You don’t need to travel to Europe to enjoy a real Christmas market. Just visit Chicago, where you can experience a festive Bavarian-style holiday market with warm pretzels, tasty bratwurst, and hot mulled wine. Chicago’s Christkindlmarket is known as one of the most authentic European-style Christmas markets in the U.S.
Right near the Bean, you’ll find cozy wooden stalls filled with handmade ornaments, nutcrackers, and Christmas decorations. The smell of roasted nuts, grilled bratwurst, hot chocolate, and spiced cider fills the air. With music, lights, and holiday cheer all around, you might feel like you’re walking through a market in Germany.
The Christkindlmarket also brings delicious European-style food. You can try zapiekanki (a Polish open-faced sandwich), pierogies, and Swiss-style raclette made with Wisconsin cheese. There’s also Currywurst, a Berlin favorite topped with curry ketchup. If you love sweets, enjoy apple strudel, Belgian hot chocolate, or French pastries.
Chicago’s Christkindlmarket was inspired by a 16th-century Christmas market in Nuremberg, Germany. It started in Chicago in 1996 and has grown into a popular holiday tradition.
This year, the market takes place at three locations:
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Daley Plaza (downtown)
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Gallagher Way (next to Wrigley Field)
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Aurora (a Chicago suburb)
Daley Plaza and Aurora are the biggest, while Gallagher Way has an ice rink where you can skate under Wrigley Field’s lights. Entry is free at all three locations, and the markets stay open until Christmas Eve.
Before leaving, make sure to buy the famous souvenir mug—a tradition many visitors love. Some older mugs have even sold for over $100 online. This year’s mugs include a heart-shaped design showing a German-style Christmas market and another classic mug with gingerbread characters.
You can also look for this year’s surprise favorite: the Krampus doll. Based on a creature from Alpine folklore, Krampus might sound scary, but the doll has become a fun and unique souvenir at the market.
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