The festive season is just around the corner and one of the most popular German traditions, the Christmas Market, is coming to town in what will be its fourth edition. Having been first introduced to Rwanda in 2016, and happened for all the years that came after, this year’s edition runs from November 16 to 17, at SOS Hermann-Gmeiner Primary School, opposite the Golf course in Kacyiru. According to Jannu Chundal, who is in charge of organising the event, the Christmas market will be a chance to foster intercultural exchange. The event is also said to be an opportunity for people that deal in Made-in-Rwanda to sell their products. This is the ways the German Development Cooperation supports locally produced products. “At the marketplace visitors can discover more than 60 emerging and established small and medium sized enterprises, cooperatives, and individual producers of Rwanda. As in previous years, the marketplace offered Made in Rwanda products like; handicraft, artworks, children toys, books, Christmas decorations, fashion accessories and clothes, metal- and wood works, local brandy and more,’’ she said She further added that for those interested in discovering the country during the holiday season, even local tourist holiday packages are on offer. Similarly, the German Christmas Market also emphasises on strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. All the vendors in the market are partners of the German Development Cooperation and the market offers an opportunity to showcase their beautiful and creative products, while enhancing their entrepreneurship and skills. While at the event, one can have a head start to their Christmas shopping and also feel the holiday spirit while finding that perfect and unique gift. To enrich the spirit of the season, there will be choir singing and a visit from Santa (on Saturday from 2pm - 5pm, and on Sunday from 12am –3pm) and what makes the event really worth attending is the fact that it is a family event with various children’s activities, German and Rwandan delicacies and the authentic famous German ‘Glühwein’ - a special, spicy hot mulled wine -which gives one a feel of being in Germany. Known as the only family-friendly event, the festival is jointly co-organised by the German Embassy, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in partnership with the SOS Children’s Village, Goethe Institute, KfW, Savings Banks Finance Group, Senior Experten Service and United Evangelical Mission (VEM). On November 16, the market will open from 10am to 8pm, and from 10am to 4pm on Sunday, November 17. The German Christmas Market has become popular in Kigali that visitors from all walks of life come to experience it. There’s simply so much to do from shopping experience, delicious German and Rwandan food, drinks and an array of entertainment to provide an electrifying mood at the venue. editor@newtimesrwanda.com
