It's been a few years since I've been to the market and I was really happy it wasn't too crowded last time I was here. I feel like that makes a huge difference on the experience one has. My favorite part of this market is all the beautiful, unique items they sell. I feel like I always find the best gifts from here! I love getting to see people's unique talents and handmade goods. This year, I got a beautiful wooden ornament for my dog, a nativity lamp (gift), stein (gift), and, of course, one of their yearly mugs for myself to add to my mug collection. The biggest downside for me is the food. The food is soo expensive and the quality does not live up to what it could be. I typically skip the food now, but will get a nice cup co cocoa when the weather is cold. read more

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Fun market with a few different food, drink, and souvenir options. I got the raclette sandwich because I saw the long line and wanted to try. I got the beef option. The cheese was a little smellier (not in a bad way) than it tasted. I liked the pickled onions. Good flavor! $18-20 per sandwich, which is steep pricing but to be expected at this market. read more

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Wonderful Christmas market! I had the pleasure of living in Germany for a year and I love the markets and the Chicago one in the loop does it right. The nostalgia!! I've been a few times at night, and also on a Saturday morning for a tour before the market opened, which was such a treat to be there before the rush. We got to sample things from some vendors and really got a chance to see what was there. Fantastic food! They have a nice variety of things, such as döner wraps, various sausages, potato pancakes, raclette (my favorite), currywürst, pretzels, and more. Even some plant based sausage options you. And wonderful bakery treats and desserts too. Hot chocolate, cider, glühwein, soda, and other refreshments. You can get your drinks in the holiday commemorative mugs. New design every year. You can get a lot of Christmas shopping done here too. I bought lots of alpaca items to keep me warm this winter. Hand painted and pewter ornaments from Germany. So many authentic German foods, gifts, embroidery, woodwork, and more, these vendors are the real deal. I recommend going during the week because the weekends are packed. Open every day from 11am-8pm. It's so special! Don't miss it! read more

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Since my father died back in 2012, we've been chasing a Xmas high we just can't seem to get back. My husband and I have recently decided we'd love to spend our holiday in a more festive way - traveling, markets, parties, but no more extravagant gift-giving. We haven't quite gotten there yet - still gotta pay off that beast of a tractor trailer - but we're dipping our toes in the possibilities of a new relationship to the holiday. I was on a mini vacation to Chicago last week and happened to be in town on the first full day of the market. As I'm my own best date, I headed out around 1pm to see what the hype was. I'm so glad I went when I did. The crowds were light, it was easy to visit all the stalls, and I felt like my raclette and souvenir cider mug were worth the $35 I spent. Had it been more crowded or cold, I would not have been as pleased. The German aspects of the market were cool - as you turn down some of the alleyways though, it becomes more junky and reselling of wares from the U.S. or unrelated countries. Pray tell why I need gloves made in Peru or widgets "inspired by" one country but manufactured in the U.S.? Gimme a break. I was a bit disappointed in the sweets selection though my German ancestry in-laws told me hearty not sweet food is the German way. Ah well. There's a beautiful glass ornament shop by the entrance - though lowkey think one of the attendants thought I broke a glass bird. It was actually someone in the party in front of me who did and pretended not to but trust and believe I was ready to defend my honor if accused. The highlights for me were the silly Photo Booth and the raclette. It was my first time having the cheesy goodness and I'm in love! I got mine with cured beef and all the fixins. I know the $20 price tag is sending Chicago natives into hysterics but this was probably cheaper than anything I would have eaten outside the market so no biggie to me. All in all, good. Go early to get the best value. I would not wait in line for this experience. read more

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Monday visit was perfect! Saturday the line was over three blocks long and they had a maximum capacity imposed by the mayor each day. Great time drinking hot wine and viewing the little shops in the market. Highly recommend. Xmas vibe. read more

