Christmas markets · Chicago, IL
Christmas markets in Chicago
Chicago brought the German Christmas market to America: Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza has run since 1996 and now has sister markets in Wrigleyville and Aurora. Expect wooden huts, glühwein in a boot-shaped mug and long lines on weekend evenings.
8 markets · checked October 2026
🧒 With kids
- Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville · Wrigleyville
- Christkindlmarket Aurora · Aurora
- Julmarknad Handcraft Market & Festival · Andersonville
- DANK Haus Weihnachtsmarkt · Lincoln Square
- Millennium Park Holiday Market · The Loop
✨ Date night
- Christkindlmarket Chicago · The Loop
- One of a Kind Holiday Show · River North
- Randolph Street Holiday Market · West Loop
🎉 With friends
- Christkindlmarket Chicago · The Loop
- Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville · Wrigleyville
- Christkindlmarket Aurora · Aurora
- Julmarknad Handcraft Market & Festival · Andersonville
- DANK Haus Weihnachtsmarkt · Lincoln Square
- One of a Kind Holiday Show · River North
European-style market
📷 erikccooper · CC BY 2.0 · 📷 Daniel X. O'Neil · CC BY 2.0
European-style market · The Loop
Christkindlmarket Chicago
The original: German vendors, bratwurst, potato pancakes, stollen and the collectible mug, in the shadow of the Picasso sculpture.
✨ Date night🎉 With friendsWhat's there
- German vendors, ornaments and the souvenir mug
- Glühwein, bratwurst, potato pancakes, pretzels
- Next to the city's Christmas tree
What visitors sayGoogle 4.2 ★ · 6,106 reviews
A winter must for most — real European charm even at 19°F. Expect crowds every day and lines around the block at weekends (they move fast). Some vendors are cash-only and prices have climbed.
Worth it — go on a weekday afternoon, bring cash and card, and buy the mug.
- 2026
- Nov 20 – Dec 24, 2026 (30th season); Sun–Thu 11 am–8 pm, Fri–Sat 11 am–9 pm; Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve 11 am–4 pm
- Last season
- Nov 21 – Dec 24, 2025
- Cost
- Free entry; many vendors have been cash-only in past years, so bring cash as well as a card
Getting there and parking
- CTA to Clark/Lake or Washington (Blue) — downtown parking is expensive
Worth knowing
- Some stalls take cash only
IllustrationEuropean-style market · Wrigleyville
Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville
The same market beside Wrigley Field, with a skating ribbon and a bit more room to move; it stays open past Christmas.
🧒 With kids🎉 With friendsWhat's there
- Bigger space with rides and more food
- Market beside Wrigley Field
- Kids' train
What visitors sayGoogle 4.0 ★ · 64 reviews
Several regulars now prefer it to the downtown original: more room, bigger portions, fewer crowds. Complaints: paid extras (field access, short $5 kids' train) and it has closed early on cold nights.
The better choice with kids or if you hate crowds — check closing times on very cold days.
- 2026
- Nov 20 – Dec 31, 2026; Mon–Thu 3–9 pm, Fri–Sat 11 am–9 pm, Sun 11 am–7 pm; closed Christmas Day
- Last season
- Nov 23 – Dec 31, 2025
- Cost
- Free entry (28 vendors in 2026)
Getting there and parking
- Red Line to Addison
Worth knowing
- The only one of the three open after Christmas — until Dec 31 (closed Christmas Day)
- Opens only at 3 pm Monday–Thursday, except Dec 21–23 and Dec 28–30 (2026 hours)
- It is part of Winterland at Gallagher Way, beside Wrigley Field
IllustrationEuropean-style market · Aurora
Christkindlmarket Aurora
The suburban sister market by the Fox River — now the largest of the three, with 60+ vendors, easier parking and shorter lines than downtown.
🧒 With kids🎉 With friendsWhat's there
- Riverside market with international food and glass ornaments
- Easier parking than downtown Chicago
What visitors sayGoogle 4.4 ★ · 559 reviews
A good suburban alternative with nice vendors; drinks and food are pricey and it gets busier after dark.
Worth it if you live west of the city — avoid the drive downtown.
- 2026
- Nov 20 – Dec 24, 2026, Thu–Sun (plus Wed Nov 25); Thu 11 am–7 pm, Fri–Sat 11 am–9 pm, Sun 11 am–6 pm
- Last season
- Nov 20 – Dec 24, 2025
- Cost
- Free entry
Getting there and parking
- Free lot across the river with a walking path; the Metra lot is free at weekends
Worth knowing
- Closing times are strictly kept
- Illustration
European-style market · Lincoln Square
DANK Haus Weihnachtsmarkt
An indoor German Christmas market in the ballroom of the German American cultural center — Gulasch, Käsespätzle, Glühwein and local vendors.
