| Christkindlmarket, Chicago | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Date(s) | Varies |
| Begins | Friday before Thanksgiving Day |
| Ends | Christmas Eve |
| Location(s) | Chicago, United States |
| Inaugurated | 1996 |
| Most recent | 2023 |
Christkindlmarket is a Christmas market held annually at Daley Plaza in Chicago, Illinois, United States. The festival attracts more than 1 million visitors each year.
History
The German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest first held Chicago's Christkindlmarket on Pioneer Court in 1996. [1] [2] Christkindlmarket was inspired by the Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany. In 1997, Mayor Daley requested that the festival be moved to Daley Plaza. [2] That year the market attracted more than 750,000 visitors. [2] By 1999, the Christkindlmarket had become part of the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. [2] In recent years, Chicago's Christkindlmarket has become the largest Christmas market in the United States, hosting well over 1 million visitors annually. [2] In 2016, Christkindlmarket expanded to the Chicago suburb of Naperville. [3] Four years later, a virtual market took place. In 2023, the Christkindlmarket also took place in Aurora, Illinois, and Wrigleyville. [4] That year, they ran out of mugs. [5]
Vendors and attractions
The market is situated by a large Christmas tree at Daley Plaza and also houses a small nativity scene. [6] The site features entertainment from Christmas choirs, dance groups, and brass bands. [2] It also houses a Santa house. [2] At the site beer, wine, baked goods, meats, toys, holiday ornaments, and other Christmas decorations are sold by vendors from Germany, Ukraine, Austria, and the Chicago metropolitan area. [2]
See also
References
Further reading
- Zug, J.D. (1991). German-American Life: Recipes and Traditions. Iowa City: Penfield Press.
Notes
- ^ German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest. (2006, November 17). Christkindlmarket Chicago - Contact. Retrieved July 08, 2007, from "Christkindlmarket Chicago". Archived from the original on 2007-03-06. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ a b c d e f g h German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest. (2006, November 17). Christkindlmarket Chicago - Facts. Retrieved July 08, 2007, from "Christkindlmarket Chicago". Archived from the original on 2007-03-03. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ "IT'S TIME FOR CHRISTKINDLMARKET CHICAGO". Retrieved Nov 10, 2016.
- ^ "Locations 2023". Christkindlmarket. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/christkindlmarket-souvenir-mugs-sold-out-at-downtown-chicago-aurora-locations/3306672/
-
^ German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest. (2007, July 13). Fireworks. Retrieved August 26, 2007, from
"Archived copy". Archived from
the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-08-26.
{{ cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title ( link)
