You don’t need to travel to visit a charming European Christmas market because Chicago hosts the most authentic European holiday market outside of Europe. Christkindlmarket brings the sights, scents and sounds of a German holiday market to Chicago, opening on November 22, 2024.
Since 1996, Chicago has welcomed German artisans to the city for the annual Christkindlmarket. Inspired by the 16th-century Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany, Christkindlmarket is Chicago’s largest open-air market.
This colorful outdoor market features European arts and crafts, homemade gifts, choirs, carolers and German food and beer.
Photo courtesy of Christkindlmarket
Even if you’re not a shopper, Christkindlmarket is a great place to sample German sausages with sauerkraut, warm pretzels, Stollen, the traditional fruit-filled, Christmas bread and lots of beer.
The expansive Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza, is open Sunday-Thursday 11 am- 8 pm and Friday and Saturday 11 am -9 pm, through December 24, 2024.
Chicago Christkindlmarket
November 22-December 24
Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St, 11 -8 pm Sunday-Thursday, 11 am- 9 pm Friday -Saturday.
