Turkish soaps in the shape of various fruits, which can be used to keep a room smelling fresh, German boot-shaped beer mugs, handmade German candies, Bratwurst, spiced mulled wine and many other unique European items.
Manuela Brown, a village visitor originally from Germany, but now residing in Crookston, said the village really was similar to the ones she visited back home in Germany.
“It’s nice, they did a good job,” Brown said.
“Keeping the Holidazzle here, whether it’s the parade or not, is still a big part of Minnesota,” Selleck said.
For more information on the Holidazzle Village, visit www.holidazzle.com.