Your guide to Christkindlmarket Chicago

Christkindlmarket is one of Chicago’s most beloved holiday traditions.

This free-admission outdoor market (recently featured in Hallmark Channel’s Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story) brings all the charm of traditional European Christmas markets to Chicago, including authentic food, sweet treats, warm mulled wine, and an array of handmade gifts and decor.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Christkindlmarket Chicago, which is held each year in Daley Plaza from late November through Christmas Eve.

If you can’t get enough Christkindlmarket, don’t miss the family-friendly Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville in Lakeview or the Christkindlmarket Aurora in RiverEdge Park on Thursdays through Sundays.

Here’s a rundown of what to eat, drink, buy, and do at the 30th annual Christkindlmarket Chicago.

What is Christkindlmarket?

Christkindlmarket has been a holiday tradition in Chicago since 1996.

Modeled after the 16th-century holiday markets in Germany, the free-admission outdoor market is known for:

• Classic German cuisine like pretzels, schnitzel, currywurst, and more
• Traditional sweets like roasted nuts and gingerbread hearts
• Warm beverages (like glühwein, hot cocoa, cider, and more) 
• Unique souvenir mugs you can collect each year
• A charming holiday atmosphere surrounded by twinkling city lights

The original Christkindlmarket is located in Daley Plaza, an outdoor public square in the heart of downtown Chicago. The market has also added locations in the Wrigleyville neighborhood and suburban Aurora.

When is Christkindlmarket?

Christkindlmarket Chicago traditionally opens to the public on the Friday before Thanksgiving. The final day of the season is Christmas Eve.

Here are the official 2026 dates for all the Christkindlmarket locations:

• Christkindlmarket Chicago: Nov. 20 – Dec. 24, 2026
• Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville: Nov. 20 – Dec. 31, 2026
• Christkindlmarket Aurora: Nov. 20 – Dec. 24, 2026 (Thursdays to Sundays)

Christkindlmarket mugs 2026

Christkindlmarket’s annual souvenir mugs are a must-have for keeping your hands warm as you stroll through the wintry market.

Here’s what to know about Christkindlmarket mugs:

• Each year’s mug is unique, making them an excellent collectible or holiday souvenir. 
• You can purchase an empty mug or get yours filled with glühwein (traditional hot spiced wine), hot cocoa, hot cider, or chai.
• The mugs are available to purchase at all three market locations (Chicago, Wrigleyville, and Aurora).

The official 2026 Christkindlmarket mug collection features special designs to honor this year’s 30th anniversary milestone:

• An elegant flute-shaped mug with a pearl finish, a traditional symbol of a 30th anniversary. The exterior features a Christkindlmarket scene with fireworks overhead. This mug can be filled with a hot beverage, including glühwein.
• A Christmas tree mug shaped like an evergreen and finished in a traditional green color. It’s covered in a garland of miniature Christkindlmarket ornaments. This mug can be filled with any non-alcoholic hot drinks.
• A ceramic beer stein, adorned with charming market scenes and skyline details. The stein can be filled with beer for guests 21 and older.
• A mini stein shot cup is a new item this year, shaped like a classic beer stein in an adorable scaled-down size. One side features the Christkindlmarket logo and the other features a traditional vendor booth.

Other special 2026 merchandise includes a limited-edition ornament, a Krampus stuffed animal, and more.

Christkindlmarket food and drink options

You don’t need to go to Germany to sample the local fare. At Christkindlmarket, you’ll find everything from traditional European dishes to favorite street foods and snacks.

Here are just a few of the top bites from Germany and beyond not to miss this year:

• Currywurst and kebabs from DönerMen
• Bread rolls with fish and sour pickled herring from Rollmops
• Giant pretzels from German Pretzels
• Potato and cheese pierogi from Pierogi House
• Alpine-style raclette from Baked Cheese Haus
• Frankfurter sausages and potato pancakes from German Grill
• Schnitzel and goulash soup from Schnitzel House

Explore all the delicious food and drink options at Christkindlmarket.

For beverages, fill your mug of choice with these must-try sips at Christkindlmarket:

• Imported German hot spiced wine from Original Nürnberger Glühwein
• Pumpkin spice chai from Chiya Chai
• Hot chocolate with homemade whipped cream from Bob’s Belgian Hot Chocolate
• Hot cider from Stuffed Gourmet Pretzels
• Imported German beer from Timber Haus

On the sweeter side, follow the rich warm scent of the holiday season to the classic sugar-coated roasted nuts and freshly made gingerbread treats. 

Here are just a few ways to indulge your sweet tooth at Christkindlmarket:

• Gingerbread and German cookies at Sweet Castle
• Chocolate-covered fruit from Chocolate Covered Treats
• Hot roasted nuts and gingerbread at Sweet Swabian
• Made-from-scratch pastries from La Boulangerie & Co.

Christkindlmarket shopping: handmade gifts, decor, and more

Get a jump-start on your holiday gift shopping while browsing stalls filled with artisan goods at Christkindlmarket. You’re sure to find a unique holiday present, souvenir, or something to round out your seasonal décor.

Popular gifts and merchandise from Christkindlmarket include:

• Cozy Peruvian sweaters, gloves, stuffed animals, and more at Winterborn Alpaca
• Woven scarves and shawls directly from artisans in India at Resham’s
• Cuckoo clocks from the Black Forest from Fehrenbach Black Forest Clocks
• Handcrafted animal figurines from Wooden Treasures
• Bells, nativity scenes, and more at Bavarian Pewter
• Handblown and hand-painted ornaments from Glaszauber Lauscha
• Traditional lace tablecloths from Meinel Embroidery
• Leather purses and bags at Otavalao Inka

Check out a full list of this year’s artisan Christkindlmarket vendors.

If you’re looking for the perfect gift or keepsake, don’t miss the official Christkindlmarket 2026 ornament. The annual ornament is glass-blown in Poland and individually hand-painted. This year’s limited-edition ornament is shaped like a classic snow globe and features the Christkind, the mascot of the market.

Christkindlmarket events

Throughout the season, Christkindlmarket hosts special ticketed events that celebrate German culture and holiday spirit.

Kick off the season with the annual ‘Twas the Night Before Christkindlmarket Preview Party. This highly anticipated preview event offers early access for a limited group of ticket holders, making it a perfect opportunity to enjoy the festivities in a more intimate setting.

Or join in on the Culture & Cheer Tours where guests can dive into the rich history of the market, learn about the vendors, and discover German holiday traditions and language. Tours include a goodie bag filled with a variety of Christkindlmarket treats, including one of the souvenir mugs and a hot chocolate voucher.

Christkindlmarket in Wrigleyville

In the Lakeview neighborhood, Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville includes all the market favorites — freshly roasted nuts, hot spiced wine, and tons of holiday charm — in a relaxed, family-friendly setting.

Here’s what to know about Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville:

• Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville is a smaller version of the downtown market.
• The market is held in Gallagher Way, located just west of iconic Wrigley Field.
• This market runs later into the year, wrapping up for the season on New Year’s Eve.

The Christkindlmarket is part of the Winterland at Gallagher Way celebrations, which includes ice skating, ice bumper cars, festive events, and more.