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The Christkindlmarket in Chicago is wonderful! I went on one of the coldest days and it was still VERY FULL! It's really a wonderful place! Lots of shops that are locally owned and sourced, lots of German shops and food, and pierogies! I love me some Christkindlemarket pierogies. We enjoyed the hot chocolate stands with the chocolate wrench on top. It was delicious. I was able to go to buy some German sweets for gifts. We also tried that stinky cheese sandwich! The experience at the market is fun for locals and tourists. I go every year, regardless of the weather because it's workshops the trip! read more

Christkindlmarket Chicago - Festivals Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Christkindlmarket is officially OPEN for the season! We had the chance to visit last night for media night and it was pure holiday magic. The new mugs this year are absolutely adorable -- I'm obsessed! Of course, we had to kick things off with the iconic raclette sandwich (melty, gooey perfection), warmed up with apple cinnamon German wine, sipped on a smooth German lager, and snacked on those classic roasted nuts that make the whole place smell like Christmas. The weather couldn't have been more perfect, the lights were glowing, and the whole night felt straight out of a holiday postcard. If you're ready to get into the Christmas spirit... this is the place. read more

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Always a nice way to get into the Christmas spirit when you visit the Christkindle Market, downtown location. It's always cold AF when I go there but it's part of the whole experience. Everytime I go I have to get the gluwein (hot wine) in the souvenir mug. This year was a cute little heart shaped one. The Gluwein keeps you nice , warm, and toasty while walking through the little shops. I usually go after work on the weekdays to avoid the weekend crowd. In the past it was elbow to elbow but I guess this year they out a limit as to how many people can be at the market at a time. I didn't get a chance to enjoy the food this year as I was on a time crunch to catch my train. But the tradition pretzels, brats, and potato pancakes were there like normal. Til next year! read more

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Living in the South, I haven't spent any of the holiday season somewhere cold in quite awhile, so when my friends told me we were going to an outdoor Christmas market in 19F weather, I wasn't stoked... But omg, this was such a fun christmasy experience! We walked in near the Raclette booth. I had seen this done on IG, but thought I would have to go to Europe if I wanted to see cheese melted off a wheel and spread onto bread before my eyes. A warning, it is stinky at the stand, do NOT let this deter you. Both of my friends said they couldn't do it because of the smell, but I jumped right into the line! When I tell you, they were just as smitten as I was after just one bite! We also tried the Glühwein (warmed mulled wine), which came in heart-shaped mugs we got to keep. It was both delicious, and warmth that was so comforting in the freezing weather. There were so many artists booths, many from Germany and other countries. There was also so much food I would have tried had we not had a reservation at Cerdito Muerto that night (check my review and also check that place out). It was joyous, very much for me in the holiday spirit, and somehow distracted me from the cold for over an hour! If you need to get some Christmas spirit vibes, this is definitely a great destination to check out. read more

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I went on a Monday at 2:30PM which I think is the best time to attend. I saw a video of this place on a Saturday with the line down the block. It was shocking because I don't think this place is worth any wait time. It was genuinely quite an underwhelming experience. It was a nice outing, something to do, the apple cider is good, but I was ready to leave after like 15-20 minutes? The ornaments were cool to look at, but it's not like it was a ~fun~ experience. I think it's fine to stop by if you're in the area, looking for something to do, and there's no wait. Otherwise, not super worth any time. read more

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This was my second time at the Christkindl Market which is set up every year in the heart of Chicago. There's usually a line to get in, and it's much longer on weekends. This market truly makes you feel that Christmas and the holiday season have arrived. There are many stores that serve authentic German and European delicacies. We tried the Nürnberger Glühwein, a warm mulled wine served in this year's Christkindlmarket mug. We also had the bratwurst with pickles and a dash of mustard - this wasn't the best and didn't particularly stand out for me. Then we tried the döner kebab and Austrian strudel from Helmut's, both of which were absolutely fantastic. The owner actually flies in every year for Christkindlmarket. Look forward to returning to Christkindl soon! read more

