We don’t need to start that big, but what a thing to aspire to!
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Best Christmas market I’ve been to was in Friedrichshafen, Germany.
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yeah…back in the eighties FSM had a type of christmas function….hot cider, the raleigh bellringers, some artists, of course a Santa. you just strolled along and took it in, no traffic worries
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So we were just talking about a Christmas market and I just got back from the European Christmas market at the fairgrounds.
I can’t believe I didn’t think to take a single photo (maybe that’s telling) but the market was fine and reminded me of an event for like 1990s/2000s era Raleigh. I was looking for more. At the same time though, lots of nonprofits were present (I think) so I could be being too harsh. Good food though.
I kind of want something a little bougier. 
I know the Winter Faire at Moore Square is going on and I might check it out on Saturday.
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We went to the Fayetteville Street Christmas Market last Saturday and there was a good crowd out for it, despite the chilly weather. Had a blow up snow globe that kids could climb into and even a wrestling ring. The wrestling show was pretty entertaining. Had some Brewery Bhavana beers during and stepped into Chido Taco for a late lunch to warm up. Solid offerings all around.
Hoping to go out to the Winterfaire tomorrow for a second Saturday of Raleigh holiday fun.
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I went to that St. Nicholas market last year and it was a giant meh and a yawn. I was sorely disappointed. I with you; I want more.
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Welcome to my world.
We also went to the Fayetteville St one last weekend and had a very nice time. Not European but neither are we.
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The Winter Faire at Moore Square was more my style but I think we can go even larger. I imagine Moore Square packed with vendors and then even Moore inside the City Market building. If this event grows, it could take over both spaces.
The live music is nice and some random places to hang out could be expanded. This blow up “bar” looked fun.
Lots of food and drink for sure but I guess you also want people to go into downtown and hit the restaurants too. Maybe if DT eats could be represented with their own food stalls, that could add some exposure and make the event seem bigger. Food trucks are easy but I’d prefer tents where I can order food AND sit down to eat. That would make me stay longer and consider looking at even more stalls.
Random stuff like this mobile amusement park are nice add-ons too.
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Fun fact: I ran into @dtraleigh there today with his family!
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Great pics. Went to dinner at St Roch on Wednesday night. Was awesome to see that amount of people downtown. Was already slammed at 6 pm and even more so when we went home around 8:30-9 pm. The Fayetteville St corridor still absolutely crushes it for large scale events. Wish we could find a nice balance foot traffic-wise when there’s not a big event downtown.
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We went to the early acorn drop on Fayetteville Street and had a nice time. Great crowd. Agree it would be wonderful if the area were more activated during non-events. Hopefully the area will organically improve over the next couple of years, then get a huge boost when the Omni opens.
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As @John rightly points, if we want foot traffic on FSM, we need more housing!! Omni and all the other projects are great, but more housing for the heart of downtown!!
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The problem is that the area of Fayetteville St is pretty built up with office space. It needs pre covid levels of workers back downtown there. I agree that more residents would help, but it’s much easier and cheaper to build apartments on empty lots adjacent to the downtown core, as we keep seeing.
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Fair point. Anywhere in the walkshed is great. The Nash is a good addition. The N&O/Nexis and the Edison lots are prime.
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