What to buy for a Christmas market with children’s activities

A Christmas market with children’s activities needs more than decorations and festive food. You’ll need separate serving equipment for hot drinks and soup, sturdy tables for stalls, and child-sized furniture for crafts and games. This shopping list helps you check those items before shopping day, including supplies that are easy to overlook when several stalls run at once. Confirm quantities against your guest registrations, dietary requirements and activity sign-ups before placing orders.

Organize this event for free with Lizzt

What to bring

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

Furniture

Party tentsqty 4
Market stallsqty 10
Tablesqty 12
Folding chairsqty 40
Bar stoolsqty 8
Checkout tablesqty 2
Changing room screen
Children’s tablesqty 4
Children's chairsqty 16

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 250
Coffee cupsqty 80
Platesqty 180
Soup bowlsqty 80
Knivesqty 120
Forksqty 120
Spoonsqty 120
Teaspoonsqty 80
Serving plattersqty 16
Serving tongsqty 8

Kitchen

Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 3
Soup kettlesqty 2
Mulled wine warmerqty 2
Food warmersqty 4
Cutting boardsqty 6
Chef’s knives and bread knivesqty 8
Measuring cupsqty 4
Kitchen tongsqty 6
Serving spoonsqty 8
Coolersqty 6
Thermos flasksqty 6
Food containersqty 20

Equipment

Mobile card terminalsqty 2
Cash boxesqty 2
Mobile phone chargersqty 4
Bluetooth speakersqty 2
Extension cordsqty 8
Power stripsqty 6
Cable reelsqty 4

Lighting

String lightsqty 12
LED lampsqty 12
Battery lanternsqty 8
Spare batteriesqty 24

Decorations

Christmas treesqty 3
Christmas baublesqty 60
Christmas garlandsqty 12
Christmas wreathsqty 6
Christmas tableclothsqty 14
Christmas figuresqty 10
Santa chair
Name badgesqty 30
Directional signsqty 12

Children's activities

Colored pencilsqty 120
Markersqty 80
Washable paintqty 12
Paintbrushesqty 40
Craft paperqty 500
Coloring pagesqty 250
Apronsqty 20
Children's scissorsqty 20
Glue Sticksqty 40
Glitterqty 12
Christmas stickersqty 300
Wooden Christmas figuresqty 150
Coloring sheet board
Picture booksqty 8
Game materials
Photo frame
Shoe boxesqty 20

Safety

First aid kitsqty 2
Fire extinguishersqty 2
Non-slip matsqty 8
Barrier postsqty 12
Cable traysqty 30

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 10
Cleaning bucketsqty 4
Broom setsqty 3
Mopsqty 4
Dustpan and brushqty 4
Hand soap dispensersqty 6

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 6 packs
- Decaf coffee - 1 pack
- Black tea - 3 boxes
- Herbal tea - 2 boxes
- Cocoa powder - 2 kilos
- Hot chocolate - 20 liters
- Mulled wine - 30 liters
- Non-alcoholic mulled wine - 10 liters
- Apple juice - 15 liters
- Orange juice - 15 liters
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 8 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Sparkling mineral water - 12 bottles
- Still mineral water - 18 bottles
- Beer - 6 crates
- Alcohol-free beer - 2 crates
- Milk - 12 liters
- Oat milk - 6 liters
- Whipped cream - 12 cans
- Sugar - 4 kilos
- Sweetener - 2 boxes
- Cinnamon - 4 jars
- Star anise - 2 bags
- Cloves - 2 jars
- Oranges - 6 kilos
- Lemons - 3 kilos
- Apples - 8 kilos
- Grapes - 5 kilos
- Mandarins - 8 kilos
- Mini sausages - 8 kilo
- Puff pastry - 12 packs
- Smoked sausage - 6 kilos
- Vegetable soup - 20 liters
- Tomato soup - 15 liters
- Baguettes - 25 pieces
- Mini rolls - 250 pieces
- Unsalted butter - 2 kilos
- Herb butter - 2 kilo
- Young cheese - 4 kilos
- Brie - 3 kilo
- Goat cheese - 2 kilos
- Hummus - 3 kilos
- Cucumber - 4 kilos
- Cherry tomatoes - 4 kilos
- Bell peppers - 3 kilos
- Olives - 3 kg
- Nut mix - 3 kilo
- Raisins - 2 kilos
- Paprika chips - 10 bags
- Plain chips - 10 bags
- Pretzels - 8 bags
- Gingerbread - 12 packs
- Christmas cookies - 15 packs
- Marshmallows - 4 kilos
- Chocolate curls - 2 kilos
- Bacon bits - 3 kilos
- Icing sugar - 2 kilos
- Ketchup - 4 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 4 bottles
- Mustard - 3 jars
- Satay sauce - 3 kilos
- Salt - 2 packs
- Pepper - 2 jars
- Olive oil - 3 liters
- Paper napkins - 1000 pieces
- Paper straws - 300 pieces
- Wooden stirrers - 500 pieces
- Sugar sachets - 500 pieces
- Coffee filters - 300 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Disposable cups for hot drinks - 500 pieces
- Disposable containers - 300 pieces
- Wooden skewers - 500 pieces
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Dish soap - 4 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 4 bottles
- Disinfectant spray - 3 bottles
- Sponges - 12 pieces
- Microfiber cloths - 20 pieces
- Trash bags - 100 pieces
- Toilet paper - 48 rolls
- Hand soap - 6 bottles
- Paper towels - 12 packs

Tips

Plan one children’s table for every 6–8 children taking part at the same time, with a chair for each child plus at least two spare chairs. This prevents craft activities from competing with food stalls for seating.
Allow at least two reusable cups per expected guest if cups cannot be washed during the market. Keep separate coffee cups and soup bowls available so queues do not stall when hot drinks are served together.
Buy or prepare extra serving utensils for every food stall: one set in use, one clean spare set and separate tongs or spoons for each dish. Shared utensils are easily misplaced during a busy market.
Check hot-drink and soup equipment 2–3 days before the event, then chill drinks and clean coolers the day before. Test kettles, coffee machines, soup kettles and the mulled wine warmer while there is still time to replace a faulty item.
Pack children’s craft materials in labelled activity boxes and place them at the children’s tables before opening. Add name badges, route signs and the printed floor plan to the same event-day checklist so they are not left behind with the shopping.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need for a Christmas market with children’s activities?: Plan for market stalls, tables, chairs, checkout tables, serving ware, hot-drink equipment, coolers and materials for the children’s activity. Check the final shopping list at least 2–3 days before the market and match quantities to registrations.
How many cups do I need for a Christmas market?: Allow two reusable cups per expected guest when there is no washing point during the event. Add separate coffee cups and enough spare cups for volunteers and replacements, especially if the market runs longer than 2 hours.
How many children’s tables and chairs are needed?: Use one children’s table for roughly 6–8 children taking part at the same time, with one chair per child and 2–3 spare chairs. Increase the number if activities run in several sessions or children cannot share craft space.
When should I prepare the Christmas market shopping?: Confirm quantities and supplier availability 5–7 days before the event, then buy fresh produce as close to opening as practical. Chill drinks, clean coolers and pack activity materials the day before.

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.