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Our family goes to the ChristkindlMarket every year, and this year we happened to be there on the season's snowiest day. This happened to impact the number of visitors (heavily reduced), but also multiplied my discomfort (Ugg boots were soaked and waterlogged). Still, all of the vendors were friendly and cheery. Some take cash only but there's an ATM onsite. We stopped at our favorite German glass ornaments store (our tree has close to 100 over the years), had some hot apple cider with commemorative mug, and shortly thereafter called it quits. This is a fun experience (rain, snow or shine). Last year we went to Christmas markets in Cologne, Strasbourg and more, and this definitely has the same essence, if not the scale. read more

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It has been a while since I visited the Christkindermarket. I was hesitant because I heard there are long lines to enter but I found it to be super organized and entry was quick. I loved the dark real hot chocolate vendor. It was probably one of the best hot chocolates I had in a while smooth, velvety and not too sweet with just a little bit of wipp cream on top and chocolate sprinkles. Each cup is made on the spot customized. I enjoyed visiting the various booths and marveling at the beautiful handmade ornaments. Still this is on top of my list to do in Chicago in December. read more

Christkindlmarket Chicago - Festivals Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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It's a free German themed Christmas market with pricey food but that's the case with most markets. I liked that they had long hours and very manageable lines. There was a variety of eye catching stalls from woodworking to bratwurst to Kathe Wohlfahrt. read more

Christkindlmarket Chicago - Woodworking stall - Festivals Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

love this german market, we go every winter! and we cant wait! any news for 2026 season?

If you are not able to make it to any of the festive European Christmas markets this upcoming year DO NOT FRET! This is a fantastic holiday market! There are several locations in the state of Illinois but I feel like the one in downtown is the better location because it's in the heart of the city. This market is filled with vendors and does a great job of keeping the holiday spirit alive. There are so many cute hand made items and there are so many good tasting German food options. The libations are divine as well. Who doesn't like spiced wine (Glühwein)? Overall, this was a great experience, I highly recommend! read more

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Everything is overpriced. $10 hot chocolate a little better than Swiss Miss mix is not the worst part. The ornament shop sells shabby ones at $20+ each. The vibe was good and kids liked it. Probably once in a lifetime. read more

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Would probably be a solid four star experience were it not for a few notable detracting factors. First of all, this year there is a line to get in, apparently for capacity limits, though those monitoring the entry were not in communication with those at the exits (they were simply clicking and tallying each person that entered, when they let batch after batch in). Showing up at 11:30 on a weekday, I stood in line maybe ten minutes, when the year before I'd walked right in. It did feel spread out, compared to an evening visit a few years back. But again, a morning/early afternoon is never going to be gill to gill. The second issue was an ATM that was out of service. There's no rhyme or reason to which vendors take cards vs cash, so most people will need/want cash, and if it's that difficult to get all ATMs up and running, hang a sign. Other than these issues, I enjoyed myself. You're always going to pay a premium for food and drink, but if you look at options as people are walking around, you'll be able to gauge what is the highest value (like getting the curry meatloaf for three dollars more than the meatloaf sandwich). Vendors were all friendly, though it's always a bit odd to see items I don't readily associate with Germany (alpaca wool products, knit sweaters with Pikachu and Goku on them). I get that people are here looking for gifts, but come on. If your feet get numb or tired, head across the street to Block 37. Not only can you warm up and use real restrooms, but if you go all the way up to the AMC, you can sit in their comfy chairs and couches past the bar, where you can just say you're waiting for your show time. read more

