Christkindlmarket celebrates 20th year in Chicago

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A holiday tradition is back in Chicago celebrating its 20th Anniversary. The Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza is open from November 20th to December 24th. The 35-day festival transforms Daley Plaza into a picturesque European Christmas village, filled with food, gifts, and even Santa Claus. More than 65% of the vendors travel from Germany to Chicago each year to share their items and holiday traditions. With free admission, the Christkindlmarket Chicago attracts over an estimated million visitors each year from around the Chicagoland area, nation, and the world.

The traditional wooden huts are filled with a wonderland of fine gifts including hand-made holiday ornaments, nutcrackers, cuckoo-clocks, beer steins, wooden toys, jewelry, wood carvings, and European sweets and treats. Throughout the event, the Christkindlmarket hosts live entertainment and performances including school groups, professional singers, dance groups and much more. On weekends, the roaming Alpine Brass band with its festive German holiday music is sure to stir and awaken the spirit of the season in all. Maren Biester Priebe, from the Christkindlmarket Chicago, joined ABC 7 live from the fun.

Chicago Christkindlmarket

Date: Friday, November 20-Wednesday, December 23

Hours:

Sundays-Thursdays: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Fridays & Saturdays: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Thanksgiving Day & Christmas Eve: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Address: Daley Plaza, Chicago

Admission/ Ticket Prices: Free