What you need for a Christmas market with a Christmas train

A Christmas market with a train needs more than stalls and festive decorations. You need supplies for hot drinks, food service, lighting, payments, passenger information and changing weather. Plan quantities around your expected visitors, train capacity and the number of market stalls, then check power access before buying equipment. This list helps you prepare the items people often leave until the final week, including batteries, extension leads, printed tickets and warm serving equipment.

Organize this event for free with Lizzt

What to bring

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

Furniture

Party tentsqty 8
Market stallsqty 12
Tablesqty 18
Folding chairsqty 80
High tablesqty 8
Beer table setsqty 6
Clothes racksqty 6
Storage cratesqty 20

Equipment

Coffee machinesqty 3
Kettlesqty 3
Food warmersqty 6
Coolersqty 6
Extension cordsqty 12
Cable reelsqty 6
Power stripsqty 12
Battery lampsqty 10
Walkie-talkiesqty 8
Mobile payment terminalsqty 4
Handheld microphonesqty 2
Speakersqty 2
Power banksqty 6

Lighting

String lightsqty 16
LED candlesqty 40
Light Stripsqty 6
Batteriesqty 48

Decorations

Christmas tree
Christmas baublesqty 80
Christmas garlandsqty 20
Christmas wreathsqty 8
Christmas figuresqty 12
Tableclothsqty 24
Christmas tree stand
Cable tiesqty 200
Duct tapeqty 8
Bollardsqty 20
Barrier tapeqty 6
Directional signsqty 18
Information boardsqty 8
Menu boardsqty 6

Tableware

Coffee cupsqty 120
Glassesqty 160
Mugsqty 120
Platesqty 160
Cutlery setsqty 160
Serving plattersqty 24
Serving tongsqty 12
Thermos flasksqty 8
Carafesqty 12

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 6
Chef's knivesqty 6
Measuring cupsqty 4
Storage binsqty 20
Aluminum foilqty 4
Cling filmqty 4
Oven mittsqty 6
Kitchen towelsqty 12

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 6 packs
- Tea selection - 12 boxes
- Cocoa powder - 4 packs
- Chocolate milk - 30 liters
- Milk - 20 liters
- Oat milk - 8 liters
- Sugar - 6 kg
- Sweetener - 4 boxes
- Whipped cream - 20 cans
- Cinnamon - 4 jars
- Marshmallows - 8 bags
- Mulled wine - 30 liters
- Non-alcoholic mulled wine - 15 liters
- Apple juice - 20 liters
- Orange juice - 20 liters
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Iced tea - 8 bottles
- Spa Blue - 12 crates
- Spa Red - 6 crates
- Beer - 10 crates
- Alcohol-free beer - 4 crates
- Red wine - 12 bottles
- White wine - 8 bottles
- Bubbles - 6 bottles
- Parbaked rolls - 180 pieces
- Baguettes - 20 pieces
- Unsalted butter - 4 kilos
- Herb butter - 30 tubs
- Young cheese - 6 kilo
- Brie - 4 kilo
- Ham - 4 kilos
- Smoked chicken - 3 kilo
- Hummus - 30 tubs
- Cream cheese - 3 kilos
- Jam - 12 jars
- Honey - 6 jars
- Tomato Soup - 25 liter
- Pumpkin soup - 20 liters
- Vegetable broth - 4 packs
- Onions - 8 kilo
- Garlic - 10 bulbs
- Winter vegetables - 15 kilos
- Vegetarian meatballs - 8 kilos
- Meatballs - 10 kilos
- Satay sauce - 6 kilo
- Mustard - 12 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 8 bottles
- Ketchup - 8 bottles
- Pickles - 6 jars
- Paprika chips - 12 bags
- Plain chips - 12 bags
- Snack mix nuts - 10 bags
- Christmas cookies - 15 packs
- Speculaas - 12 packs
- Mini oliebolletjes - 600 pieces
- Apple fritters - 300 pieces
- Mandarins - 15 kilos
- Apples - 12 kilos
- Grapes - 8 kilos
- Christmas cookies - 12 packs
- Napkins - 1200 pieces
- Cardboard cups - 800 pieces
- Cardboard soup bowls - 400 pieces
- Wooden stirrers - 1000 pieces
- Wooden skewers - 500 pieces
- Baking paper - 6 rolls
- Plastic wrap - 4 rolls
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Garbage bags - 120 pieces
- Toilet paper - 48 rolls
- Hand soap - 8 bottles
- Hand sanitizer - 12 bottles
- Dish soap - 6 bottles
- Sponges - 24 pieces
- Cleaning wipes - 40 pieces
- Toilet freshener - 6 spray cans
- Liquid shower gel - 4 bottles
- Bottle openers - 8 pcs
- Ice cubes - 30 kilo
Cash drawersqty 4
Tip jarsqty 4
Price tagsqty 80
Wristbandsqty 500
Reusable drinking cupsqty 500

Train

Train ticketsqty 500
Departure listsqty 12
Queue barriersqty 12
Boarding signsqty 6
Flashlightsqty 8
Reflective vestsqty 12
Train route mapsqty 500
Luggage tagsqty 100

Safety

First aid kitsqty 2
Fire extinguishersqty 6
Safety vestsqty 12
Emergency exit signsqty 8
Non-slip matsqty 12

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 20
Waste binsqty 6
Broom setsqty 4
Floor squeegeesqty 3
Mopsqty 6
Bucketsqty 6
Glovesqty 24
Towel rollsqty 12

Office

Name badgesqty 40
Markersqty 20
Pensqty 30
Tapeqty 12
Writing foldersqty 12
Clipboardsqty 12
Printer paperqty 5
Staplersqty 4

Tools

Hammerqty 4
Screwdriversqty 6
Wrenchesqty 4
Ratchet strapsqty 20
Work glovesqty 20

Tips

Allow two to three drinks per visitor for the first hour, then adjust your beverage order for the length of the market. Include hot-drink supplies as well as cold storage, because coffee machines, kettles and coolers serve different parts of the event.
Check every stall and food point has access to power before buying or placing equipment. Count extension cords, cable reels and power strips by area, and keep batteries and power banks available for lighting, payment terminals and phones.
Prepare one clearly labelled crate for train operations at least one day ahead. Keep printed train tickets, route information, maps, name badges and walkie-talkies together so the crew is not searching for them when boarding begins.
Plan lighting for the darkest parts of the route and market, not only the main entrance. Test string lights, LED candles and light strips with fresh batteries before the event, and keep spare batteries on site.
Order or collect weather protection early enough to react to the forecast. Party tents, coolers, food warmers and storage crates should be checked at least 48 hours before opening, while decorations and serving supplies can be packed separately by stall or activity.

Frequently asked questions

What should I buy for a Christmas market with a Christmas train?: Plan for market stalls, tables, seating, tents, storage crates, hot-drink equipment, food warmers, coolers, lighting, payment terminals, communication equipment and decorations. You will also need printed tickets, maps and name badges for the train and market team.
How many drinks do I need for a Christmas market?: Start with two to three drinks per visitor for the first hour, then add roughly one drink per visitor for each additional hour if most guests stay throughout the event. Increase the hot-drink stock when the market is outdoors or the forecast is cold.
When should I prepare Christmas market equipment?: Check tents, stalls, furniture, power equipment and lighting at least 48 hours before opening. Pack tickets, maps, badges and communication equipment the day before, and place chilled drinks in coolers on the event day.
What do I need for the Christmas train boarding point?: Prepare printed tickets, the train route, stop times, maps, name badges and walkie-talkies for the crew. Set aside a clear boarding area and have the final passenger list ready at least 30 minutes before the first departure.

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.