Once again another amazing trip to the Chicago Christkindlmarket. We lined up at 10:30 am on a Wednesday morning and waited until the 11 am opening. I learned this year that the market was forced to allow only 1,050 people in at a time due to a rule the mayor made. No rhyme or reason as to why, other than safety. This was not the decision of the market and it seems the vendors are losing money so far this season. Such a bummer and I felt bad for the line of people waiting to get in. However, on a positive note there was so much more room to shop, grab a table, and not wait forever for food and to go into the ornament shops. I could always see my family and we were not shoulder to shoulder. In years past, you couldn't even get up to the booths to see anything. This was much more enjoyable for the patrons inside. My family are huge fans of Kathy Wohlfahrt and European made Christmas ornaments. We also love Raclette, which we purchased multiple of. We also enjoyed the Bob's Belgium hot cocoa. It is INSANELY good and you get a little gingerbread man cookie on top. We enjoyed Pierogi, a Dubai croissant, and German pretzels with cheese. We also purchased chocolate covered fruit that was delicious. We love the candy store and all of the German vendors. I really hope the new rule of the mayor ends soon so that the German vendors can afford to be here. It would be awful to lose them. We spent almost three hours at the market and when we left there was a huge line to get it. I would recommend a weekday and to get in line prior to opening. read more

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Fantastic place! The ambiance is perfectly set for a whiskey and cigar bar. Nearly 400 whiskeys and countless cigars. The bartenders are incredibly knowledgeable on the whiskeys they have and make spot on recommendations. My old fashioned was better than expected. The host/partner was great, answering all our questions and even stopping at our seats for a nice chat. They have two separate bars connected by glass doors. One with a rustic vibe and the other feels like an indoor patio complete with gas firepits and casual comfy chairs. We will definitely make the trip out there again soon! read more

Christkindlmarket Chicago - Just me... - Festivals Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

From the last 14 years or so, I've always come here but ai don't remember this place to be so expensive. So probably my last time here. I went on a Tuesday late afternoon, there was a line but I got in in 15 minutes. And please don't bother with raclette. It's $20 with little to no cheese. read more

Christkindlmarket Chicago - Raclette $20 for little cheese. The cheese you see was extra. i had to ask for a bit more cheese. Taste was bad too. - Festivals Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Oh, what a time I had! I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of walking, laughing, eating, and listening to the holiday music as I made my way through the market. My main reason for coming to Chicago for Thanksgiving was the Christkindlmarket. It was everything I expected and more. It was festive, crowded, and large, and that is what I was hoping for--and I got it! There were so many vendors selling one-of-a-kind handcraft ornaments and nativity scenes. It was rolls and rolls of food vendors at every twist and turn. It was a share of the Bratwurst hotdog, Bavarian pretzels, hot chocolate and cider, Gluhbier beer, and Gluhwein wine. We clapped to songs played by a traditional German Band. It was a lot of fun, and I'm sure I will return next year. Side Note: Many of the vendors require cash, but don't worry--there's an ATM on site. read more

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We visited this iconic German festival during frigid temps, which I suspect kept at least some people away, as there was no line to get in. If you go on a nicer day or a weekend closer to Christmas, be prepared to wait in a very long line that wraps around the festival. Most of the shops are cash only, especially the food stands. There are ATMs around the festival, but to avoid those fees, bring a good amount with you. When 5 pierogis are $17 and a little cup of hot cider in a styrofoam cup is $5, you're going to need a good amount. We managed to find a table to huddle around with our food. A major win because in all of the other yrs I've been to Christkindlmarket, I've never once found a table. Usually we just walk around trying to eat food with wall to wall people. It's crowded. It's way overpriced. But it's a tradition that we keep year after year. The Christmas season wouldn't be the same without it read more

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I stopped by on a Monday afternoon. That was the second last day of the market for the season. The place was extremely busy. It was very difficult to move around in the market. Probably they should move the market to a bigger venue. I started off with hot chocolate from Bob's Belgian hot chocolate. I got it in the special boot cup. The hot chocolate was very good. It was topped with some home made cream. It also came with a couple of ginger man cookies. My next stop was German Grill Company. From here I had 3 pc german potatao pancake with apple sauce and Beef Pierogi with toppings both were excellent. read more

