What you need for a Christmas market at the church

A church Christmas market needs more than stalls and handmade goods. You will need serving supplies for coffee, tea and soup, safe power distribution, payment equipment, table coverings and decorations that work in a large room. Plan quantities around your expected visitors and check what the church already owns before shopping. Fresh pastries, greenery, batteries and cash are easy to arrange too late, so set deadlines for buying and collecting them.

Organize this event for free with Lizzt

What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Market stallsqty 10
Tablesqty 12
Chairsqty 80
Stoolsqty 12
Diaper clothsqty 10
Tableclothsqty 12

Equipment

Coffee machinesqty 3
Kettlesqty 3
Hot drink urnsqty 6
Soup kettlesqty 2
Extension cordsqty 8
Power stripsqty 8
Cash boxesqty 3
Card machinesqty 2
Bluetooth speaker

Lighting

String lightsqty 8
LED lampsqty 12
Extension cordsqty 4

Decorations

Artificial Christmas tree
Christmas baublesqty 60
Christmas garlandsqty 12
Christmas wreathsqty 4
Nativity scene
Christmas greeneryqty 8
Serving traysqty 8
Notice boardsqty 4

Tableware

Coffee cupsqty 80
Tea glassesqty 80
Water glassesqty 80
Bowlsqty 60
Platesqty 100
Forksqty 100
Knivesqty 80
Spoonsqty 100
Serving spoonsqty 8

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Knivesqty 6
Mixing bowlsqty 4
Measuring cupsqty 3
Pliersqty 8
Bread basketsqty 6
Labelsqty 100
Aluminum foilqty 2

Cleaning

Bucketsqty 4
Mugsqty 3
Broomsqty 3
Dustpan and brushqty 4
Cleaning glovesqty 8
Hand soap dispensersqty 4
Hand sanitizer pumpsqty 4

Safety

First aid kit
Fire extinguishersqty 2
Cable matsqty 8

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 4 packs
- Tea bags - 200 pieces
- Hot chocolate - 12 liters
- Cocoa powder - 2 packs
- Milk - 20 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Whipped cream - 12 cans
- Sugar - 3 kilos
- Sweeteners - 2 boxes
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 8 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Apple juice - 8 cartons
- Spa Blue - 48 bottles
- Spa Rood - 24 small bottles
- Cinnamon - 2 jars
- Cookies - 8 packs
- Speculaas - 6 packs
- Paprika chips - 5 bags
- Plain chips - 5 bags
- Snacks - 4 bags
- Peanuts - 3 bags
- Cheese cubes - 3 kilo
- Grapes - 4 kilos
- Apples - 5 kilo
- Mandarins - 5 kilos
- Cucumber - 8 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 3 kilos
- Carrots - 3 kilos
- Hummus - 8 tubs
- Cream cheese - 6 tubs
- Baguettes - 15 pieces
- Crackers - 8 packs
- Butter - 2 kilos
- Pea soup - 20 liters
- Vegetarian soup - 8 liters
- Soup vegetables - 5 kilos
- Mustard - 3 jars
- Ketchup - 3 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 3 jars
- Mini sausages - 8 kilo
- Vegetarian meatballs - 4 kilo
- Apple fritters - 100 pieces
- Christmas loaf - 8 pieces
- Cream puffs - 150 pieces
- Paper napkins - 500 pieces
- Stirrers - 300 pieces
- Wooden skewers - 300 pieces
- Cardboard soup cups - 150 pieces
- Cardboard coffee cups - 200 pcs
- Lids for cups - 200 pieces
- Coffee milk cups - 200 pieces
- Trash bags - 50 pieces
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Toilet paper - 36 rolls
- Dish soap - 3 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 4 bottles
- Toilet cleaner - 3 bottles
- Hand soap - 6 refills
- Disinfectant - 4 bottles

Tips

Allow at least 1 coffee cup, 1 tea glass and 1 water glass per expected visitor, then add a 10% buffer for breakage and extra drinks. Keep bowls and serving trays near the food stalls rather than at one central table.
For hot drinks, plan roughly 2 servings per visitor during the first hour. Check the coffee machines, kettles and hot drink urns at least 3 days before the market, including plugs, leads and extension cords.
Count power outlets by stall before buying or borrowing equipment. Keep extension cords and power strips away from walking routes, and avoid connecting high-load equipment to one overloaded strip.
Prepare one cash box and one card machine for each busy payment point, plus a small float in coins and low-value notes. Test the card machines and arrange cash no later than the day before opening.
Buy or collect fresh pastries and Christmas greenery as close to opening as possible: pastries on the same day and greenery within 1–2 days. Pack decorations, tablecloths, price tags and notice boards together so setup does not depend on a last-minute shopping trip.

Frequently asked questions

What should I buy for a church Christmas market?: Start with tablecloths, cups, glasses, bowls, serving trays and supplies for hot drinks and soup. You will also need extension cords, power strips, cash boxes, card machines, price tags and decorations such as garlands, wreaths and greenery.
How many cups and glasses do I need for a Christmas market?: Plan one coffee cup, tea glass and water glass per expected visitor, then add about 10% extra. For 100 visitors, that means at least 110 of each item if every visitor may use each drink station.
How much coffee and tea should I prepare for a church Christmas market?: Budget about two hot drinks per visitor during the first hour, then adjust for the expected opening period. For 100 visitors, prepare capacity for roughly 200 servings in the first hour, with extra water, milk, sugar and serving space.
When should I buy pastries and Christmas greenery?: Pick up fresh pastries on the day of the market, as close to opening as practical. Collect Christmas greenery 1–2 days beforehand so it remains fresh while leaving time to arrange it.

Start this plan in Lizzt

Every task and item on this page, ready in your own event. Invite people, split the work, and see who has done what.