I love the continued tradition of having a suburban location for the Christkindlmarket. River's Edge is a great location to host as the area is easy to navigate. The close Aurora Transportation Lot is $10 to park at but there are City of Aurora Lots that are free! We parked in Lot X and with a short walk over the bridge, we were at the market. They had security around these lots as well knowing this time of year on the weekends is prime market time. The market itself is more spaced out than the city so one can actually look at the vendor houses with ease. They have the same larger tents for food and drink, ornaments, candy, etc. They play holiday music over the speakers and have a couple of photo moments when visiting. The market is free to get into and wasn't very crowded at all when I visited. The city location definitely has a more festive atmosphere but if you're looking to get the experience with ease of parking and crowds, definitely come out to Aurora! read more

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Comparing this to the market downtown, it was much better! The space is larger and overall felt less crowded. I did go the Friday after Thanksgiving so maybe it wasn't as busy as a weekend day. But if you live in the suburbs, this is the location to go to! It has everything the downtown location has and more. Parking is $10 across the street but can get busy so I recommend coming early. I mainly go to the market for the food. This year I got the ever famous raclette sandwich and it was worth the hype. It was a steep $20 but well worth it. You can watch how they make the sandwich in front of you. The cheese is gooey and warm, going perfectly with the soft bread and cured meat. I got everything on the sandwich including dijon mustard and pickles, which helped balance out the richness with acidity. Other notable items we got were the stroopwaffel, German bratwurst, jalapeño cheese stuffed pretzel, and hot chocolate. Everything we got tasted amazing. I love the variety of German foods that you can't find easily otherwise. There is also a lot of other vendors selling clothing, ornaments, food items, etc. There was even a glass blowing ornament tent which was super unique and only $50. Highly recommending checking out this market earlier in the season before it gets too cold! read more

We liked this place. Spent $60 in total, $20 for a polish bacon flatbread. $13 for a souvenir mug of wine, and the rest on a chocolate crepe, cookies & marzipan candy, etc. Decided not to bring our 3 year olds, which was a great choice for us, given the crowd. Found a secret hack: park for free across the river and walk across the pedestrian only bridge; it's just as close and less chaotic. All in all, an excellent holiday activity, with unique vendors and a friendly atmosphere. read more

Christkindlmarket Aurora - Tasty treats - Public Markets Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

This is my second time in three years coming here. My last visit was in 2023. And this time this is my first visit in the evening and on Saturday. I was a little disappointed to see that the parking was $10 at the metro station directly across the street which also happens to be the most convenient I think as far as walking to the market. The first sign you see says full a lot, but if you go to the second stoplight, they're allowing you to turn into the same full lot and find parking. Which then makes me think no one's really monitoring the lot. This year they specifically moved the raclette booth over to a far side of the market so as to not create lines in traffic in the main section. This is a smart move. I feel like the price went up as they are now $20 and this is rather expensive if you ask me considering that they are not generous on the meat or the cheese. The Belgium fries kiosk unfortunately it was very bad. It was 1299 for not a lot of fries and very bluntly. They were 100% soggy in fact a lady who had ordered them right before us came back complaining about them being 100% soggy so I waited until the fresh batch came out and those also were 100% soggy stay away. This year you seem to have a lot more booths for some reason I feel like especially with some of the things to sell. I really wish they would increase the options for ready to eat foods. For example, there's no barbecue there's no stand for au gratin potatoes. They could definitely use more alcoholic options like champagne. Could also use more baked goods options. I went to the French stand for the croissants and macaroons and they had no croissants. And on this particular night, I hate to pick on people, but the man working there truly looked like he hated being there. Year after year I hope that they get better especially with tables and seating and they don't. Really sad to see that they still have very few to no seats or even just standup table for people to put their cup down on this particular Saturday night all of the trees, the smaller trees for some reason all headlights and none of them were turned on. This year was a little underwhelming read more

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A great joyful event to attend in the suburbs of Aurora. This was my first time attending and it was fun. There was $10 parking across the street which was easily accessible to enter the event. The event itself had a lot of vendors that were indoor and outdoors in case you needed a break from the cold. The vendors were all very friendly. They had plenty of food options that it was easily to drink/eat and walk around. They even had a Photo Booth which was very fun to talk with friends. They had a great range of Christmas items to choose from. They did have a variety of price depending on what you wanted to get. Overall, it was a great time during Christmas time. read more

