Christkindlmarket Chicago is an annual German-style Christmas market held in Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago, inspired by the centuries-old Christkindlesmarkt of Nuremberg, Germany. Organized by the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest, the market debuted in 1996 at Pioneer Court before Mayor Richard M. Daley asked organizers to relocate it to Daley Plaza the following year.
Since that move, Christkindlmarket has grown into the largest Christmas market in the United States, drawing more than a million visitors each holiday season to Daley Plaza alone. Running from late November through Christmas Eve, the market has since expanded with a Gallagher Way location in Chicago’s Wrigleyville neighborhood, added in 2017, and a suburban market at RiverEdge Park in Aurora, which debuted in 2022.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Daley Plaza, Chicago, Illinois
- Organizer: German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest
- Opened: 1996
- Annual Visitors: Over 1 million at Daley Plaza
- Season: Late November through Christmas Eve
- Famous For: Largest Christmas market in the United States
A German Tradition Comes to Daley Plaza
The market was first conceptualized by the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest as a way to strengthen trade and cultural ties between the United States and Germany, modeled directly on Nuremberg’s historic Christkindlesmarkt. It opened in 1996 at Pioneer Court along Michigan Avenue.
In 1997, Mayor Richard M. Daley requested the event move to Daley Plaza in the Loop, and the new downtown setting, with its towering Christmas tree and nativity display, helped cement Christkindlmarket as a signature Chicago holiday tradition.
Vendors, Food, and Holiday Entertainment
Wooden vendor huts staffed by sellers from Germany, Austria, Ukraine, and the Chicago area line Daley Plaza, offering mulled wine, bratwurst, baked goods, and handcrafted ornaments. Choirs, dance troupes, and brass bands perform throughout the run, alongside a dedicated Santa house for families.
As demand grew, Christkindlmarket added a second permanent site outside Wrigley Field at Gallagher Way in 2017, and in 2022 it opened a suburban market at RiverEdge Park in Aurora, extending the German Christmas market tradition to more communities across the Chicago area each winter.
Explore more: Explore more seasonal events and holiday attractions.
A fan and a mist in one, rechargeable. Very popular in queue lines once the afternoon sun hits.
Build a working coaster on the kitchen table and learn why the first drop has to be the tallest. A good gift for young coaster fans.
Over 3,700 pieces, a real vertical loop and a working chain lift. Display it on a shelf in the coaster room.
Christkindlmarket Chicago FAQs
When does Christkindlmarket Chicago take place?
The Daley Plaza market typically opens in late November and runs daily through Christmas Eve.
Where is Christkindlmarket Chicago held?
The main market is in Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago, with additional seasonal markets at Gallagher Way in Wrigleyville and RiverEdge Park in Aurora.
Who organizes Christkindlmarket Chicago?
It is organized by the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest, inspired by Nuremberg, Germany’s historic Christkindlesmarkt.
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Photo: Túrelio / CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons.