Christkindlmarket Chicago opens for its 30th season on Friday, November 20, 2026, with German food, mulled wine and handmade gifts at three locations: Daley Plaza in the Loop, Gallagher Way in Wrigleyville and RiverEdge Park in Aurora. Entry is free everywhere. The downtown market runs daily until Christmas Eve, Wrigleyville stays open until New Year’s Eve, and Aurora opens Thursday to Sunday. Here are the 2026 dates and hours for each site, what to eat, how to get there and where to leave your bags.
Visiting on your way in or out of town? Drop your bags near Daley Plaza and walk into the market without them.
Christkindlmarket Chicago 2026: Key Facts
| Opening day | Friday, November 20, 2026 (30th season) |
| Daley Plaza | November 20 – December 24, daily |
| Wrigleyville | November 20 – December 31, closed Christmas Day |
| Aurora | November 20 – December 24, Thursday to Sunday |
| Daley Plaza hours | Sun–Thu 11 a.m.–8 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve 11 a.m.–4 p.m. |
| Entry | Free |
| Payment | Bring cash; many vendors have not taken cards in past years |
| Downtown address | Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St., Chicago |
| Nearest “L” | Washington (Blue Line), Clark/Lake (Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple) |
Vendor lists, entertainment schedules and any weather changes go up on the market’s official website.
The Three Christkindlmarket Chicago Locations
Daley Plaza (the Loop)
This is the original market, set up in the plaza under the Picasso sculpture at 50 W. Washington St. It’s open every day from November 20 to December 24: Sunday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving (November 26) and Christmas Eve. Weekday lunchtimes are full of office workers; weekday evenings are the easiest time to look around.
Wrigleyville (Gallagher Way)
The North Side market sits next to Wrigley Field at 3635 N. Clark St. as part of Winterland at Gallagher Way, with 28 vendors. It runs November 20 to December 31: Monday to Thursday 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. On December 21 to 23 and 28 to 30 it opens 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and it’s closed on Christmas Day.
Aurora (RiverEdge Park)
The biggest of the three, with more than 60 vendors, is at RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway in Aurora, about 40 miles west of the Loop. It opens Thursday to Sunday from November 20 to December 24: Thursday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It’s also open Wednesday, November 25, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with shorter hours on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.
Food, Glühwein and the Souvenir Mug
The market is run in the style of the German Christmas markets, and the food follows suit. Look for bratwurst and other sausages in a roll, potato pancakes with applesauce, pretzels, strudel, roasted nuts and gingerbread. Glühwein (hot spiced wine) is the drink most people queue for, and there’s hot chocolate and cider for kids and anyone driving.
Drinks come in a collectible mug with a new design each year. Collectors buy them every season, so get yours early in the run if you want one.
What to Buy
Vendors sell handcrafted toys, glass ornaments, nutcrackers, cuckoo clocks, candle arches, wooden decorations and knitwear, along with a lot of food gifts. Small items like ornaments and gingerbread are the easiest to fly home with; ask stallholders to wrap glass pieces well.
How to Get to Christkindlmarket Chicago
| From | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Union Station | Walk east along Washington St. to Daley Plaza | About 15 min |
| O’Hare Airport | Blue Line to Washington | About 45 min |
| Midway Airport | Orange Line to Clark/Lake or Washington/Wells | About 30 min |
| The Loop to Wrigleyville | Red Line to Addison | About 20 min |
| Union Station to Aurora | Metra BNSF Line to Aurora, then a short walk to RiverEdge Park | About 1 hour 15 min |
Parking in the Loop is expensive and fills up on weekends, so the “L” is the easy way in. If you’re flying into Midway, the Midway to downtown transport guide has the details. The city’s Christmas tree in Millennium Park is about a 10-minute walk from Daley Plaza, so you can see both in one evening.
Tips for Visiting
- Carry cash. Some vendors take cards, but don’t count on it.
- Dress for the cold and the wind off the lake. The markets are outdoors and December evenings in Chicago are often below freezing.
- Go on a weekday evening downtown or a weekday afternoon in Wrigleyville to avoid the weekend crowds.
- Check closing times on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, when every site closes at 4 p.m.
- Leave the suitcase behind. The aisles at Daley Plaza get tight at peak times.
Luggage Storage Near Daley Plaza
Plenty of people fit the downtown market in on arrival or check-out day, or between a train at Union Station and a flight out of O’Hare. Carrying a suitcase through a crowded outdoor market in the cold isn’t much fun.
Radical Storage works with verified local shops and hotels around the Loop, Union Station and Wrigleyville. Book online in a minute, drop your bags and collect them when you’re done. Your bags are protected, cancellation is free, and travelers rate the service 4.8/5.
- Luggage storage near Daley Plaza
- Luggage storage near Union Station
- Luggage storage near Wrigley Field
Christkindlmarket Chicago FAQ
All three markets open on Friday, November 20, 2026. Daley Plaza and Aurora run until December 24, and Wrigleyville runs until December 31.
Sunday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. On Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve it is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Yes. Entry is free at Daley Plaza, Wrigleyville and Aurora. You only pay for food, drinks and anything you buy.
Some do, but many vendors have not accepted cards in past years, so bring cash.
Aurora’s market at RiverEdge Park is the largest, with more than 60 vendors. Wrigleyville has 28 vendors, and Daley Plaza is the most central.
Radical Storage has verified partner shops and hotels near Daley Plaza, Union Station and Wrigley Field. Book online, drop your bags and pick them up after the market. Bags are protected and cancellation is free.
