When a group of community-builders approached us about filming their downtown Christmas market event, we said yes faster than a marshmallow catches flame on a campfire. Folkways is a local organization dedicated to creating memorable experiences in our community, and this was to be the First Annual Christkindlmarkt: Fargo-Moorhead’s Christmas market. Thanks to a partnership with Fargo-Moorhead Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Greater Fargo-Moorhead Economic Development Corporation, our team enjoyed three days of merriment with our cameras in hand, conducting interviews with glowing guests; from grandparents swing dancing to live music in the ballroom, to young parents bringing their kids to the playroom, to college students roasting marshmallows and drinking mulled wine.
Our specific goals were to showcase the appeal of the event to people of all ages and backgrounds, highlight the different features of the event (vendors, outdoor firepits, crafts), and, ultimately to inspire viewers to move to or engage deeper with Fargo-Moorhead. Our more encompassing goal, however, was to capture the essence of the market — the magic, the delight, the “Alice in Wonderland”-esque experience of something that only comes once a year. The film is just a glimpse into why we love this community, and an invitation for others to participate, as well.