The 8th annual Lower Paxton Christkindlmarkt runs Saturday, December 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Village of Linglestown. Admission is free. From 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. that day, Linglestown Road is closed between the two traffic circles. The market sits on that stretch. Walkable parking in the village is limited, so organizers send most drivers to two shuttle lots outside it.
When it started, the market fit around the Square. It doesn't anymore.
It Started as a Few Dozen Stands Around the Square
The market grew out of an earlier celebration. TheBurg reported in 2024 that it traces back to Linglestown's 250th anniversary celebration and parade in 2015. Pam Jones began planning that two-day event in 2013 with Polly Murphy. The same volunteers later ran Lower Paxton Township's 250th anniversary celebration in 2017, and that work led to the Lower Paxton Community Foundation.
The foundation launched the Christkindlmarkt in 2019. That year it had 35 vendors around the main square on Route 39 and drew about 2,500 people, according to organizer John Hanks Jr.
The Numbers Since Then
| Year | What changed |
|---|---|
| 2019 | First market: 35 vendors and roughly 2,500 visitors |
| 2022 and 2023 | More than 7,000 visitors each year |
| 2024 | 120 vendors chosen from 200 applications, with sellers from New York, New Jersey, Ohio and Maryland. Organizers hoped for up to 10,000 visitors |
| 2026 | More than 120 artisan vendors advertised, plus multiple entertainment stages |
In five market years, the vendor count went from 35 to 120, and attendance passed 7,000 by 2022. For that reason, TheBurg reported that limited village space was the organizers' top challenge in 2024. Hanks credited word of mouth for the growth. "We have such a good reputation that word of mouth attracts people to come from all around," he told the paper.
The Market Now Runs Between Both Roundabouts
Organizers have handled the space problem by growing outward along the road. By 2024, the grounds stretched to Linglestown's second roundabout, and organizers planned to double KinderWorld, the children's area, that year.
On market day that means several streets close. The organizer's event info page lists these closures for December 12, 2026:
- Linglestown Road between the two traffic circles, closed from 4 a.m. and reopening by 8 p.m.
- Blackberry Lane, closed to traffic completely
- Raspberry Lane, closed to traffic completely
- North Mountain Road north of the Square, closed to traffic completely
According to the organizer's parking and shuttles page, residents and business owners who reach their properties from Blackberry Lane or Raspberry Lane will get access instructions before the event.
The organizers also post a detour map. If you live on or behind one of these streets, check it before you plan a Saturday morning errand. They note that the event map and vendor placement can change while they finalize logistics.
There's also separate work on Route 39 this year. PennLive reported in September that a $1.2 million PennDOT grant is paying for adaptive signal upgrades at 12 Linglestown Road intersections, from Fargreen Road to Patton Road and Woodview Drive. At the time, the work was expected to be fully running by the end of the year.
Getting There: Most of the Parking Is Outside the Village
Organizers say walkable parking is limited as attendance grows. They ask visitors to park at Central Dauphin High School or New Hope Church and take the free shuttles, which drop riders off right at the Square.
- Pick a lot. Central Dauphin High School is at 437 Piketown Road. New Hope Church is at 584 Colonial Club Drive.
- Ride in. Free shuttles run continuously from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Use only the designated lots closer in. The organizers ask visitors to park in the lots on their list out of respect for village residents and merchants. Koons Park at 6030 Larue Street is entered from Larue Street. The lot at Linglestown Middle and Elementary Schools, 1200 N. Mountain Road, is entered from Stevenson Avenue. Hoover Funeral Home at 6011 Linglestown Road is for handicapped parking only.
- Leave the dog home. Pets aren't allowed because of the crowds. Service animals are welcome.
Shuttle service stops at 4 p.m., when the market closes. If you want to stay longer, it helps to live within walking distance.
How the Footprint Is Laid Out
Since the market stretches along the road, organizers split services between an east end and a west end. Here's where things are, based on the Know Before You Go page:
- Information booth: near the clock on the Square, with an ATM, lost and found, and entertainment schedules
- East end restrooms: near the Square by the giant flagpole, and by the Linglestown American Legion stand
- West end restrooms: near Enders Annex, and inside the St. Thomas Room at the Linglestown Historic Venue
- Second ATM: near the entrance to the Enders Annex
- First aid: an EMT on site all day in the Enders Annex
The Lower Paxton Police Department is on site for the whole event. Organizers point out that restrooms inside local businesses are for customers only.
The township describes the market as inspired by traditional German Christmas markets, with handmade gifts, holiday décor, seasonal food, live entertainment on several stages, and visits with Santa. The organizer's homepage mentions German food and festival food.
What's on the Schedule So Far
The music and dance page is still filling in. Right now it lists:
| Time | Performer |
|---|---|
| 10 a.m. | Marino Gaspari |
| 10 a.m. | Happy Wanderers German Band |
| 11 a.m. | Vickie Rogers |
| 2:30 p.m. | Voice of Life Band, Linglestown Life Church |
Road to Emmaus is also on the lineup, playing the stage in the middle of the festival. Between acts on the Square, the Cranky Lady plays a custom-made street organ.
KinderWorld is the children's area. The page lists free activities, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, reindeer food, an 11 a.m. puppet show, and Matthew Dodd from noon to 2 p.m. Since the entertainment schedule is still filling in, check both pages again the week of the market.
The Village Businesses Along the Route
When the market took over the road, the businesses on it ended up inside the event. The organizer's village businesses page names Eagle Hotel Restaurant & Bar, Linglestown Village Pizza & Subs, Mellow Minded Cafe, St. Thomas Restaurant, and St. Thomas Roasters Coffee House.
Local businesses have backed the market from early on. According to TheBurg's 2024 coverage, three dozen businesses sponsored the market that year, and another 40 to 50 people joined its Gingerbread Club. Linglestown American Legion Post 272 was presenting sponsor for the fourth year in a row. Co-chair Pam Jones said the growth has brought in more community volunteers, "including school groups, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, churches and veterans and service organizations." Jones co-chairs the event with foundation trustee Denise Hussar.
A Smaller Event at the Same Tree on December 1
Eleven days before the market, a much smaller event takes place on the same stretch of road. Dauphin County CASA's Giving Tree kickoff is Tuesday, December 1, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Linglestown Christmas Tree, 5967 Linglestown Road. Valerie Pritchett of ABC27 is the emcee, the Linglestown Elementary children's choir is performing, and St. Thomas Roasters is providing refreshments.
It's an hour on a weeknight with no road closures. The tree stands where thousands of visitors will pass on December 12.
I live and work in these suburbs, and the Christkindlmarkt weekend shows how much the Square means to the people around it. If you live in the village and want to know what your home near the Square is worth, Jennifer Jablonski can help. Get a Free Home Valuation and we can talk it over, before the market or after it.
