Black Friday brought more than great shopping deals to North Texas residents. This year, the day after Thanksgiving was the start of the third Arlington Christkindl Market, an outdoor German holiday market that offers authentic German cuisine, artisan wares and musical performances.

The event, which has no admission or parking fees, is a partnership between the Arlington Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Experience Arlington and the City of Arlington that aims to make the city a Christmas destination. The Texas Rangers and Six Flags Over Texas also support the event.

And the collaboration has paid off.

What started as a four-day event in 2011 has grown into a 21-day market in only its third year, attracting curious residents as well as those familiar with the German tradition. This year's opening night drew people from around the region.

"We love going to the German Christmas markets," said Mary Young of Rowlett, who once traveled to Germany specifically to experience the holiday markets. Young came to Arlington's event with her 8-year-old granddaughter and a friend who shares her passion for German Christmas markets.

After about an hour at the market on opening night, Young had already been by the large Käthe Wohlfahrt store and had taken her granddaughter to visit Santa in the custom-built Santa Haus and then on to explore the petting zoo, which is full of animals that can be found in the Bavarian Alps.

While Young was a newcomer to Arlington's market, Lisa Farrimond was excited to be back for her third year as the Christkindl Angel, the designated gift bearer in many European homes.

Farrimond's responsibilities have allowed her to experience firsthand the joy that the market has brought those with German ties. She recounted one story of a German family who had recently moved to Texas and never before had the opportunity to meet the Christkindl Angel at a holiday market. Seeing the Angel in Arlington was so significant, Farrimond says, that they planned on making the photo they took with the Angel their Christmas card picture that year.

Even though Farrimond hasn't visited a market in Germany, she has gained an appreciation of the importance of the Christkindl Angel and the entire market to the German culture through encounters like these.

"Because it's so meaningful to other people, it's developed a meaning for me personally," Farrimond said, which is why she enjoys returning each year. "I like that Arlington is doing something that appeals to people universally but is also meaningful to people of German heritage."

The Christkindl Market runs through Dec. 22, 2013, and the main entrance is located at the corner of Road to Six Flags and Ballpark Way.

Market Hours

Closed Mondays

Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays: Noon - 9 p.m.

Fridays: Noon - 10 p.m.

Saturdays: 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Sundays: Noon - 9 p.m.

For more information, visit ArlingtonChristkindl.com.