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We attended the Christkindlmarket on Black Friday. I was pleasantly surprised that it seemed bigger than in previous years. Everything we ate was delicious. I particularly liked the crepes. My suggestion is to go hungry!! The food stalls seem to outnumber the regular shops. I was annoyed that we couldn't take drinks into some of the vendors and no signs were posted before we got in line. read more

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Came here on Thanksgiving and it's pretty nice but super cold. There was no wait line compared to the loop. We got the hot chocolate with the Chicago heart shape cup and it was good but every other stalls also had hot chocolate but for cheaper. We also got the fluffy marshmallows hot chocolates which was a little sweet. Overall it was pretty open and had a variety of stalls. We also got Dave's coffee cake the variety pack and the masala curry fries was just a sprinkle of like spice and not real masala. read more

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I believe there is an opportunity to enhance the visitor experience by offering a wider variety of activities beyond just shopping & dining. Adding attractions like ice skating or tube slides could encourage guests who travel from afar to stay longer & truly enjoy their visit. Aurora, known as the "City of Lights," has an excellent opportunity to showcase this theme, especially during Christmas when light displays are so beloved. By highlighting this aspect, you create a compelling reason for visitors to return year after year & enhance the overall appeal of Christkindlmarket. During our visit on a Sunday, we arrived 3 hrs before closing & found the place quite crowded still. Unfortunately, we spent the entire time lining up for hot cocoa & crepes, limiting our ability to explore the stores. Parking was readily available, esp if you don't mind a 5-10 min walk. I took most of these photos 10mins after they announced that they were closed & on our way out. read more

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I just love Christkindlmarket! I'm so happy they have a location in Aurora because in my opinion, it's better than the one in the city. My husband and I shopped so much here! We enjoyed great food, got new body care, coffee cakes, gifts for our dogs, ornaments, hats, the list goes on! The hand painted ornaments are just so adorable. Last year my husband and I wanted to make it a yearly tradition to pick out a couple ornaments each year. The vendors are great and so nice, food is great, and the ambiance is unmatched. Love that the parking is right across the street so very easy access to the market. Thanks for another great year!! read more

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Christkindlmarket is always a fun and festive start the holiday season, especially at this spacious location in Aurora. Parking: Pay $10 to park in the lot close by where a shuttle is available, unless you prefer to walk. There's free parking across the bridge or a farther walk from the market area. Vendors: They are spread out nicely here and expect to pay the usual high prices for gifts, but you can find some unique items. The spiced wine in a boot mug is a must, and serves as a nice hand warmer. Unlike the Chicago location, you can move around here without being shoulder-to-shoulder with others. We went on a Friday during lunch hour and it wasn't too crowded yet. Food & Drink: Plan ahead, as the lines did get long and some of the temporary tents have a line to wait as they space out entry to the inside. There are areas to stop and sit or stand while you drink a beverage, or nibble on a Bavarian pretzel. The baked cheese vendor had the longest line I saw that day. Pet friendly: You can bring dogs here but I suggest only if you have a well-behaved, friendly pet. Ours received a lot of love and requests to pet them. Shopping tip: Be sure to shop around. One vendor was selling small wooden nut crackers for $45 then I found one the exact same size and look at an indoor shop for around $16. Restrooms: Since this is at Rivers Edge, there is a building with restrooms with sinks and nice Dyson hand dryers. read more

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This was my first visit to any of the Chicagoland Christmas markets. I heard Aurora was less crowded but on a Sunday it was still PACKED. We had the beverages and got all the mugs. We also bought the coffee cakes (great gifts!). Prices were about as expected. Nothing was cheap! But a fun experience, for sure. read more

