Branson Board tables $30K request for Christkindlmarkt support

At its last meeting, the Branson Board of Aldermen considered a proposal for $30,000 from the city’s Tourism Tax Contingency Fund to launch the new Branson Christkindlmarkt for this year’s Ozark Mountain Christmas. The proposal was submitted on behalf of the Branson Christmas Coalition by Executive Director Elizabeth Hughes and the producer of Christkindlmarkt, Jenny Caro.

Christkindlmarkt will be located in The Shops at Branson Meadows. It will operate for about 15 days in late November and December. The organizers are asking for the city’s help to purchase five wooden huts – three ten-by-ten and two ten-by-twelve – for $30,000. The huts would be reusable and remain under Christmas Coalition control; no public tax dollars would fund staff or day-to-day expenses.

The $30,000 is about 19 percent of the market’s $155,000 first-year budget. Private money and group savings make up the other 81 percent. As proposed, the funds would come from the city’s $125,000 tourism tax contingency fund for such local projects and special events.

The presenters said that their records show that 21 percent of all visits to Branson occur in November and December. That puts more than $20 million in extra spending in local shops and workers’ pockets.

With its vendor stalls and handcrafted wares, the Christkindlmarkt is a European-style open-air market that also offers warm tents, light displays, and food from the continent. It’s not just a market; it’s a retail anchor that draws shoppers. This year, Christkindlmarkt will run for four blocks of dates from November 27 to December 23, 2026.

Alderman Glenn Schultz expressed strong personal enthusiasm for the project, sharing that he lived in Germany for several years and visited dozens of traditional holiday markets with his family. He said, "I love Christmas markets. I had the opportunity to live in Germany for a number of years with my family, and we probably went to 50 or more different Christmas markets, so I love the concept. Absolutely love the concept. I think it would be great for Branson."

While supporting the event, Schultz expressed his opinion that using tourism tax contingency funds to purchase physical wooden huts violated Missouri law, which limits tourism tax revenue to marketing and promotion. He went on to say, "Again, we've got to find a way to help you, because I want this event to happen. I can already taste the Glühwein, so I'm ready... but we really have to do it the right way."

After some discussion, the Board voted 5–0 to table the request until the next regular meeting on September 22, 2026, giving the city and the coalition time to prepare a revised request that meets state law.