Special to The Message
The 28th Annual Ferdinand Christkindlmarkt has a new feature this holiday season: A 32-foot-tall German-made Christmas Pyramid. To help share the story and heritage of Ferdinand, the town commissioned Ergzebirgische Holzkunst of Germany to build the pyramid, which will be on display from Nov. 1 through the Epiphany, Jan. 6, 2026, at 1150 Main Street in Ferdinand.
“It’s our way of sharing Ferdinand’s story and that of Father Joseph Kundek’s efforts,” said Diane Hoppenjans, executive director of Ferdinand Tourism Commission, Inc.
The 28th annual Ferdinand Christkindlmarkt is Nov. 15-16, with more than 200 booths in six market locations throughout town. It’s held annually on the third full weekend in November and brings in more than 10,000 visitors. This year, the free shuttle service between market sites will include a stop at the Christmas Pyramid at 1150 Main Street.
Ferdinand’s German-made Christmas Pyramid is the fourth U.S. outdoor pyramid to be built by Ergzebirgische Holzkunst of Germany. Showcasing the town’s rich German heritage throughout the Christmas season, it will stand on a raised knoll of land north of the Historic Wollenmann Home on Main Street in Ferdinand, enhancing the holiday spirit displayed at the annual Christkindlmarkt. Known in Germany as Weihnachtspyramiden, these traditional decorations have roots in the Ergzebirge region of Germany and feature rotating scenes of Christmas and everyday life.
Ferdinand’s Christmas Pyramid features four tiers on top of a gazebo. It displays traditional figures carved in Germany, such as the Nativity scene and angels trumpeting, in addition to showcasing historical figures and serving as a festive celebration of the town’s history, its German heritage and the holiday season. The Nativity scene is on the lowest tier of the Ferdinand’s Christmas Pyramid, while the second tier features historical figures including Father Joseph Kundek, Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria, Sister Benedicta Berns and Father Eberhard Stadler.
An audio presentation, available through scanning a QR code, will share the story of how a missionary priest from Croatia, Father Joseph Kundek, came to found the town of Ferdinand in 1840, hoping to establish a German Catholic community in the primeval forests of Southern Indiana.
“In ways, I believe that Father Joseph Kundek always considered himself a missionary,” Hoppenjans explained. “Through his tireless efforts, immigrants came in hopes of finding others with their same faith. He traveled to Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Louisville to encourage immigrants to settle in this German Catholic town named ‘Ferdinand.’ He also traveled abroad to encourage more priests to help with the growing populations of German Catholics.”
With loads of Christmas spirit, holiday shopping opportunities, warm and inviting dining experiences and historic sites to visit, Hoppenjans encourages visiting to discover Ferdinand and Dubois County in Southern Indiana for a special holiday experience.