Submitted by Karen Farkas



While the beloved St. Nicholas dispenses gifts to good children, Krampus, a horned Germanic folk figure, hands out coal to children who have misbehaved.



Krampus will be roaming Hudson’s clocktower green Dec. 14, 15 and 16 during Christkindlmarkt, a German Christmas market organized by the Hudson-Landsberg committee, which promotes the city’s sister city relationship with Landsberg, Germany.



The half-goat, half-demon Krampus is considered the evil sidekick of St. Nicholas. Krampus may seem frightening to some, but Krampus of Cleveland has a wide following throughout Northeast Ohio.



The free event will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Dec. 14; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 15 and 16. The event coincides with the city’s monthly Art Hop on Friday. An opening ceremony is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday.



Krampus merchandise will be on sale in one of the almost two dozen tents that will feature food and gifts — nearly all with a German flavor.



Visitors can purchase food including roasted nuts, potato pancakes and strudel. They can choose gifts for family and friends including jewelry, wooden toys and greenery.



The committee will sell hot cider, with an orange slice and cinnamon stick, in commemorative ceramic mugs for $10. Handmade German ornaments will be available for sale from $5 to $9.



Hudson’s Restaurant will offer German dinner specials and will sell bratwurst and cider in a tent on the green. Kepner’s Tavern will serve German food and beer and German hot spiced wine.



Entertainment will be provided by groups including the Great Lakes National Puppet Theater of Cleveland, the Chardon Polka Band and Cleveland Donauschwäbische Blaskapelle, a German-American brass band.



A free concert of German Christmas music, including sing-a-longs of famous German carols, will be presented at First Congregational Church, 47 Aurora Street, at 7 p.m. Saturday.



Parking will be available on city lots. People can park at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 340 North Main Street, from 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 15 and 16. Sedan Van Transportation of Hudson has donating a shuttle service from the lot.



More details about Christkindlmarkt can be found on the Hudson-Landsberg Sister City Facebook page, facebook.com/HudsonLandsberg/.