If you had told me a year ago that we would be finalising council risk assessments, vetting artisan makers, and mapping out a 12-month calendar of events while rocking a newborn to sleep with one foot, I might have laughed, or made a cup of tea and hidden under a duvet.
Yet here we are.
As we prepare to bring the Christkindl Market Norwich to Chapelfield Gardens, our living room and make-shift office looks like a high-stakes command centre. Baby bottles, muslin cloths, and nappies on one side of the room, and floor plans, trader applications, and spreadsheets for not just December, but the entire upcoming year on the other side.
I wanted to share this because behind every glowing chalet and cup of mulled spiced cider, there is an unspoken human story. And this year, that story comes with a few honest hurdles.
The Reality: Squeezed Budgets and Sleep Deprivation
Organising events in ordinary times is a rollercoaster. Organising them right now—against the backdrop of a prolonged cost-of-living squeeze—feels like walking a tightrope in the dark.
Every business owner, stallholder, and local resident feels the pinch. Energy costs are higher, raw materials cost more, and household budgets have to stretch further than ever before. We see it every day: independent makers worrying if customers will have the budget to buy handmade gifts, and families wondering if a festive day out is something they can justify.
That reality shaped every single decision for the Christkindl Market. We knew from day one that if we were going to build something meaningful, it couldn’t be an overpriced, exclusive spectacle. It had to be genuinely accessible: keeping weekday daytime hours completely free to wander, capping entry at just £2 during peak hours, and ensuring children always go free.
Then, layer on life as a new parent. Sleep isn't measured in eight-hour stretches anymore; it's measured in 90-minute sprints. Pitch contracts get reviewed at 3:15 AM during a feed. Site logistics get solved on pram walks around the city while praying the buggy doesn't hit a bump and wake the baby. It is messy, chaotic, and relentlessly demanding.
Why We’re Still Doing It (And Planning a Whole Year More)
So why take on the stress of a massive 10-day market, followed immediately by mapping out next year's full events calendar?
Because moments of community matter more during hard times, not less.
When household budgets are tight and everyday news feels heavy, having a warm, illuminated space to step into, to hear local music, smell roasted nuts, pick up a stocking filler directly from an artisan maker, or simply walk through with a friend, is restorative.
Our makers and independent traders need these platforms to survive and thrive. When you support a market chalet, you aren’t funding a nameless corporation; you are helping an independent business pay their studio rent, a regional baker keep their ovens on, and a local artist grow their trade.
Holding a newborn while building these events gives it an entirely different perspective, too. You start looking at public spaces through the eyes of the future. You realise that vibrant city centres, bustling markets, and family-friendly community gatherings don't happen by accident, they happen because everyday people refuse to let them disappear. And you also build them
What Comes Next
We are heading into the final stretch. There will undoubtedly be more 4:00 AM spreadsheet sessions, a lot of lukewarm coffee, and baby bouncers parked right next to event crates.
We’re also actively lining up the year ahead, designing seasonal gatherings, and maker fairs that keep Norwich vibrant across every season.
When you walk through the gates at Chapelfield Gardens this December, take a moment to look at the stalls, say hello to the traders, and soak in the buzz. Know that it was built with love, grit, local pride, and a mountain of determination.
We can’t wait to welcome you.