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BAVARIAN CHRISTMAS Aurora's pared-down version of Chicago's Christkindlmarket is ideally suited for the suburbs. For as long as I can remember, my family has made the annual holiday pilgrimage to this beloved outdoor market. The OG location in Daley Plaza is harder to get to (not to mention crowded as hell), so the Aurora Christkindlmarket is the one we've started visiting. They've got most of the same things, but this version is much more accessible. Parking across the street in the Metra commuter lot is $10, which is up from $5 a couple years ago. There's free parking available in a lot to the south, but it's not clearly marked and you'll have to walk a bit. Inside the market, there's scores of vendors in red & white striped tents, some local and others from Europe. Potato pancakes ($10) are a must-order item; get them with sour cream & applesauce ("the works") for $1. The 'kilometer' ($9) is a footlong Thüringer sausage, consider adding sauerkraut for an extra buck. The goulash soup ($6) hits the spot on a cold day--it's hearty and great for keeping hands warm. I highly recommend the raclette (especially the 'jambon cru') for $16, which has melted alpine cheese, ham, pickles, and dijon mustard on a toasted baguette. It's expensive but delicious, and it's something I was never able to get at the Christkindlmarket in the city as the line was always a mile long. Glüwein (mulled red wine) comes in a decorative and highly sought-after mug. These collectibles run $12, refills are $10, and this year they were a Tiffany blue color which my wife absolutely loved. We saw other market-goers drinking out of mugs shaped like a shoe. Other booths sell pierogies, sweet & savory crepes, strudel, Belgian hot cocoa, roasted cinnamon nuts, and warm pretzels. Prices seem to be the same as they are downtown. Crowds aren't too bad early in the season, though evenings can get very busy as the calendar approaches the 24th. There's a large, heated tent for ornaments and another one for chocolates, gingerbread, marzipan, and other sweets. They also have a warming tent with benches that become vital on nights in December when temps are in the 10's and 20's. Regardless, dress warmly in layers! *TL;DR * If you weren't freezing your ass off waiting for mulled wine & melted cheese, did you even celebrate the holidays? For many, visiting the Christkindlmarket has become a yearly tradition. I've always looked forward to it, and now my wife, son, and any other future kid(s) we have can get excited about the sights, sounds, and smells of this wonderfully festive German holiday market. While the food is tasty and the atmosphere is delightful, concessions aren't any cheaper than they are in the heart of downtown Chicago, and that's what stops me from giving Aurora's Christkindlmarket five stars. read more

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Decided to go and check it out since we was cold outside and wanted to be away from Chicago's lake breeze! It was a plus that two brothers brewery was right across the street as well! I felt like this was bigger than its Chicago counterpart and while there is $10 parking you can park a block away for free! There was a scavenger hunt for the kids and all the shops you would see at the Chicago Christkindlmarket! Plus there were no lines! We now prefer to go here! Glad that we checked it out! read more

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Ok experience. Won't come again during busy times. I went again on a weekday and it was a way better experience! Parking next to it was $10 but not enough spots at all. It took me 20 minutes to check out parking to find there was no spot. Thankfully, Jake's bagels close by offered parking for $10 as well. I didn't have the right address for the free parking so I wasn't able to easily find it. However, I came again and used the free parking lot and it was great! It's a little bit of a walk though! This one is just as good as Chicago's which I was very pleased by. My favorite vendors were here, which includes the stuffed pretzels (cheese stuffed is my favorite), raclette cheese sandwich, and pouffy houzz (mini pancakes with toppings). I order the cheese pretzels uncooked and make them at home so I have room for the other options. The bathrooms were so nice. Heated and indoors! So thankful for this! Overall, it's very spaced out but still super crowded and long lines for popular vendors during weekends. read more

Always something we look forward to every year. More vendors at Aurora this year. Pierogis, cookies, cakes, German market, stroopwafels, belgian fries, cabbage rolls, cocoa, wine, beer, raclette sandwiches, candied nuts, chocolates. Many options to enjoy. Other vendors are there with merch like hats, clothings, gloves, ornaments, $$-$, most food items start at $10. Portions are average, but be prepared to spend some decent change while there. Some items are more worth it than others in my opinion. Parking is $10, public bathroom facility is available (not portable pottys) - an actual clean bathroom - that's the bonus of coming to this location versus the Chicago markets. read more

