| Christkindlmarket, Chicago | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Date(s) | Varies |
| Begins | Friday before Thanksgiving Day |
| Ends | Christmas Eve |
| Location(s) | Chicago, United States |
| Inaugurated | 1996 |
| Most recent | 2024 |
Christkindlmarket is a Christmas market held annually at Daley Plaza in Chicago, Illinois, United States. The festival attracts more than 1 million visitors each year.
The German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest first held Chicago's Christkindlmarket on Pioneer Court in 1996. [1] [2] Christkindlmarket was inspired by the Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany. In 1997, Mayor Daley requested that the festival be moved to Daley Plaza. [2] That year the market attracted more than 750,000 visitors. [2] By 1999, the Christkindlmarket had become part of the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. [2] In recent years, Chicago's Christkindlmarket has become the largest Christmas market in the United States, hosting well over 1 million visitors annually. [2] In 2016, Christkindlmarket expanded to the Chicago suburb of Naperville. [3] Four years later, a virtual market took place. In 2023, the Christkindlmarket also took place in Aurora, Illinois, and Wrigleyville. [4] That year, they ran out of mugs. [5]
The market is situated by a large Christmas tree at Daley Plaza and also houses a small nativity scene. [6] The site features entertainment from Christmas choirs, dance groups, and brass bands. [2] It also houses a Santa house. [2] At the site beer, wine, baked goods, meats, toys, holiday ornaments, and other Christmas decorations are sold by vendors from Germany, Ukraine, Austria, and the Chicago metropolitan area. [2]
A highlight of Christkindlmarket is its authentic German cuisine. Visitors can savor traditional dishes such as bratwurst, schnitzel, and pretzels, accompanied by sides like sauerkraut and potato pancakes. Sweet treats include roasted nuts, marzipan, and the ever-popular Lebkuchen—a German gingerbread cookie. To complement the food, the market offers beverages like imported German beers and Glühwein, a warm spiced wine served in collectible mugs that change annually, making them sought-after souvenirs. [7]
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