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I've actually never been to a Christmas Market before, so I can't compare this to others. That said, I had a great experience here. The line to get in was intimidating but it moved quite quickly. Once inside, we found it to be utterly charming. Little to nothing was cheap, but that is to be expected for quality products. If you can find a day when the weather cooperates, this is well worth a visit. read more

I'd give Christkindlemarket Chicago 4 stars. I really enjoyed going to it this year, it has a ton of German food/beverage booths and German/Christmas themed merchandise for sale. They are famous for their hot chocolate as well - I'd recommend trying that out. I'd also recommend NOT going on a weekend day if possible, it gets overly crowded and is very difficult to even move at that point. Go on a weekday for a great time. read more

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It's a nice winter market, lots of souvenirs and hot cocoa stalls. This one is very visited and can get rather busy and overcrowded. The whole concept creates a festive mood, the food, beverages and the environment is very European- as is meant to be. Worth visiting once atleast for the whole experience sake. Though coz of the constant rush it's not my kinda place. Feels slightly overrated too. read more

Christkindlmarket Chicago - Festivals Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We knew about the restrictions for entry as we saw it on the news. We decided to go at 6 pm in a Sunday and there was no wait and it was not too crowded. It definitely didn't seem as large as years past but it was still a nice time. read more

In my 8 years of living in Chicago, I've never missed visiting Christkindlemarket! The market is right in the heart of Chicago loop on Washington street during holiday season. The Christmas market has traditional holiday food, hot chocolate, local specialities like gluwein (mulled wine), Christmas ornaments, crafts, souvenirs and other seasonal items. Every year walking around through the market with friends and exploring different stalls is the highlight. Stalls seem ready to go from late morning until late in the evening each day. Atmosphere is festive, fun, filled with holiday vibe. Over the years, almost all stalls have started accepting the credit card which is nice! Note: It is very crowded, particularly in the evening and on weekends. It has long lines but it's quite fast moving. read more

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It was my first Christkindlmarket. We had just an hour before closing. So, of course, we had to blast through the entire experience quickly. Tho it was a short experience, it was fantastic! read more

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Let this German Christmas Festival begin!!! What a great time. I was with a large group of about 8 people. Even as crowded as it was, it was not a burden in the slightest. To set this up - This was a weeknight, a couple of weeks before Christmas and it single digit bitterly Chicago cold. Keep in mind that most of Christkindlmarket is outside, so you might want to consider overdressing for the weather. Once you walk through the gates, you immediately see all of the booths arranged. These booths consist of food, desserts, drinks, gifts, traditional German goods and lots of drinking apparatus'. There was also a covered store with a variety of German foods and goods. There are a few tents to escape the cold with long picnic style tables to grab a seat. I mean that last bit literally. There isn't a ton of seating so when something opens up, run for it and grab it because it won't stay open for long. A quick hot-tip: I did notice that the line inside the tent for beer/wine was quite long. If you don't feel like waiting, have someone in your group save your seat and run outside to grab another drink. The lines are shorter, the same drinks are available and you won't be waiting as long. There did appear to be another tented area but on this night it was closed for a private event. We stayed for a few hours having drinks only and had a great time. Very festive and fun for groups, families or even couples. Keep in mind that when I say "families", I'm not so sure I'd recommend the use of a stroller. Yes, it is fully accessible but it's also so crowded, as I mentioned before. You'll be fighting the traffic the entire time you're there. Would I go back? Without a doubt I'll be back. It was a great time and I can't recommend a visit here enough. Such a fun and festive Christmas-y thing to do around the holidays! read more

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Annual tradition to attend the Christkindlmarket when we are in Chicago for our annual work trip. Bundle up and come out for a piece of Germany in the heart of downtown Chicago. Hot chocolate, ornaments to your hearts desire and all kinds of yummy European treats for sale. Great place to pick up holiday gifts that are unique and handmade. read more

