The hand-crafted toy hails from Denmark, close enough to Germany and popular in many countries in Europe.

The Montoursville resident had many of the hand-painted nisses available for purchase. Her uncle is from Denmark.

She also had an advent calendar book.

“The Nisse are Scandinavian elves. We give our children one each year, and they play with them throughout the season. Nisse are a wonderful holiday tradition, and I’m so excited to be sharing them with Williamsport,” shared Fogleman.

KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Anna Gruve of Montoursville, right, takes a photo of family members as they peek through a cutout at the German Christmas Market Friday in Williamsport.

The nisse does mischievous things such as eat the cookies, said a woman familiar with the toys.

At the market entrance, a windmill pyramid or carousel pyramid greeted the visitors with its candleholders and lights.

There were wooden cut outs where children could poke their heads into holes to become the face of a snowman for a family photograph.

For Carol Johnson, of Williamsport, the city’s German Christmas Market was a perfect place to get some gifts and decorations for the holiday.

“We loaded up on the ironware,” Johnson said. “I bought this really cool manger scene and decided her husband needed a snow depth thing,” she said with her friends standing nearby. “You can’t stop and not buy brittle,” she added, with her friend holding a bag of peanut brittle.

KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Anne Fogleman talks about the hand-made Danish "Nisse" dolls for sale at her stall at the German Christmas Market in Williamsport on Friday.

The nativity scene will be hung on Johnson’s porch.

“It’s nice,” she said of the first German Christmas Market in her hometown.

“I think — for the first time they’ve done it, I think they’ve done a good job trying to pull it together,” Johnson said. “I think it is something to build from, I really do.”

“It could be a little warmer, but anytime you go to these it is supposed to be like this,” she said.

There was no snow to present a challenge to those walking the market, but there was a bit of snow on the ground outside, creating a wintry holiday ambiance.

KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY/Sun-Kennedy Some of the hand-made Danish "Nisse" dolls for sale at Anne Folgleman's stall at the German Christmas Market in Williamsport on Friday.

“We have been down to the Christkindl Market and to Wellsboro,” Johnson said. “This is a nice start for them and, hopefully, it is something that will grow here in Williamsport.”

Having more opportunities to get out and do things is important to Johnson.

“It’s a nice, family atmosphere,” she said, adding there were games and other kids’ activities, too.

Admission was free. Authentic German food vendors offered bratwurst, pretzels and roasted nuts. Downtown restaurants joined in with German-inspired foods and drinks, and there was music performed.

The market came to life through a community partnership between Lycoming College, Lycoming Arts, Downtown Business Association, the City of Williamsport and Pennsylvania College of Technology’s welding students.

It was open between noon and 9 p.m. Friday at the college’s commuter parking lot, Mulberry Street and Mulberry Avenue.

Those at the market who were going to attend a Christmas Parade had just a short walk to attend the parade.

“As we celebrate our very first German Christmas Market, I want to extend a thank-you to the Williamsport Business Association, Lycoming Arts, Lycoming College, and to all of our generous sponsors and partners,” Williamsport Mayor Derek Slaughter said. “Your support has made this event possible, and we are thrilled to bring our community together to kick off the holiday season.

“We look forward to seeing everyone here and hope to make next year’s market even bigger and better, spreading more holiday cheer and spirit throughout our city,” he said.