DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) — Dublin’s Bridge Park could soon be home to a lavish holiday market inspired by those taking place each Christmas in Germany.

The city of Dublin hired Town Square, a consulting firm dedicated to developing world-class public spaces and commercial districts, to determine how a “European-style” holiday market could launch in Bridge Park. The firm presented a feasibility study to city council in March, which argues a market would build upon “Dublin’s ever-expanding quiver of signature events.”

“A holiday market in Dublin would be another successful annual event that the city and its residents would be proud of, and would benefit from, both civically and financially,” the study said, noting that Town Square representatives visited Dublin last October to explore potential locations.

The study, which city council voted on March 17 to adopt, comes after council members Jane Fox and Cathy De Rosa and other city officials traveled to Germany and Austria in December 2022 to experience various markets. Several council members also went to Indiana to learn from staff who have hosted a similar holiday market in Carmel since 2017.

Town Square’s study calls for the Dublin market to take place annually at Riverside Crossing Park, centered around the pavilion and ice rink, and possibly beginning in 2026. The market would be open Thursday through Sunday, running a minimum of 20 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas or 28 days between Thanksgiving and the first week after New Year’s.

Dublin’s market would feature an initial 40-50 booths with plans to expand to 100 booths in future years. The study also advises the city to employ a third-party company tasked with running the market’s day-to-day operations, while Dublin would pay an initial $532,000 for the reusable booths and decorations.

Fox, who was serving as Dublin mayor when she went on the Germany and Austria trip, expressed concern during a March 3 meeting that the study’s proposed $50,000 budget for decorations isn’t enough funding. Fox argued that Dublin’s market needs to have a lush atmosphere to compete with other major holiday markets in the U.S., like the market in Carmel.

“Part of the whole image that you create requires you to buy the décor that makes the whole place come alive,” said Fox. “I don’t know how you’re gonna create anything that’s going to compete in any way to the best markets in the United States. … I definitely want to see this happen, but I think I want to be reasonable about what this budget is.”

City staff noted that the $50,000 decoration investment would be in addition to the existing holiday decorations that Dublin funds to put up annually.

Next, the city will begin their search for a third-party operating company. The study advises Dublin to meet with the finalists by the end of the upcoming second quarter, followed by entering into contract negotiations and approving the market’s budget by the end of this year.

Whichever third-party operator is chosen would start work on the Dublin market’s layout early next year, with plans to finalize the design by summer 2026. Final vendors would be chosen in quarter three, followed by booth installation and the market’s launch around Thanksgiving. After the holidays, the booths would be dismantled and stored by the third-party operator.