Christmas Market delights AIS, Atlanta
The Christmas Market was held December 2. Photos courtesy Peter Noelle.
This year's Christmas Market, held on December 2, was a resounding success. More than 1,500 guests from AIS and the Atlanta area enjoyed the market festivities that included authentic German food, Swiss Raclette and waffles, Stollen, Glühwein, a candlelit German church service and shopping for unique gifts and items for the home. Children were delighted by a visit from Saint Nikolaus and making crafts. Thank you to sponsors Heidelberger Druck USA and Lufthansa Cargo, as well as the City of Atlanta Mayor's Office and the President, City Council. Funds raised at the event will support German academic programs.
Local German institutions supported the event through external marketing and by participating as vendors. These institutions are the German-American Chamber of Commerce, the German Consulate General, the Goethe Institute, the German Church, the German School of Atlanta, and the Swiss American Society of Atlanta.
More vendors of diverse backgrounds from the AIS community and beyond participated at this year's market than ever before. Those taking part included Barbara Grünenfelder, Karen Lamassonne, Marsha Marsha Marsha, Goldsmiths Gallery (Regina Imbsweiler), Bernhard's Bakery, Isabelle Laurent, Paul Wilsbacht, Manuela Luger, Maria Van Diest, Sieglinde Madl-Stevens, Tracy Gibson, Uniquely Yours, Pearl Lady, LiLi Lua, Laura's Divine Desserts/Susansnaps, German KiddiBooks, Fiora Tea, and Bonsai Americano.
The Christmas Market would not be possible without the German Parent Association organizing it. Thanks also to Antonio Garcia and his Sodexho team who donated ingredients and their time to prepare the German potato salad. And thanks to the parents and teachers from all three language tracks, Primary and Secondary School, who volunteered and donated their time and energy to make this such a wonderful event:
Gaby Albers
Linda Alferova
deLille Anthony
Jutta and Chris Archer
Sabine and Bernd Auer
Emmanuelle Badarani
Almut and Martin Beck
Christiane Box
Claudia and Oliver Brand
Christiane Buehler
Michelle Caruso-Decoufle
Chi Colberg
Philip Doele
Bettina Dorsch
Anke Fischer
Susan Fisher
Petra Fornasini
Thomas Gebhard
Barbara Geiger
Stephan Guenther
Claudia and Michael Hahn
Regina Imbsweiler
Jane Kamenz
Ursula Kiessling
Bettina Koenigstein
Leonie Ley-Mitchell
Tynke ten Lohuis
Sarah and Tony Locke
Snjezana Lucic
Johanna and John MacMaster
Aisha Malik
Mark McCabe
Barbara Meibeck
Joyce Melville
Adrianne Poulard
Theone Rutledge
Birgit and Hans Schwade
Tom Schwartz
Petra Schwarzenbauer
Nadia Seidler
Simona Stelea
Uli and Thomas Topp
Anette Thun-Freyny
Annette Witte