Kitchener's Christkindl begins, fittingly, with a 5:45 p.m. procession from Victoria Park to City Hall by 1000s of people carrying candles. In the spirit of the original Christkindls in Germany, which were held on church grounds, church bells will ring and trumpets will sound as the procession moves up Gaukel Street. Following the opening ceremonies and the dramatic lighting of 1,500 lightbulbs on the City Hall plaza, the fun and entertainment, all of it free, begins. The Christkindl Market in downtown Kitchener is Canada's original. It runs for 4 days, Thursday through Sunday (2nd Advent) inside and outside Kitchener's City Hall. Over 25,000 visitors from across North America come to experience this event.