Broadway Market Celebrates Christmas this Weekend

The Broadway Market, after decades of being thought of as the place to go for Easter shopping, is celebrating Christmas for the third year in a row.

The Christkindlmarket Christmas Fair will take place on Friday, November 27th and Saturday, November 28th, between 8AM and 5PM at 999 Broadway in Buffalo's Polonia Historic District.

According to Tom Kerr, the new executive director of the market, "For a long time the Broadway Market was thought of just for Easter, but we're trying to transform it into an international ethnic market and Saturday venue with book signings, music, cooking demos, etcetera."

Kerr says that in addition to the market's 30 regular vendors, they've doubled the number of offerings for the Christmas fair that will include food, wine, cheese, crafts, and so much more.  "We have a really great spice lady, a guy with salsas and hot sauces, 3 wineries, baked goods, and our lady who comes with perogies from Rochester.  There'll be jewelry--handmade and costume--custom leatherwork, belts, purses, candles, blankets, meat, fish, and Famous Horseradish." 

In short, Kerr says, "We're trying to make sure everyone finds something they like."

Kerr, who is only in his second month on the job, says he was "dragged out of retirement" to take the director's position at the market. "I've retired a few times, but I saw this as a big challenge," Kerr says.  "If it was something easy, I'd still be home, but I want to turn the market around and make it every bit as successful as it once was."

Kerr could use some help with that challenge.  He says there is a mountain of clean-up, painting and fixing to be done at the sprawling market.  He gets help from a few vendors, both temporary and permanent, and a few ladies from the community.  "There is a 'Friends Of' organization, but I have a feeling they weren't used so well in the past, and I'm trying to get them reenergized; we're reaching out to them to get more volunteers," Kerr states.  "We've also got some UB people working on business plans, along with RIT. MicroBiz Buffalo is also trying to fill spots as business incubators for small business that would either stay here or get a start here and move out into the community."  And Kerr would like very much for a restaurant to move in.

As for this weekend, the Yuletide event is patterned after centuries old European style holiday markets located all over the continent from the Atlantic to the Baltic. The goal of the Market is to bring together the best food, craft and ethnic vendors as the Market celebrates age old, time-honored traditions. See scenes from last year's Christmas Fair below in this video from Christopher Byrd of Broadway Fillmore Alive.

For more on the market's rich history, click here.