Chris Kringle Market in Ottawa comes together despite COVID-19 challenges

Whether the Chris Kringle Market would happen was up in the air until last Friday.

That was a challenge Floret Events had to face when it came to organizing an event in the middle of a pandemic.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity said there needed to be 30 feet between huts, and everybody must wear a mask in order for the event to take place.

“We didn’t know if we could even open until last week when the governor’s new mandate came through,” Floret organizer Stephanie Stacy said. “We finally received permission from the DCEO saying we could open, but we had to reconfigure the whole layout of the market to allow for better social distancing and have more space between huts.”

This year’s Chris Kringle Market, scheduled Dec. 4 through 6 and Dec. 11 through Dec. 13, will have a different look because organizers had to go from 22 huts planned this year for the Jordan block to now seven or eight huts in three different locations.

“Normally, this whole event would fit on the Jordan block but now we have to take the Jordan block, the south Jackson parking lot and Court Street,” Stacy said. “One space now is normally three spaces any other year.”

Stacy said the vendors are grateful for the opportunity to open for a market this year because this year has been particularly rough for them.

“As a vendor, myself, it’s been rough for those of us that rely on these markets,” Stacy said. “Their numbers have been demolished, and so many of them aren’t eligible for the grants issued.”

Stacy said it’s important visitors wear masks and socially distance: If people don’t follow the rules, the Chris Kringle Market can’t stay open.

She said there have been discussions with the city of Ottawa and it’s important visitors don’t ignore mandates, because it could potentially cost the city grant money.

Although there are stipulations that organizers of the event have to follow, Stacy said the Chris Kringle Market will make everyone’s days a little brighter and bring a sense of normalcy during a time when there’s a lot of negativity.

“It’s been a rough year,” Stacy said. “We get a little hope, and then we get taken 10 steps back. I hope we can just make everyone happy, even if it’s for an hour that they’re down here.”

Stacy is excited for some of the different vendors at the event this year that have come from all over, like Bethlehem Nativity, which sells carved items from the Holy Land, and Baked Cheese Haus, a Wisconsin-based vendor that normally operates in New York City and Chicago. There also are many local vendors, such as Tangled Roots and JJ’s Pub, among others.