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This review is mostly based on the organization and handling of this by the city. We have gone to this event for many years now both here and at Wrigley Field and this was by far the most chaotic it has ever been which is saying a lot. We understand that it's a large event with many people attending, but it never felt so tiring as it did this year. We went on the opening day and got there at around opening time 11. When we saw the enormous line we just figured that people were waiting for it to open, but soon realized that was.l not the case and they were restricting the number of people going in. Once many people there realized this they left, but we were near the front and drove downtown so figured to wait it out. We waiting over half an hour to get inside and found out later that some people later were waiting almost 2 hours! Once we got in it was very much the usual things, except for Stroop waffles which really upset one of my kids, and I felt that the variety of stands was not as good as in the past, and the set up was a little off and confusing. It's a holiday tradition that just wasn't the same, and for my family it made a difference. When we did leave and walked back to parking garage the lines were around the Daley Center on both sides. As much as we love going to start the holiday day season I will never go through all that again to attend. Sorry read more

Christkindlmarket Chicago - First day open and really crowded! - Festivals Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Fun Christmas market that transports you to Germany. We came in Saturday late afternoon and it was about 30 minutes wait to get in. Once inside however the lines were not too crazy. The Raclette vendor was probably the most popular. Tried the baguette with melted cheese and ham. Very tasty and worth the wait. Most people had one to themselves, but we shared one and this was completely fine as it's pretty big and not inexpensive ($20). We also had a hot chocolate which came with a gingerbread cookie for $10. They could be purchased with souvenir mugs, but that's not really my thing. Lots of other German eats and nicknacks. Cool seeing so many cuckoo clocks for sale. Was tempted, but since they were pretty much all over $700 and many over $1000, I was able to control myself. Overall, very worth it. If possible, I would try to come at a less busy time. read more

Christmas in Chicago is incomplete without a trip to chriskindle market. I have been collecting the chriskindle cups for a while now and have almost run out of cabinet space. Love the Christmassy vibes while people push you around as you try your best not to spill your hot cocoa or mulled wine. The highlight for me is definitely the stuffed pretzels and their mulled wine. Occasionally, I push myself to try something new but the long lines deter me from doing so. I just wish they could do some crowd management. We have found our way around it though (mondays or Tuesday and if possible, early evenings). Love the pop up choirs or shows that they have. The smell of raclette almost causes me to barf but the taste is totally worth it. A pro tip is to wait for the cheese to cool down or else you might end up burning your tongue. I wish they have spiked cocoa going forward. I love the fact that more and more places have started accepting cards instead of cash but I am hoping all shops do. If not, there is an atm right by the market. A must visit every Christmas! read more

Christkindlmarket Chicago - Festivals Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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If you attend, note that most things are cash only. They do have an ATM on site but beware of the service fee. I went in the morning during the opening week, it wasn't as crowded as it has been in previous years. I started with pierogis and they were delicious. I then needed a warm bevy so I opted to the spiced cider so I can collect my annual mug. Also tried an apple turnover and some French fries. Everything was delicious, the lines wasn't too bad at all. I was even surprised to see some vendors there giving away free swag. Can't say no to that. read more

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Always a great time . We've gone twice this season already . I love the annual mug and enjoy the mulled wine , while my kids are all about the stuffed warm pretzels . everything there is always friendly and it's fun to see the mark against the backdrop of the city . read more

Christkindlmarket Chicago - Festivals Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We had an AMAZING time here in Chicago, what a neat event in the middle of the big city. Great food, great vendors. Best hot chocolate I've ever had. read more

Christkindlmarket Chicago - Festivals Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ate some wieners with sauerkraut and a chocolate croissant. In 2024 there are better vendors here than previous years. Bring cash, many food vendors do not accept plastic. Come for the amazing KRAMPUS mask and take pictures! read more

We heard about the large crowds at this market and still went there to take a look on a cold afternoon. As expected, there were long lines to get in and to order snacks from the vendors. Inside the market, visitors were cramped together shoulder to shoulder or even face to face. So, we didn't bother to buy anything, walked around for about 10 minutes and got out quickly. read more

Christkindlmarket Chicago - Festivals Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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