Christmas market shopping list

A Christmas market needs more than festive food and drinks. You also need serving equipment, cups, plates, tableware, stall furniture, lighting and a reliable way to take payments. This shopping list helps you prepare for outdoor service, including mulled wine, coffee, soup and waffles. Use your guest count and opening hours to adjust quantities, then place non-perishable orders early and buy fresh produce close to the market date.

Organize this event for free with Lizzt

What to bring

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

Furniture

Party tentsqty 8
Foldable tablesqty 16
High tablesqty 6
Folding chairsqty 80
Tableclothsqty 20
Tent weightsqty 32

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 150
Mulled Wine Cupsqty 120
Coffee cupsqty 100
Platesqty 150
Soup bowlsqty 100
Cutlery setsqty 150
Serving spoonsqty 12
Serving traysqty 8

Equipment

Coffee machinesqty 3
Warming kettlesqty 4
Mulled wine potsqty 3
Soup kettlesqty 2
Waffle ironsqty 2
Coolersqty 6
Payment terminalsqty 3
Cash registersqty 3
Flashlightsqty 6

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 6
Chef's knivesqty 6
Measuring cupsqty 4
Ladlesqty 8
Pliersqty 8
Mixing bowlsqty 6
Aluminum traysqty 20
Thermos flasksqty 6
Bottle openersqty 6

Decorations

Christmas treesqty 4
Christmas baublesqty 120
Christmas garlandsqty 20
Christmas wreathsqty 8
Christmas figuresqty 12
Red table runnersqty 16
Santa costume

Lighting

LED light stringsqty 20
LED lampsqty 16
Light netsqty 8
Extension cordsqty 8
Power stripsqty 12
Cable matsqty 20

Catering

Menu boardsqty 8
Price tagsqty 80
Receipt rollsqty 12
Cash boxesqty 3
Napkin holdersqty 12
Groceries
- Mulled wine - 30 liters
- Non-alcoholic mulled wine - 10 liters
- Red wine - 24 bottles
- Orange juice - 10 liters
- Oranges - 30 pieces
- Cinnamon sticks - 3 bags
- Star anise - 3 bags
- Cloves - 3 jars
- Sugar - 3 kilos
- Hot chocolate - 25 liters
- Whipped cream - 12 aerosol cans
- Mini marshmallows - 3 kilos
- Coffee - 4 kilos
- Tea - 250 bags
- Milk - 15 liter
- Oat milk - 6 liters
- Sugar sachets - 500 pieces
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 8 bottles
- Sinas - 6 bottles
- Lemonade - 10 liters
- Spa Blue - 10 crates
- Sparkling mineral water - 4 crates
- Beer - 12 crates
- Alcohol-free beer - 4 crates
- Apple juice - 6 liters
- Tomato Soup - 25 liter
- Vegetable broth - 2 liters
- Soup vegetables - 5 kilos
- Buns - 150 pieces
- German bratwursts - 150 pieces
- Vegetarian bratwursts - 30 pieces
- Ketchup - 4 bottles
- Mustard - 4 bottles
- Fried onions - 3 kilos
- Waffle batter - 15 kilo
- Powdered sugar - 3 kilos
- Chocolate sauce - 4 bottles
- Pancake mix - 8 kilos
- Apples - 10 kilos
- Raisins - 2 kilos
- Cinnamon powder - 4 jars
- Butter - 3 kilos
- Chocolate sprinkles - 2 kilos
- Speculaas - 8 kilos
- Christmas cookies - 8 kilos
- Spiced cookies - 6 kilos
- Paprika chips - 5 bags
- Plain chips - 5 bags
- Party nuts - 4 kilos
- Grapes - 5 kilos
- Mandarins - 8 kilos
- Cheese cubes - 5 kilos
- Vegetarian snacks - 8 boxes
- Satay sauce - 4 jars
- Mayonnaise - 4 bottles
- Garlic sauce - 4 bottles
- Salt - 2 kilos
- Pepper - 4 jars
- Olive oil - 3 liters
- Aluminum foil - 4 rolls
- Plastic wrap - 4 rolls
- Baking paper - 4 rolls
- Disposable napkins - 500 pieces
- Wooden stirrers - 500 pieces
- Wooden forks - 300 pieces
- Wooden spoons - 300 pieces
- Paper soup bowls - 200 pieces
- Paper carry trays - 200 pieces
- Coffee filters - 200 pieces
- Dish soap - 4 bottles
- Hand soap - 6 bottles
- Hand sanitizer - 6 bottles
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Toilet paper - 36 rolls
- Trash bags - 100 pieces
- Cleaning spray - 6 bottles
- Sponges - 24 pieces
- Rubber gloves - 12 pairs

Cleaning

Bucketsqty 6
Cleaning clothsqty 24
Waste binsqty 12
Broom setsqty 4
Mopsqty 4
Traffic conesqty 12

Tips

Plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then allow one to two more drinks per person for every additional hour. Buy extra cups for spills, lost items and busy serving periods.
Order enough serving ware for one full service cycle plus about 20% spare. Mulled wine cups, coffee cups, plates, soup bowls and cutlery disappear quickly when several stalls serve at the same time.
For each outdoor stall, match the tent to a folding table, table covering and tent weights. Check the forecast two to three days before the market and add weather protection or extra lighting before suppliers arrive.
Keep hot food and drinks in separate equipment groups: coffee machines, warming kettles, mulled wine pots, soup kettles and waffle irons should each have a tested power connection or suitable backup.
Prepare payment supplies at least one week ahead. Check every payment terminal and cash register, order change in advance, and bring flashlights so stalls can close safely after daylight fades.

Frequently asked questions

How many cups do I need for a Christmas market?: Start with one cup per expected drink, then add 20% spare. For 100 visitors drinking two servings each, prepare at least 240 cups, split between reusable cups, mulled wine cups and coffee cups according to your menu.
How much food should I buy for a Christmas market?: Use the expected number of portions rather than the visitor count. For 100 visitors, plan around 60 to 80 food portions if food is optional, or 100 to 120 portions if the market runs through a meal period, with extra ingredients for popular items.
When should I order Christmas market supplies?: Order tents, tables, tableware, equipment and payment supplies at least one to two weeks before the market. Buy fresh produce one to two days beforehand and chill drinks as soon as they arrive.
What equipment is needed for an outdoor Christmas market stall?: Allow one tent, one table, suitable tent weights, lighting and serving equipment for each stall. Food and drink stalls may also need a coffee machine, warming kettle, mulled wine pot, soup kettle or waffle iron, plus coolers and tested power access.

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.