"We're just learning as we go." - Mikayla Morfey, Edgewood Farm German Christmas Market, Atwood
At Edgewood Farm, north of Atwood, Illinois, the German Christmas Market is a family thing. Mikayla Morfey, her parents Chad & Kristen, other members of their family, and several friends have hosted a one-weekend only German-style Christmas Market on their historic farm for the past two years.
Edgewood Farm dates back to 1914, and was a former Bed & Breakfast. But, the history goes even further back, to a log cabin from 1837 that now sits on the property, having been moved from a few miles away.
So, why a German Christmas Market? Chad Morfey and his family lived abroad while he was in the Air Force. During their time in Germany, they fell in love with several aspects of German culture, including the Christmas Markets that would pop up in large cities before the holidays. When they came home to Central Illinois, they wanted to bring that same feeling of community, love for artisan gifts, celebration of German food, and family atmosphere. So, last year Chad's idealman-shed, which is really a large barn, became the site of their Christmas Market.
Friends and family helped them get the word out and set up, Mikayla handled marketing and filling the booths and stalls, Chad built what needed built, and Kristen cooked of German food to sell.
And people came - a few thousand, in fact.
Did it turn a profit? No. But, that's not the point of the Edgewood Farm Christmas Market.
According to their website (www.edgewoodfarmchristmas.com), "The mission of this Christmas event is three fold. The first and most important is to celebrate and teach others about Christ's birth. The second is to share and enjoy German culture and traditions. And thirdly to support and advertise small businesses in Central Illinois!"
They also have a 50/50 drawing, where the pot is split between a charity and one of the market's vendors (from a drawing).
The Christmas Market is a passion, but not their full-time jobs. Mikayla is a social worker, Kristen a nurse, and Chad works at a plant near Tuscola.
"It is a small business, but we're not money people. We don't do it for the money," Mikayla says.
Mikayla's advice for us? No matter what our futures hold, "Still do your hobbies... Don't just have one job in life."
At Edgewood Farm, we also talked about:
- Setting admission and vendor prices
- Ordering food based on last year's numbers and predictions
- Pricing food and testing recipes
- Sponsors
- Event insurance
- County food and health department compliance
- Repurposing materials
- Using volunteer help
- Attracting new and returning vendors
- Vendor contracts
- Social media marketing
- Feedback, even when it's hard to hear
- Event hosting on the property
- Expansion and planning for the future
Mikayla and the family showed us around the farm the day after the weekend Christmas Market closed. Needless to say, after 3 days of hosting the market, and weeks of setting up, they were exhausted. (Planning the market starts in February, so it's an all-year thing.) That's why we were so thankful they took the time to share their story with us.
We would encourage you to visit the Edgewood Farm German Christmas Market, but the 2024 market was this past weekend. So, you'll just have to wait a year. But, we hope to see you all at the Christmas Market in 2025!
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Midland Institute for Entrepreneurship
Edgewood Farm German Christmas Market