🧒 With kids🎉 With friendsWhat's there
- German comfort food — Gulasch, Käsespätzle, Bavarian desserts
- Glühwein
- Photos with Santa, 11 am–2 pm
- Local vendors in the Marunde Ballroom
A one-day, indoor slice of German Christmas that locals love — go for lunch and Glühwein, not for a big shopping trip.
- 2026
- Dec 12, 2026, 11 am–5 pm
- Last season
- One weekend in mid-December 2025
- Cost
- Suggested $5 donation at the door
Worth knowing
- Cash, cards and tap-to-pay all accepted
- Indoors — a good choice in bad weather
- Kids get coloring pages, crafts and games
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Holiday market
IllustrationHoliday market · Andersonville
Julmarknad Handcraft Market & Festival
The Swedish American Museum's Christmas bazaar in old Swedish Andersonville — Scandinavian crafts, glögg, saffron buns and a visit from Jultomten.
🧒 With kids🎉 With friendsWhat's there
- Scandinavian and modern handicrafts — art glass, woodwork, ceramics, textiles, jewelry
- Glögg, saffron buns and gingerbread cookies
- Jultomten (Swedish Santa) stops by for photos
- In the heart of historically Swedish Andersonville
The most traditional heritage market in the city — combine it with lunch and shopping on Clark Street.
- Last season
- Dec 5–7, 2025
- Cost
- See organizer
Getting there and parking
- Swedish American Museum, 5211 N Clark St, in Andersonville
Worth knowing
- A three-day festival, usually the first weekend of December — check the museum's calendar for 2026
IllustrationHoliday market · River North
One of a Kind Holiday Show
Chicago's biggest handmade gift show: 600+ artists and makers on a floor of the Merchandise Mart, now in its 25th year.
🎉 With friends✨ Date nightWhat's there
- 600+ artists, designers and makers
- Thousands of handmade products in 20 categories — ceramics, glass, jewelry, furniture, gourmet food
- On a full floor of the historic Merchandise Mart
Worth it if you want serious handmade gifts — budget a few hours and come on a weekday.
- 2026
- Dec 3–6, 2026; Thu–Sat 10 am–7 pm, Sun 10 am–5 pm
- Last season
- Dec 4–7, 2025
- Cost
- $15 ticket, valid all four days (organizer, 2026)
Getting there and parking
- The Mart, 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, 7th floor, River North
Worth knowing
- Sunday closes early (5 pm); Thursday–Saturday run to 7 pm
- Indoors
Weekend market
IllustrationWeekend market · West Loop
Randolph Street Holiday Market
The city's big antiques and vintage market in its holiday edition — 125+ dealers and designers inside Plumbers Hall and outside, with DJs and cocktails.
🎉 With friends✨ Date nightWhat's there
- 125+ antique, vintage and designer dealers
- Indoor hall in the Beaux-Arts Plumbers Hall plus outdoor stalls
- Food stations and bars (beer, wine, cocktails)
- Free gift wrapping (2025)
The pick for vintage and antique gifts — bring small bills and haggle.
- 2026
- Nov 14–15, 2026, 10 am–5 pm (a second weekend, Dec 12–13, is listed for vendors)
- Last season
- Nov 15–16 and Dec 13–14, 2025
- Cost
- Ticketed admission
Getting there and parking
- 1341 W Randolph St and Plumbers Hall, 1340 W Washington Blvd, West Loop
Worth knowing
- Bring cash — many dealers don't take cards; two ATMs on site
- Dogs welcome outside on a leash with tags, but not inside Plumbers Hall
- Rain or shine; flat grounds with ramps and elevators
IllustrationWeekend market · The Loop
Millennium Park Holiday Market
A three-day city-run market in Millennium Park on the opening weekend of the holiday season.
🧒 With kids🎉 With friendsWhat's there
- City-run market in Millennium Park
- Opening weekend of the downtown holiday season
A short, free-to-browse stop on a Loop holiday walk — check the city's events page for the 2026 vendor list.
- 2026
- Nov 20–22, 2026; Nov 20–21 noon–8 pm, Nov 22 noon–5 pm
- Last season
- Nov 21–23, 2025
- Entry
- See organizer