What you need for a Christmas market with a living nativity

A Christmas market with a living nativity needs more than stalls and decorations. You will be serving hot drinks and food, taking payments, powering equipment and keeping animals, visitors and volunteers safe. Use the plan’s shopping list to check every category before market day, from reusable cups and soup kettles to cable reels and first-aid supplies. Buy consumables only after registrations and dietary requirements are confirmed, and leave enough time to test payment terminals and electrical equipment.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Party tentsqty 4
Market stallsqty 12
Tablesqty 12
Folding chairsqty 80
Bar stoolsqty 8
Nativity scene fencingqty 8
Changing room screenqty 2

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 250
Coffee cupsqty 120
Glassesqty 150
Platesqty 180
Bowlsqty 100
Cutlery setsqty 180
Serving spoonsqty 12
Thermos flasksqty 8

Equipment

Coffee machinesqty 3
Kettlesqty 3
Warming kettlesqty 4
Soup kettlesqty 3
Coolersqty 6
Payment terminalsqty 3
Cash registersqty 2
Speakersqty 2
Mixer
Microphonesqty 3
Extension cordsqty 8
Cable reelsqty 4
Power stripsqty 8
Flashlightsqty 6

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 6
Chef’s knives and bread knivesqty 8
Mixing bowlsqty 6
Soup potsqty 4
Serving traysqty 12
Measuring cupsqty 4
Oven mittsqty 6

Decorations

Christmas treesqty 4
Christmas baublesqty 120
Christmas garlandsqty 20
Christmas wreathsqty 8
Artificial Christmas branchesqty 30
Fabric table runnersqty 18
Hay balesqty 12
Wooden crib

Lighting

LED light stringsqty 20
LED lanternsqty 20
Battery lightsqty 30
Cable matsqty 10

Safety

Fire extinguishersqty 4
First aid kitsqty 2
Crowd control barriersqty 12
Non-slip matsqty 12
Safety vestsqty 12
Flashlightsqty 6

Animal care

Drinking bowlsqty 4
Feed bowlsqty 4
Hay netsqty 3
Buckets of waterqty 4
Animal transport cratesqty 3
Wooden scoopsqty 2
Rubber bootsqty 4

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 10
Waste binsqty 4
Bucketsqty 6
Broomsqty 6
Litter pickersqty 4
Cleaning clothsqty 30
Dish brushesqty 6
Hand soap dispensersqty 8
Paper towel dispensersqty 6

Communication

Walkie-talkiesqty 8
Name badgesqty 40
Clipboardsqty 8
Pensqty 20
Christmas market signageqty 20
Price listsqty 20

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Decaf coffee - 1 pack
- Black tea - 2 boxes
- Herbal tea - 1 box
- Hot chocolate - 12 liters
- Mulled wine - 18 liters
- Non-alcoholic mulled wine - 6 liters
- Apple juice - 12 liters
- Orange juice - 8 liters
- Cola - 12 liters
- Coca-Cola Zero - 8 liters
- Orange soda - 8 liters
- Spa Blauw - 120 bottles
- Spa Red - 60 bottles
- Milk - 12 liters
- Oat milk - 6 liters
- Whipped cream - 12 cans
- Sugar - 4 kilos
- Honey - 2 jars
- Cinnamon - 2 jars
- Star anise - 2 bags
- Cloves - 2 jars
- Oranges - 30 pieces
- Lemons - 12 pieces
- Apples - 8 kilos
- Raisins - 2 kilos
- Christmas bread - 12 pieces
- Mini currant buns - 20 pieces
- Bread rolls - 80 pieces
- Brown rolls - 60 pieces
- Unsalted butter - 2 kilos
- Young cheese - 3 kilos
- Brie - 2 kilos
- Cream cheese - 1,5 kilo
- Back ham - 2 kilos
- Smoked chicken breast - 2 kilo
- Hummus - 2 kilos
- Cucumbers - 12 pieces
- Tomatoes - 3 kilos
- Arugula - 8 bags
- Vegetable soup - 12 liters
- Tomato soup - 12 liters
- Pumpkin soup - 8 liters
- Soup croutons - 3 kilo
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Cheese straws - 5 kilos
- Mixed nuts - 3 kilo
- Gingerbread - 5 kilos
- Spiced speculaas - 5 kilo
- Christmas cookies - 6 kilos
- Brownies - 4 kilo
- Mini donuts - 300 pieces
- Icing sugar - 2 kilos
- Chocolate sauce - 3 bottles
- Ketchup - 3 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 3 jars
- Mustard - 3 jars
- Napkins - 1000 pieces
- Paper straws - 300 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 4 rolls
- Plastic wrap - 4 rolls
- Baking paper - 4 rolls
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Trash bags - 100 pieces
- Large trash bags - 40 pieces
- Dish soap - 4 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 4 bottles
- Disinfectant - 3 bottles
- Sponges - 20 pieces
- Rubber gloves - 12 pairs
- Toilet paper - 48 rolls
- Hand soap - 6 refills
- Paper towels - 12 packs
- Toilet freshener - 6
- Animal hay - 4 bales
- Animal straw - 6 bales
- Animal feed - 15 kilos
- Carrots for animals - 10 kilos
- Apples for animals - 5 kilos
- Drinking water for animals - 40 liters
- Hand warmers - 50 pieces
- Change coins - 1 set
- Change bills - 1 set
- Cash register receipts - 4 rolls
- Labels - 300 pieces
- Highlighters - 12 pieces

Tips

Plan serving quantities from your confirmed attendance, then add 10–15% extra cups, plates, bowls and cutlery. Reusable cups disappear quickly when visitors move between stalls, so count them separately from coffee cups and glasses.
Check every hot-drink station at least 24 hours before opening. Test the coffee machines, kettles, warming kettles and thermos flasks together rather than discovering on the day that one station lacks a plug or extension cord.
Buy or gather payment supplies at least 3 days ahead. Count the cash float and change, charge the payment terminals, and keep a tested backup cash register available if mobile reception or power fails.
Measure the route from the power points to each stall before choosing cable reels, extension cords and power strips. Keep cables away from visitor routes and the nativity fencing, and bring flashlights for setup or pack-down after dark.
Prepare the living nativity area separately from the market shopping. Allow space for fencing, a changing screen and animal-care equipment, and confirm feed, water and caretaker supplies with the animal provider before ordering anything.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need to buy for a Christmas market with a living nativity?: Plan for serving ware, hot-drink equipment, food-warming equipment, payment supplies, electrical leads, lighting and nativity-area equipment. The final quantities depend on your confirmed attendance and the number of stalls, so check those figures before shopping.
How many cups and plates do I need for a Christmas market?: Start with one serving item per expected serving, then add 10–15% spare capacity. Separate reusable cups, coffee cups, glasses, plates and bowls because each is used at a different type of stall.
When should I test payment terminals and electrical equipment?: Test payment terminals, cash registers, coffee machines and kettles at least 24 hours before opening. Check the full cable route during setup and keep a backup payment method ready at least 3 days in advance.
What should I prepare for the living nativity?: Arrange the nativity scene, fencing, a changing screen and animal-care supplies before the event week. Confirm the animals, caretaker schedule, feed and water requirements with the provider at least 7 days before opening.

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