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After living in Chicagoland for a decade and a half, I have been to many Christkindlmarkts over the years (Daly Plaza, a few years in Naperville and Oak Brook). I have to say this was a good choice for a suburban location because it was a large space with nearby parking. We went on opening day because it was sunny and mild; I rather expected it to be more crowded but it wasn't too bad (I have been to the downtown Chicago location when you literally couldn't move because there were so many people). The vendors were about 50/50 food and gift items. For food, we got Belgian hot chocolate, a Bavarian pretzel, ham and cheese croissant, and macarons (the kid running this booth didn't have a smaller box for 4 macarons and told me, "It's ok, they still taste good if they get smashed!" Uhh...at $4 each they had better be in perfect condition when I get home.) We also purchased a Polish pottery ornament, goodies from the Sweet Castle, honey, and dip mixes. There are the two big Kathe Wolfhardtt tents for blown glass ornaments, the large Sweet Castle tent, as well as a warming tent where a three piece oompah band was playing while we ate. Make sure not to miss photo ops (everything from actual photo booths, to various selfies stations around the grounds). The only thing I can grumble about is that as a person who uses the cane, the paved ground was rather irregular in this park, and it seemed like NO ONE at this event had any spatial awareness whatsoever! So it made for a day of trying not to stumble as I kept stopping short as someone would just mindlessly pause despite the flow of foot traffic, or jump in front of me to look at something without warning. Also, there was zero sign of Krampus merchandise! I have always seen candy, ornaments, jumping jacks in the past. So that was odd Overall though, this is a fun event, particularly on a warmer day. read more

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This was my first time going to aurora for the christkindlemarket - and it was significantly less crowded (especially if that was an issue you had with the downtown location). The selection is vast and the prices seem like normal. The service is quick. We did go on the first day - which was a Friday so could help with the crowd. read more

Christkindlmarket Aurora - Potato Pancakes (with sour cream and apple sauce) - Public Markets Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

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A seasonal must in the Chicagoland area. The Christkindle market has so much to offer - crafts, food, drinks and a great time! I was here on a Saturday night and it was jam packed. I highly recommend coming during the day and on a Thursday or Friday since that seems to be when it is the least crowded. This location has lots of parking, paid parking across the street and free parking however you'll need to walk a few blocks. There are a few indoor spots to warm up at, take advantage of that. Even if there's a long line it's worth being able to warm up a bit! read more

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Second year we've been to Christkindlmarket, and it's a fun seasonal event to look forward to. There are over 50 vendors selling food, drinks, gifts, and trinkets. There is plenty of outdoor seating throughout the market and heated indoor seating in the timber tent. For food, we got - Flammkuchen pizza (grilled onions, bacon, béchamel sauce) from Pizza Ahumada for $14 and it was our favorite thing we tried! - Hot chocolate with whipped cream in a mug from Bob's Belgian Hot Chocolate for $16 (it's $10 to get it without the mug) and while it was rich and chocolatey it was not worth the price in my opinion - The Works (potato pancakes with sour cream and apple sauce) for $10 and an Alpine Cheese Bratwurst for $10 from the Austrian Lodge. We would skip the potato pancakes next time and, while the bratwurst was good, the bun was hard and cold. - Original Stroopwafel from Puffy Houzz for $10. This was a great dessert - sweet, spiced, warm, and gooey. You can park at the large lot across the street (360 N Broadway) for $10 and a short walk to the market or park at the secondary smaller lot (130 N Lincoln Ave) for $2.36 and a slightly longer walk. We came at around 12 pm on a Thursday and the large lot was already full. Some of the lines were long but moved quickly. read more

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Had a blast here in December! Christmas time means fun outdoor markets in Chicago and the burbs. Get the souvenir mug! Lots of food or drink to try! read more

Christkindlmarket Aurora - Public Markets Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

I've been to the downtown Chicago location a few times and just visited Aurora's. I'm such a fan of Christkindlmarket. If you haven't been before, It has a mix of vendors, some local and many European with local connections. There are lots of Christmas themed vendors for ornaments and decorations. There are also many food and drink vendors. It's a great way to get in the Christmas spirit. But, the lines are really long and it is always very very crowded. This never has bothered me because I go in knowing what to expect. It's not a great place to bring kids that don't enjoy that sort of thing. I saw lots of exhausted moms and crying kids today. It's absolutely an event for everyone. Just want to give fair warning, as it can take up to 30 minutes to get a hot chocolate and even longer for some of the food vendors. I completely love it and don't mind. I also try to help entertain the kids waiting in lines nearby, because I remember those days :) But sharing for those that have never been do they know what to expect. read more

Best location in my opinion. Way more walking room and less crowds. Parking is directly across the street.

