It might still be summer but one of Chicago’s most cherished Christmas traditions has announced its opening dates. Considered the best Christmas market in North America, and the third best in the world, Chicago’s Christkindlmarket has become a staple event and grown into one of Chicago’s biggest tourist attractions of the festive season since it first came to the city in 1996.
Drawing over 1 million visitors each year, international and local vendors flock to help provide an authentic and atmospheric experience at the German-style outdoor market. Now, Chicagoans and tourists alike will once again be able to enjoy mulled wine, holiday snacks, and festive music at three different locations this holiday season.
This week organizers revealed that both the original downtown Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza and the market in Wrigleyville’s Gallagher Way will return on Friday, November 17th for the market’s 27th year as will the Christkindlmarket in west suburban Aurora at RiverEdge Park.
Both Chicago’s Christkindlmarket Daley Plaza and Aurora’s Christkindlmarket will run through to Sunday, December 24th while Gallagher Ways outdoor market will carry on for another week through to Sunday, December 31st, 2023.
“All Christkindlmarkets are always admission-free. The smell of roasted nuts, fresh pretzels, bratwurst, and hot spiced wine, the sound of festive music, and the glimmer of sparkling Christmas ornaments, all in a cozy atmosphere – a visit to the market takes all your senses on a journey!” reads the Christkindlemarket official release.
Today organizers will be running a 3-day giveaway series last from Wednesday, August 16th through to Friday, August 18th. Check in to the official Christkindlmarket Instagram page to enter and win a stay at either Hotel Zachary, Staypineapple Hotel, or Aurora’s Holiday Inn Express & Suites.
Here are the dates and times for each location:
Chicago Downtown
Address: Daley Plaza, 50 W Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602
Dates: November 17 – December 24
Times:
Sunday through Thursday: 11 am – 8 pm
Friday through Saturday: 11 am – 9 pm
Special Opening Hours:
Thanksgiving (November 23): 11 am – 4 pm
Christmas Eve (December 24): 11 am – 4 pm
Chicago Wrigleyville
Address: Gallagher Way, 3635 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60613
Dates: November 17 – December 31
Hours:
Monday through Thursday: 3 pm – 9 pm
Friday through Saturday: 11 am – 10 pm
Sunday: 11 am – 7 pm
Special Opening Hours:
Thanksgiving (November 23): 11 am – 4 pm
Christmas Eve (December 24): 11 am – 4 pm
Christmas Day (December 25): CLOSED
December 26 through December 28: 11 am – 9 pm
New Year’s Eve (December 31): 11 am – 4 pm
Aurora
Address: RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway, Aurora, IL 60505
Dates: November 17 – December 24
Hours:
Thursday: 11 am – 7 pm
Friday through Saturday: 11 am – 9 pm
Sunday: 11 am – 6 pm
Special Opening Hours:
Thanksgiving (November 23): 11 am – 4 pm
December 18 through December 20: 11 am – 7 pm
Christmas Eve (December 24): 11 am – 4 pm
More information can be found at christkindlmarket.com.
[Featured image from Shutterstock]