A spokesman for Barnsley Council said there may be some German traders there but it would not be all German stalls as in previous years.
She said: "The decision has been taken to try and encourage local craft traders to come along and support the local economy, and make it a little different."
Barnsley is twinned with German town Schwäbisch Gmünd.
Tony Swales, chairman of twinning society, said he was disappointed there would be no traditional German market.
"Many of the stall holders are not traders at home, they just come to trade in Barnsley.
"But Barnsley is still having a Christmas market and we are hoping it is going to be a big success because the town needs it to be."
© 2013 Barnsley Chronicle Ltd
Disgraceful!! It's an highlight of Christmas in Barnsley... Very sad.
Absolutely disgraceful, what an insult to the lovely people from Germany, who have year upon year made a magnificent contribution to Xmas at Barnsley in favour of local so called new born gifts. Barnsley won't be special in early December
Gutted was looking forward to this so much after moving to Barnsley, will have to go to the leeds one instead now. You can go to Barnsley market any weekend, not often a traditional german xmas market comes to town, surely this will loose footfall from people going to the big Leeds one instead.
I too am not very happy Me and my children look forward to the christkindlmarket to see all the lovely things that they bring over and what do we get instead a craft fair which we can go to anytime Well done Barnsley Council again hahahaha I will be going to find the christkindlmarket market else where instead of going to the craft fair
This is just stupid. Just means Barnsley people will be going to places like Leeds for the German market and spending their money there instead, why does Barnsley have to try be money grabbers despite what the Barnsley people actually want... Barnsley council is a joke.
A pity but it might still work out well if the stalls are selected carefully. What I do miss in this article however is the date for the Christmas-Craft- market. When is it going to happen? By the way: the couple in the picture is English. And I hope they will be there: their Christmas cake is lovely.
What a let down! Now our Christmas market will be just like all the others. The twin town element made it special and an attraction for people beyond Barnsley. The council has probably shot itself in the foot by making this move. Fewer people will come. Our local traders could surely have just worked alongside the German traders under the "umbrella" of our truly traditional GERMAN Christmas market.