We went on a Sat at 11am, right when it opens. It's crowded but still easy to navigate. Tip: Go get the scavenger hunt card. It's easy, fun & you get a choice of a gift which are bags of treats. I chose the chocolate caramel coated popcorn which was yummy. Head all the way to the heated tent at the end, info booth for the card. Easy to find. Parking: Check the website for free parking directions. It's a pretty, easy river walk across the bridge. Follow the crowd. There will be only one bridge. Photo Ops: Pretty snow carriage for those Instagram shots. Also large size tinman. Food: Lines were fairly long. Maybe 30mins. You can get the cute mug, pretzels, round waffle treats & German sandwiches with special cheese. This is a festival so food is more pricy. Two brothers Roundhouse (Historic railroad) is across the street & offers an alternative. Shopping: Good if you are looking for collectibles. Bathroom: Not portable & very clean. Overall: Best location with easy parking & easy clean non portable bathrooms. Good to add to your holiday activities. read more

Nice Christmas Market. Parking is available for $10 in lot across the street. The weather was mild, which made the fest that much more enjoyable! Clean, spacious location was not crowded on a Friday afternoon. Dog friendly, quite a few attendees brought their well-behaved pooches. Plenty of food and merchandise vendors so that visitors can find nourishment and beverages to fuel their activities. Most merchandise was reasonably priced, but there were a few notable exceptions. One lady had decorated cookies for $7 each. I passed on that! read more

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Very disappointing. How this event is linked the market at the Daley Plaza I will never know. Not even half the experience and no Dinkle's Bakery so no Stollen. Maybe if I wasn't used to the one in Chicago I would have enjoyed myself more but this was a huge let down. read more

I could not imagine a more perfect spot for a Christmas market than by a river. Christmas always brings fun bars, needs, and events for the holiday season. Getting the famous market from the city to the suburbs is a well-executed idea. The reason was that there was more space to walk around and visit each vendor. I enjoyed the hot mulled wine while walking to different vendors to see what they were selling. Some lines can be a little long, but they move fast. So don't let that deter you from going! It's a fun outing for the family or friends before the holiday. I hope they bring this location back next year as well. read more

Christkindlmarket Aurora - Public Markets Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

Very pretty German ornaments and decorations. Lots of food vendors and other vendors mostly with decorations. Most stuff is pretty overpriced or at least expensive. But unique things that would be hard to find elsewhere. Although the food has been good from years past, I didn't bother because the lines were crazy long. I went on a Saturday, so definitely go on a Thursday if you can. Worth seeing, but I'd eat elsewhere and maybe just get desserts or a few small things. But fun experience to see at least once. read more

We went on an evening with some drizzle so crowds were fairly minimal. It seemed to be on par with other markets although there was only one warming house (but there were still seats to grab communally & sometimes full tables). We had actually signed up our daughter for lantern parade & it was well organized despite the weather. Her goodie bag was super cute! Hot wine & chocolate were delicious on this gloomy night. Love the bathroom situation at this location (since it is normally at outdoor concert venue there are actual facilities/no porter-potties). I was slightly bummed to have to pay $10 for event parking in the Metra lot, as parking was always free at Naperville & Oakbrook when they had the market. read more

Parking is $10 and the food is so over priced. $15 for a German brat? It's crowded and everything is so expensive. Tried it once and will never try it again. read more

Some vendors overcharge and you will have NO recourse to resolve it. Those vendors do NOT print or email receipts, so you only have your credit card bill to show for it. Even worse, the company name some vendors use to post charges to your credit card bears NO relation to the booth you visited. You have NO proof of who charged you or what you were charged for--just a generic Aurora market charge for an amount much higher than any purchase you made. Even more frustrating is that the market customer support is NONEXISTENT: if you are overcharged and ask for help to contact the vendor, they will completely GHOST you. We have visited the market for years and were always excited to collect the annual mugs, but now I just feel ripped off by some vendors and blown off by the market organizer. We spent SO much money on the insane cost for food and drinks as well as our mugs and other gift items. This experience has completely spoiled what used to be a joyful tradition--there are so many other markets and holiday events to visit--we are NOT going back to Christkindl again. read more

It's a nice place but it's so crowded you can't even move or walk around. Parking is abysmal.

