Christmas market shopping list

A Christmas market needs more than stalls and festive decorations. You also need enough cups, plates, serving tools, hot-drink equipment, lighting and wrapping supplies for the busiest part of the day. This shopping list helps you prepare the market area, food and drink points, children’s activities and gift-wrapping table without last-minute runs to the shops. Use your expected visitor numbers to scale disposable supplies and refreshments, then check power, batteries and chilled drinks before opening.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Market stallsqty 10
Party tentsqty 4
Beer tablesqty 10
Folding chairsqty 40
High tablesqty 6
Coat racksqty 2
Changing room screen

Tableware

Coffee cupsqty 120
Glassesqty 150
Mugsqty 120
Platesqty 120
Cutlery setsqty 120
Serving plattersqty 20
Serving tongsqty 10
Soup ladlesqty 6

Decorations

Christmas treesqty 4
Christmas baublesqty 80
Christmas garlandsqty 12
Christmas wreathsqty 6
Table runnersqty 12
Christmas figuresqty 8
Santa costume
Wrapping paper rollsqty 10

Lighting

String lightsqty 12
LED lampsqty 20
Lanternsqty 12
Batteriesqty 40

Equipment

Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 3
Warming kettlesqty 3
Coolersqty 4
Bluetooth speakersqty 2
Microphone
Extension cordsqty 8
Power stripsqty 8
Cable matsqty 12
Card machinesqty 2

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 6
Chef's knivesqty 4
Thermos flasksqty 8
Soup kettlesqty 3
Ladlesqty 6
Storage binsqty 20
Bottle openersqty 4

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 10
Mopsqty 4
Bucketsqty 4
Broom setsqty 3
Hand broomsqty 4
Cleaning glovesqty 12
Trash bag holdersqty 6

Safety

First aid kitsqty 2
Fire extinguishersqty 4
Non-slip matsqty 10
Barrier fencingqty 12

Communication

Walkie-talkiesqty 6
Name badgesqty 30
Floor plansqty 30
Information boardsqty 6
Directional signsqty 12

Cash register

Cash boxesqty 2
Receipt rollsqty 10
Payment matsqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 4 packs
- Decaf coffee - 1 pack
- Black tea - 3 boxes
- Herbal tea - 2 boxes
- Hot chocolate - 8 liters
- Whipped cream - 10 cans
- Sugar - 3 kilos
- Sweetener - 2 boxes
- Milk - 12 liters
- Oat milk - 6 liters
- Lemons - 3 kilos
- Cinnamon sticks - 3 packs
- Star anise - 2 bags
- Cloves - 2 jars
- Apple juice - 12 liters
- Orange juice - 10 liters
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 8 bottles
- Sinas - 6 bottles
- Sparkling water - 12 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 24 bottles
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- Beer - 48 bottles
- Red wine - 8 bottles
- White wine - 6 bottles
- Mulled wine - 20 liter
- Non-alcoholic mulled wine - 8 liters
- Apple cider - 6 liters
- Ice cubes - 10 kilos
- Baguettes - 12 pieces
- Mini rolls - 120 pieces
- Unsalted butter - 2 kilos
- Young cheese - 3 kilos
- Brie - 2 kilos
- Cream cheese - 1 kilo
- Ham - 2 kilos
- Salami - 2 kilo
- Hummus - 2 kilos
- Cucumbers - 3 kilos
- Cherry tomatoes - 3 kilos
- Arugula - 1 kilo
- Red onion - 1 kilo
- Olives - 2 kilos
- Grapes - 4 kilos
- Mandarins - 6 kilos
- Apples - 6 kilos
- Mini quiches - 120 pieces
- Vegetarian bites - 120 pieces
- Bitterballen - 150 pieces
- Vegetarian Bitterballen - 75 pieces
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Mixed snacks - 5 bags
- Popcorn - 4 bags
- Gingerbread - 6 packs
- Christmas cookies - 8 packs
- Sirup waffles - 6 packs
- Marshmallows - 4 bags
- Poffertjes - 400 pieces
- Icing sugar - 2 kilos
- Chocolate sauce - 3 bottles
- Ketchup - 3 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 3 bottles
- Mustard - 2 bottles
- Garlic sauce - 2 bottles
- Tomato soup - 12 liters
- Split pea soup - 12 liters
- Vegetable stock - 4 liters
- Breadsticks - 8 packs
- Grated cheese - 2 kilos
- Croutons - 4 bags
- Napkins - 1000 pieces
- Paper cups - 500 pieces
- Paper snack trays - 400 pieces
- Wooden stirrers - 500 pieces
- Wooden forks - 400 pieces
- Wooden spoons - 300 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 3 rolls
- Cling film - 3 rolls
- Baking paper - 3 rolls
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Trash bags - 100 pieces
- Dish soap - 4 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 4 bottles
- Disinfectant - 3 bottles
- Sponges - 12 pieces
- Tea towels - 24 pcs
- Toilet paper - 48 rolls
- Hand soap - 6 bottles
- Hand gel - 6 bottles
- Paper towels - 12 packs
- Christmas stickers - 10 sheets
- Gift ribbon - 10 rolls
- Name labels - 100 pieces
- Cash change - 2 sets

Tips

Plan two to three drinks per visitor for the first hour, then add one drink per person for each following hour. Keep hot drinks separate from chilled drinks so queues move faster.
For every serving point, allow at least two sets of tongs or ladles: one in use and one spare. This matters especially when several stalls serve food at the same time.
Count coffee cups, glasses, mugs, plates and cutlery by expected users, then add 15% spare. Busy Christmas markets quickly run short when visitors take an extra cup or plate.
Check lighting before the market opens, not when it gets dark. Test every string light and LED lamp, and keep fresh batteries available for lanterns and other battery-powered lights.
Buy wrapping paper in several rolls rather than one large roll, and set aside scissors, table runners and a clear table for gift wrapping. This area is easy to overlook when stalls are being laid out.

Frequently asked questions

How many cups and mugs do I need for a Christmas market?: Allow one cup or mug per hot-drink serving, plus 15% spare. For 100 expected hot-drink servings, prepare at least 115 cups or mugs so you are not washing or replacing them during the market.
How much food and drink should I buy for a Christmas market?: Plan two to three drinks per visitor during the first hour and one additional drink per visitor for every later hour. For food, use your registration numbers and dietary requirements, then add around 10% spare for walk-ins and unexpected demand.
When should I buy decorations and wrapping paper for a Christmas market?: Buy non-perishable decorations, wrapping paper and table runners at least 2 weeks before the market. Do the final inventory 2 to 3 days beforehand, then collect fresh produce and chill drinks as close to opening as practical.
What lighting and power supplies are needed for a Christmas market?: List every string light, LED lamp, lantern and coffee machine that needs power before shopping. Test the available outlets at least 1 week ahead, and keep enough spare batteries for a full evening of lantern use.

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