Pamela Berry, manager of the Francestown Community Market, which takes place Friday afternoons in summer and fall, said traditional outdoor German holiday markets are a growing trend. 

On Saturday, Dec. 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Francestown Community Market will host its own German market at Francestown Town Hall. Twenty-three vendors, including artists, artisans and bakers, will sell their products from the historic horse sheds.

“Last year, Amherst had a German Christmas market, and they drew 10,000 people, so we thought, ‘Why not start one ourselves?’ Obviously, theirs was much bigger, but we have this perfect spot with the horse sheds, where vendors can be sheltered, so we can do this event rain or shine. People actually travel to Europe to go to these outdoor holiday markets. They’re very popular,” Berry said.

Berry and volunteers from the Francestown Recreation Committee have been hard at work cleaning out the carriage sheds to prepare for Saturday’s market, and vendors have gathered to hang up fairy lights in the sheds. 

The Francestown Fire Auxiliary will sell coffee and cookies inside Town Hall, which will be open as a warming spot. Food vendors will sell cookies, pastry, cheesecakes, homemade candy, tarts and other holiday treats.

Francestown resident Theo Groh, who has German heritage, will sell German food, including bratwurst sandwiches and two types of homemade sauerkraut.  Chairs and tables will be set up inside Town Hall, so attendees can bring food inside to eat. 

“We’re ready no matter what weather comes,” Berry said. “I bought all my vendors hand-warmers! This is New Hampshire; we’re used to being outside. We will have plenty of hot beverages and plenty of space for people to warm up inside.”

Lisa Federico of Francestown will sell homemade Empower Bars to raise money for an upcoming trip to Tanzania, and Cyrena Arnold, a meteorologist and Francestown resident, will sell and sign copies of her book, “The Weather Story.” 

Vendor products include soy candles, stained glass artwork, photography, wooden jewelry boxes, rustic wood signs and home decor, birch wood reindeer, charcuterie boards and wooden bluebird houses, greeting cards, stationery gifts and stocking-stuffers, jewelry, wool hats, honey, Greek pastries, German cookies, French pastries, German food, jams, jellies and chutneys, evergreen wreaths and centerpieces, hand-crocheted gifts, autographed weather books, nutrition bars, beaded pens, keychains and bottle toppers, dog treats, cheesecakes, freeze-dried candy, hand-crafted sketchbooks, purses, quilted star ornaments and pottery.