Definately 0 stars. This market is located in AURORA GHETTO. $10 for parking. Really when it could be free. Went there Dec 1st barely any vendors and what happened to rides and Christmas displays as it was last year at Wrigliville. Got 2 small cups of cocoa. Paid for Swiss miss crap quality $11 each. What is this Disney. Crap neighborhood, crap coco $30 for what. Fix your neighborhood. Fix your prices and get some real vendors. This is a very expensive flea market. Will be visiting Wriglieville next year hope I never see this ghetto again. read more

I've been to the Chriskindle Market in Chicago a few times. Been to one in Naperville when it was at the Naper Settlement. This was my first time here, and I gotta say it was disappointing. The booths seemed smaller. The walk-in tent shops were definitely smaller. Usually it's more European themed and that didn't seem the case. All that was okay. LOTS of people. My main gripe is the hot chocolate. We waited in line for almost an hour and the hot chocolate tasted like instant. This wasn't the case all our previous times we attended the Market. Now grant it, we went on a Saturday night, so maybe they ran out of the good stuff and sent someone to Jewel for some Swiss-Miss or something, but it was a poor excuse for their normal rich and chocolatey hot cocoa. The lines were crazy, but that was to be expected. We ended up bailing and went across the street to Two Brothers for some food and beers. MUCH better choice. Just sayin. read more

Christkindlmarket Aurora - Public Markets Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

It is too crowded and alcohol should not be served. Mixing alcohol and family gatherings is not smart. It is a matter of time before some stupid intoxicated adults get in a fight and endanger people's safety. read more

Supposed to be German themed but far from it , more international then German. There's a guy selling tools made from chocolate & another selling great coffee cake. Some nice ornaments but other then that not much there . read more

I didn't want to go to Chicago because of the fear of long lines and enormous crowds. This location definitely was more low key you will have lines, paid parking, but so worth it. You must try the sandwiches! I found the hot chocolate and mulled wine overrated. read more

This was my first year visiting the market, even after living in the Chicagoland area for the past 5 years. My family had hyped it so much, that I think I was somewhat disappointed. It might have been that we went towards the end of the holiday season, but I found the place to be quite crowded and well overpriced. I can understand that many of the vendors are craftsman and are selling handmade items, which I value a lot - but some items seemed like they didn't warrant the price point. On the other hand, I was looking forward to the hot chocolate, but was saddened to see that the booth we went to ran out of the 2023 mugs and were selling the 2022 mugs (but I saw other vendors selling newer mugs farther down the market!). The last straw for me was that there was no Christmas tree. I was looking forward to the lighting and decorations, but it was quite minimal. We ended up walking around for about 30 minutes or so and leaving relatively early, which seems quite contrary to the experience I was hoping to have (especially given how busy the parking lot was and how many people have said good things). read more

Wish it was a bit bigger with more variety. The atmosphere was great- food was good- not too many variety's. They ran out of the 2023 mug-

As of today, 12/9/2023, there is no admission to get into the market, but parking is 10.00. The main parking lot is across the street from the market so it is not a long walk. It differs from the one in the City of Chicago in that you can at least move around and see everything. The vendors are friendly, appreciative and helpful. There are some fairly long lines for some parts such as indoor stores. The craftsmanship is gorgeous at many of the booths but is expectedly pretty expensive. The famous hot chocolate is delicious and rich, and you get a choice of a paper cup serving for 12.00 or a commemorative mug for 16.00. The serving size appears to be about 8-10 ounces. While we did not eat a lot there, we saw plates of food going by and it all looked delicious. There is a building public restroom and it was clean. The view is nice, being along the water. There is a scavenger hunt for the kiddos-they get a card and have to visit certain booths and then they get a stamp on their card. There is a prize for a completed card, but not sure what it was. There is also an indoor warming center if you want to take a break. I gave it 4 stars due to the expensiveness of it, but it's a nice outing to do in the winter. read more