Holiday Krampus event booted from Market Square, new venue announced
The 2024 Krampus celebration in Pittsburgh has been booted from Market Square and will relocate this year, according to the event organizer.
Pittsburgh’s 10th annual Krampusnacht celebration is moving to Penn Brewery in response to an email sent to organizer Mark Menold last December by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s Special Events and Development.
In an email obtained by TribLive, Russell Howard, PDP vice president of special events and development, responded Dec. 12 last year to Menold’s email to Howard about logistics surrounding the event in Market Square.
Howard’s email addressed complaints by Menold about complications (including parking, sound equipment and electrical issues) that occurred during the 2023 Krampus Fest held in Market Square.
Howard replied back in the email that the PDP was under no obligation to provide parking, and the event does not provide revenue to PDP.
“Please find another location next year,” Howard wrote.
The celebration stars Krampus, a mythical cloven-footed figure known to be the son of Hel, the Norse goddess of the underworld, and makes his appearance Dec. 5, symbolizing an anti-Santa who spares the nice and punishes the naughty.
The German name is derived from krampen (German for claw), and Krampusnacht is celebrated the day before the Feast of St. Nicholas on Dec. 5 in many areas of Europe, including Germany and Austria.
Krampus is often depicted as a half-demon, half-goat creature with horns, sharp fangs and a forked tongue.
Menold posted an update on the Krampus in Pittsburgh Facebook page.
“We were very disappointed that Market Square would not be available this year,” said Menold.
In a news release issued last week by Menold, he further criticized Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership leaders for the ousting from Market Square.
“Rather than support the decade of dedication and work to make it what it is, the PDP instead is spreading misinformation in their search to have others copy the event for them. The fans and supporters of Krampusnacht and the people of Pittsburgh deserve better.”
Penn Brewery owner Stefan Nitsch offered to host this year’s Krampusnacht at his German-themed brewery Dec. 5 on the North Side.
“He’s been a supporter, a sponsor in years past and he’s been really great,” Menold said of Nitsch providing a venue large enough to accommodate the close to 1,000 attendees expected.
Richard Hooper, PDP vice president of marketing and communications, said via email the PDP worked hard to accommodate Menold’s Krampus production for years but described the relationship with him as “challenging.”
“Despite that, we have historically agreed to accommodate and support them,” Hooper wrote, adding that, last year, the PDP provided two additional extended holiday market hours, a sponsorship banner above the stage, three tent spaces for commercial activities and free use of the PDP sound system, all at no cost.
Hooper said further drama among the Krampus community occurred in 2022 when Menold moved Krampus to the Hard Rock Cafe as a ticketed event to create revenue.
An alternative Krampus organizer held their celebration in the Holiday Market that year and all went smoothly, Hooper said.
Hooper said a recurring Krampus issue involving late-night loading out (until midnight) in Market Square led to significant issues related to PDP staff and security.
Penn Brewery provides shelter in case of inclement weather and a cool cave feature for Krampus-dressed attendees, which Menold said is a plus.
New this year is a free Krampus Kave for Krampus parade participants and a separate VIP terrace area (tickets $55 adults/$20 child) with free beer and snacks.
This season, the indoor/outdoor celebration will kick off with a furry, friendly parade filled with costumed Krampus folks.
The Krampus band Sleigher takes the stage at 7:30 p.m.
“Penn Brewery will be open for people to stay warm before, during and after the event. While we plan to continue the outside concert tradition, in case of bad weather, we are prepared to move the concert inside the brewery’s Eisenhalle. Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor copycat events will stop Sleigher and Krampusnacht,” Menold said.
The event has grown in attendance.
“I was bringing a lot of business to Market Square, to the merchants and restaurants and bars, and everybody did a great business there,” Menold said.
Sleigher receives no financial support from the City of Pittsburgh, Market Square businesses or the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.
Menhold expressed his frustrations with being ousted from Market Square and focused on the positives of securing a new venue.
“Sleigher was never paid, and I didn’t get a thank you, even. But Stephan loves it, and now we’ll have vendors that are Krampus-themed vendors — not just Christmas-type vendors from when it was held in Market Square,” Menold said.
Additionally, Menold said last year the PDP billed him $400 for sound systems, a first since the event was held in Market Square.
“It sounded terrible — the live performance — and we had previously had sound systems at no charge. But I did pay the bill,” said Menold.
Hooper said PDP agreed last year to accommodate the event with the condition that Menold utilize a PDP sound system and hire their production company to reduce load-out time.
PDP has been approached and is in communications with an alternative Krampus organizer for Market Square, Hooper said.
Further details on a new Krampus vendor for Market Square were not available.
Menold is hopeful this year’s Krampus ruckus is the biggest to date.
“It’s going to be really nice. People who’ve attended in the past will love this space, and it’s a real vibe. It’s that we understand what the holiday is and in the past, it’s kind of placed in a Christmas setting and now it’s in an authentic German beer hall.”
Menold wants to spread the word about the new venue to avoid confusion for loyal Krampus attendees.
“If anything bothers me, it’s that I started the celebration in Pittsburgh so I didn’t want people to go to Market Square this year out of habit,” he said.
Correction: This story has been updated to reflect a price of $55 for a VIP terrace area.
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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