Christmas Market Shopping List

A Christmas market needs more than stalls and decorations. You will need supplies for hot drinks, food service, payments, lighting, storage and changing weather. Buy disposable serving items according to your expected attendance, and add a small buffer so busy periods do not stop sales. Check fresh produce and chilled stock shortly before opening, while non-perishable goods can be sorted several days in advance.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Party tentsqty 6
Market stallsqty 12
Tablesqty 14
Folding chairsqty 40
High tablesqty 8
Checkout tablesqty 2
Storage boxesqty 12

Lighting

String lightsqty 12
LED lampsqty 20
Battery lanternsqty 10
Extension cordsqty 12
Power stripsqty 8

Equipment

Coffee machinesqty 3
Kettlesqty 3
Warming kettlesqty 4
Mulled wine warmersqty 2
Coolersqty 6
Card machinesqty 2
Cash boxesqty 2
Thermos flasksqty 8

Tableware

Coffee cupsqty 150
Mulled Wine Cupsqty 150
Glassesqty 150
Platesqty 180
Bowlsqty 80
Cutlery setsqty 180
Serving traysqty 12

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 6
Chef’s knives and bread knivesqty 8
Measuring cupsqty 4
Soup ladlesqty 4
Serving tongsqty 8
Mixing bowlsqty 6
Serving traysqty 10

Decorations

Christmas treesqty 4
Christmas baublesqty 80
Christmas wreathsqty 8
Christmas table runnersqty 16
Christmas figuresqty 12
Wooden cratesqty 20
Fabric tableclothsqty 16
Chalkboardsqty 14
Pavement signsqty 6
Name card holdersqty 14

Catering

Thermal transport boxesqty 4
Drink dispensersqty 4
Bread basketsqty 8
Ice packsqty 24
Storage binsqty 16

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 10
Waste sorting binsqty 4
Broom setsqty 3
Floor squeegeesqty 2
Bucketsqty 6
Cleaning clothsqty 30
Hand broomsqty 4
Toilet brushesqty 3

Safety

Non-slip matsqty 12
Cable matsqty 12
Work glovesqty 12
Flashlightsqty 6
Fire extinguishersqty 4

Administration

Name badgesqty 40
Pensqty 30
Clipboardsqty 6
Receipt rollsqty 12
Cash change traysqty 2
Wristbandsqty 200

Signage

Directional signsqty 12
Information boardsqty 8
Booth numbersqty 14
Waste signsqty 10

Groceries

Groceries
- Coffee beans - 4 packs
- Tea bags - 250 pieces
- Hot chocolate - 12 liters
- Whipped cream - 8 cans
- Cocoa powder - 2 packs
- Sugar - 4 kilos
- Milk - 20 liters
- Oat milk - 6 liters
- Mulled wine - 24 liters
- Non-alcoholic mulled wine - 8 liters
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Bitter lemon - 6 bottles
- Sparkling mineral water - 10 bottles
- Still mineral water - 12 bottles
- Apple juice - 8 cartons
- Orange juice - 8 packs
- Lemons - 3 kilos
- Oranges - 4 kilo
- Cinnamon sticks - 3 bags
- Star anise - 2 bags
- Cloves - 2 jars
- Raisins - 2 kilos
- Apple fritters - 180 pieces
- Mini oliebol pastries - 250 pieces
- Christmas cookies - 8 packs
- Spiced cookies - 8 packs
- Brownies - 6 trays
- Muffins - 80 pieces
- Mini quiches - 120 pieces
- Vegetarian puff pastry snacks - 120 pieces
- Vegan puff pastry snacks - 60 pieces
- Cheese cubes - 3 kilo
- Grapes - 3 kilos
- Mandarins - 4 kilo
- Nut mix - 2 kilo
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Snacks - 6 bags
- Sandwiches - 180 pieces
- Mini bake-at-home rolls - 120 pieces
- Herb butter - 12 tubs
- Hummus - 12 tubs
- Cream cheese - 10 tubs
- Semi-aged cheese - 4 kilos
- Brie - 2 kilos
- Vegetarian spreads - 10 tubs
- Vegan spreads - 8 tubs
- Smoked salmon - 2 kilos
- Ham - 2 kilos
- Turkey breast - 2 kilos
- Arugula - 1 kilo
- Cucumbers - 12 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 3 kilos
- Red onions - 2 kilos
- Mayonnaise - 3 bottles
- Ketchup - 3 bottles
- Mustard - 3 bottles
- Garlic sauce - 2 bottles
- Olive oil - 2 bottles
- Pepper - 2 mills
- Salt - 2 packs
- Paprika powder - 2 jars
- Italian herbs - 2 jars
- Cinnamon - 2 jars
- Aluminum foil - 4 rolls
- Plastic wrap - 4 rolls
- Baking paper - 4 rolls
- Napkins - 600 pieces
- Paper cups - 300 pieces
- Wooden stirrers - 300 pieces
- Paper straws - 200 pieces
- Cardboard snack trays - 250 pieces
- Paper plates - 250 pieces
- Wooden skewers - 500 pieces
- Coffee creamers - 300 pieces
- Disposable teaspoons - 250 pieces
- Hand soap - 6 bottles
- Hand sanitizer - 6 bottles
- Dish soap - 4 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 4 bottles
- Glass cleaner - 2 bottles
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Toilet paper - 48 rolls
- Trash bags - 100 pieces
- Paper table runners - 12 rolls
- Freezer bags - 4 packs
- Labels - 300 pieces

Tips

Plan two to three hot drinks per visitor for the first hour, then adjust the total to your expected opening time and attendance. Mulled wine cups, coffee cups and thermos flasks are easy to underestimate.
Allow at least one card payment option and one cash box per busy checkout point. Arrange cash and change before market day, not during setup.
Use one extension cord and one power strip for each planned equipment cluster, then keep spare cables available. Coffee machines, kettles, warmers and lights should not all share one overloaded connection.
Buy disposable plates, bowls, cutlery and glasses with a 10–15% buffer. This covers dropped items, extra portions and stalls that run out earlier than expected.
Prepare storage boxes, coolers and lanterns before deliveries arrive. Keep chilled or fresh goods separate from decorations and packaging, and test battery lighting before the evening opening.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need for a Christmas market food stall?: Plan for a table or stall, storage boxes, serving trays, chopping boards, suitable knives, measuring cups, plates, bowls, cutlery and glasses. For hot food or drinks, allow at least one warming or boiling appliance per active serving point and arrange power in advance.
How many cups do I need for a Christmas market?: Start with two to three cups per expected visitor for the first hour, depending on whether guests may return for another drink. Add a 10–15% reserve for spills, extra servings and unexpected attendance.
How much lighting is needed for a Christmas market?: Give each stall at least one visible light source, such as string lights, an LED lamp or a battery lantern. Prepare extension cords and power strips several days ahead, and keep battery lanterns available for areas without safe mains power.
What should I buy for Christmas market payments?: Provide a card machine for each busy checkout point and at least one cash box with change for every cash-handling station. Prepare the float before setup and print a contact list in case a payment device or supplier fails.

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