What you need for a mobile Christmas market

A mobile Christmas market needs more than stalls and festive decorations. You’ll be moving between stops, serving hot drinks, handling payments and keeping visitors oriented in changing weather. This shopping list covers the practical equipment and supplies to bring, from reusable cups and thermos flasks to extension cords, signs and LED lighting. Check quantities against your expected attendance and the number of market stops before buying or packing anything.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Party tentsqty 3
Market stallsqty 6
Beer tablesqty 8
Folding chairsqty 24
Christmas tree standqty 2
Storage racksqty 4

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 250
Coffee cupsqty 150
Platesqty 150
Dessert platesqty 180
Cutlery setsqty 180
Serving plattersqty 12
Thermos flasksqty 8

Decorations

Artificial Christmas treesqty 3
Christmas baublesqty 60
Christmas garlandsqty 12
Christmas wreathsqty 6
Christmas figuresqty 8
Table runnersqty 12
Menu boardsqty 8
Directional signsqty 12

Lighting

LED string lightsqty 10
LED lanternsqty 12
Batteriesqty 24

Equipment

Coffee machinesqty 3
Kettlesqty 3
Warming kettlesqty 3
Coolersqty 6
Power stripsqty 8
Extension cordsqty 10
Cable reelsqty 4
Payment terminalsqty 4
Battery lampsqty 6
Walkie-talkiesqty 6
Charging stationsqty 3

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 6
Chef brushesqty 4
Measuring cupsqty 4
Storage binsqty 20
Serving tongsqty 10
Serving spoonsqty 8
Kitchen knivesqty 6
Thermometerqty 2

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 10
Trash bag holdersqty 6
Mopsqty 4
Bucketsqty 4
Hand sanitizer dispensersqty 6
Cleaning clothsqty 30
Glovesqty 10

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee beans - 4 kilos
- Black tea - 200 bags
- Herbal tea - 100 bags
- Hot chocolate powder - 5 kilo
- Milk - 25 liters
- Oat milk - 8 liters
- Whipped cream - 12 aerosol cans
- Sugar - 3 kilos
- Sweetener - 2 boxes
- Cinnamon - 250 gram
- Marshmallows - 3 kilos
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Spa Blue - 10 crates
- Spa Rood - 4 crates
- Apple juice - 8 cartons
- Alcohol-free beer - 6 crates
- Beer - 10 crates
- Red wine - 12 bottles
- White wine - 8 bottles
- Non-alcoholic mulled wine - 12 liters
- Mulled wine - 30 liters
- Apple juice for mulled wine - 12 liters
- Oranges - 5 kilos
- Lemons - 2 kilos
- Star anise - 100 gram
- Cinnamon sticks - 100 gram
- Cloves - 100 grams
- Ginger - 1 kilo
- Mini sausages - 8 kilo
- Vegetarian meatballs - 5 kilos
- Baguettes - 30 pieces
- Mulled wine rolls - 250 pieces
- Christmas cookies - 8 kilos
- Apple pie slices - 180 pieces
- Cream puffs - 300 pieces
- Cinnamon buns - 180 pieces
- Paprika chips - 12 bags
- Plain chips - 12 bags
- Snack mix - 8 bags
- Christmas cookies - 5 kilos
- Hummus - 3 kilos
- Herb cream cheese - 2 kilos
- Young cheese - 4 kilos
- Brie - 3 kilo
- Vegan cheese - 2 kilo
- Grapes - 5 kilos
- Apples - 8 kilos
- Mandarins - 8 kilos
- Cucumbers - 3 kilos
- Cherry tomatoes - 3 kilos
- Bell peppers - 3 kilos
- Mayonnaise - 3 liters
- Ketchup - 3 liters
- Mustard - 2 liters
- Garlic sauce - 2 liters
- Napkins - 1500 pieces
- Straws - 300 pieces
- Baking paper - 4 rolls
- Aluminum foil - 4 rolls
- Cling film - 3 rolls
- Coffee filters - 300 pieces
- Tea filters - 200 pieces
- Stirrers - 500 pieces
- Disposable gloves - 500 pieces
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 100 pieces
- Dish soap - 3 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 3 bottles
- Disinfectant - 2 bottles
- Hand soap - 6 bottles
- Paper towels - 12 packs

Tips

Plan at least two cups per visitor if people may visit more than one stop: one for hot drinks and one reusable cup for other refreshments. Add a 10% buffer for loss, damage or forgotten returns.
Allow two to three hot drinks per person during the first hour. Use thermos flasks and warming kettles so drinks remain available while coffee machines and kettles are being refilled.
Pack one clear menu board and one directional sign for every serving point or route change. Print the signs before event day; replacing unclear directions at the last minute is difficult once the market is moving.
Bring enough extension cords and power strips to separate coffee machines, kettles and lighting across the available power points. Test every LED string light and coffee machine before loading the vehicles.
Keep decorations compact and secure for transport: artificial Christmas trees, garlands, wreaths and figures should be packed separately from baubles and table runners. Take batteries for lanterns and lights even when mains power is available as a backup.

Frequently asked questions

How many cups do I need for a mobile Christmas market?: Start with two cups per expected visitor, then add 10% extra. For 100 visitors, pack at least 220 cups so there is cover for second drinks, damage and missing returns.
How much hot drink equipment is needed for 100 guests?: Plan for 200 to 300 hot drinks in the first hour. Use at least two preparation points or a combination of coffee machines, kettles, warming kettles and thermos flasks so one refill does not stop service.
When should I buy supplies for a mobile Christmas market?: Buy disposable or replacement supplies at least 7 days beforehand, and check reusable equipment 3 to 5 days before the event. This leaves time to replace missing cups, cables, batteries or serving items.
How many extension cords and power strips should I bring?: Bring at least one extension cord for each separate power point and one power strip for each equipment cluster. Pack one extra cord and strip per mobile stop as a backup, especially for lighting and hot-drink stations.

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