Visitors
from all over the world come to the Christkindlmarket Chicago annually
and the numbers continue to grow every year. It is so popular and loved
by all that any Chicagoan will tell you that they could not imagine
the city without it. It is no longer just a German tradition - it has
become a Chicago institution.
Families, friends, co-workers, young professionals, suburbanites, city
folk and visitors from all corners of the world enjoy Christkindlmarket
Chicago. The unique shopping experience, the typical German food and
drinks, the diverse holiday entertainment, and a place to enjoy the
city during the winter season, makes this a preferred and popular destination.
[Click
on a category below to easily navigate this page]
Dates
& Times
Directions
Hotel Information
History & Tradition
The Christkind
The
Vision of Christkindlmarket ChicagoVisitor
Survey
Daily |
Nov.
24 through Dec. 24, 2010 |
|
Thanksgiving Day Hours: |
Nov.
25 - 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. |
|
Official Grand
Opening: |
TBD |
|
Last
Day: |
Dec.
24 (Christmas Eve) 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. |
|
Daily Hours |
||
Sun.
- Thurs.: |
11
a.m. - 8 p.m. |
|
Fri.
+ Sat.: |
11
a.m. - 9 p.m. |
|
Where |
Daley
Plaza between Washington, Clark & Dearborn Street |
ADMISSION
IS AWAYS FREE!
The market is located on Daley Plaza
between Washington, Clark & Dearborn Street.
The official address of Daley Plaza is 50 W. Washington Street, Chicago, IL 60602.
Public
Transportation
CTA
Stops:
Blue Line - Washington/Dearborn CTA
Red Line – Lake CTA
The following links can help you plan
your trip from your
starting address:
For your destination address enter: 50 W Washington Street, Chicago, IL 60602
Suggested Navigation Sites:
Parking
There is no street or metered parking available around the market. Please visit the following links to find parking garages in the area.
Free Trolley
Navy Pier Trolley (Blue Square)/Downtown
Trolley Schedule:
The Holiday Schedule is not yet finalized, however, the most up-to-date
schedule information can be found at
No Service Christmas Day!
Airport
O'hare
International Airport: (773-686-2200) handles
more passengers than any other airport in the world. For visitors needing
information or directions, airport information booths are located on
the lower levels of the domestic terminals and on the upper and lower
levels of the International Terminal. A foreign currency exchange is
located on the lower level of the International Terminal. The Airport
is located about 13 miles from downtown Chicago. During rush-hour
it can take about an hour to drive from the Airport to the city. During
the middle of the day and evenings it takes around 30 minutes.
Taking a taxi to/from the airport varies
depending on travel time from $30-50 from O’Hare.
Midway Airport:
(773-838-0600) is located at 5700 Cicero Ave., 20 minutes from downtown
Chicago. The one-building airport is divided into three terminals, A,
B and C. The main lobby at the airport's center entrance is where the
information booth and all vehicle pick-up services are available. It's
about 12 miles from Midway to downtown Chicago. During rush-hour, travel
time can take about 45 minutes to an hour. During the mid-day and
evenings it's around 20-30 minutes. Taking a taxi to/from the airport varies
depending on travel time from $25–45 from Midway.
There are many lodging possibilities in the city of Chicago. Visit the website of the Chicago Convention and Visitor Bureau at www.choosechicago.com. Here you can find the best hotel rates and offers in the city. This website also gives you the opportunity to find out more about the great city of Chicago. If you prefer to speak with a Chicago Convention and Visitor Bureau employee in person, you can call 1-877-CHICAGO (1-877-244-2246).
Hotels that are within a half a mile or less walking distance to the market:
Hotel Name |
Address |
Reservations |
Distance to Market |
1 W. Washington Street |
(877) 294-9712 |
430 feet |
|
171 W. Randolph |
(866) 672-6143 |
0.3 miles |
|
17. E. Monroe Street |
(312) 726-7500 |
0.4 miles |
|
225 N. Wabash |
(866) 610-0081 |
0.5 miles |
|
1 W. Wacker Drive |
(312) 372-0093 |
0.4 miles |
|
| Renaissance Chicago Downtown Lodging | 636 South Michigan Ave | (312) 447-0955 | 0.8 miles |
In addition:
Old Town Chicago Hotels offers great rates on over 50 hotels near Old Town Chicago.
Click here for more information: www.oldtownchicagohotels.com
Chicago O'Hare Airport Hotels offers great rates on hotels located convenielty near O'Hare Airport.
Click here for more information: http://www.chicagoohareairporthotels.com
For more information on things to do during your visit in Chicago please see the following websites:
It's the sweetest tour in town! Chicago Chocolate Tours takes you on guided walking and tasting tours of select chocolate shops and cafes around the market.
Click here for more information: www.chicagochocolatetours.com
Chicago’s only authorized Segway touring company. Daily offerings include the Holiday Lights Tour and Park Glide Tour: A 2-hour Park Glide tour that runs year-round through Grant Park and the Museum Campus, or our seasonal Holiday Lights tour which visits the Christmas Tree at Daley Center Plaza and the Christkindlmarket. Each tour is $75 per person.
Segway Experience of Chicago | 224 S. Michigan Ave.
For more information or to reserve a tour, please visit : www.mysegwayexperience.com
History & Tradition of the Christkindlmarket Chicago
Inspired by the Christkindlsmarkt
in Nuremberg,
Germany, which began in 1545, the Christkindlmarket
Chicago brings a cherished German and European tradition with international
flair and local charm to Chicago. Chicago's largest open-air Christmas
festival was first held on Pioneer Court in 1996. By special invitation
of Mayor Richard M. Daley, Christkindlmarket Chicago
moved to Daley Plaza in 1997 and has become a staple event on the plaza
ever since. Together with the support of the Mayor’s
Office of Special Events (M.O.S.E.), Christkindlmarket Chicago has
grown to become one of the most popular winter attractions in the heart
of the city.
The name, Christkindlmarket, comes from the mythical tale of the Christkind (the name changes depending on regional provenance to the diminuitive like Christkindl, Christkindle, and Christkindel). She is a fairy-like being, dressed in a gold and white robe with a crown atop her golden locks. Depending on region and family tradition, either the Christkind (pronounced Kristkint) or "Der Weihnachtsmann" (Father Christmas or better known as Santa Claus) will be the bearer of gifts.
The tradition of the Christkind is known among German-speaking countries including Germany, Austria and Switzerland and also in the Czech Republic, Italy, Liechtenstein, and even some South American countries.
The market has welcomed Nürnberg's former Christkind to the city of Chicago for the past 12 winter holiday seasons. Every year, the Christkind, who serves as an official representative of the city of Nürnberg, opens the Chicago Christkindlmarket with her famous decree. Her participation in the Annual Grand Opening Ceremony has been a cherished tradition since 1997. The ceremony takes place annually on the Friday after Thanksgiving Day on Daley Plaza.
Rebekka Volland, the 2007-2008 Nürnberg Christkind, is the official Christkind for the Christkindlmarket Chicago 2009-2010. Rebekka was chosen to be the Christkind in Nürnberg on November 7th, 2007 by a jury when she was only 18 years old.
Rebekka is originally from Nürnberg. She lives at home with her parents and her younger brother, with whom she enjoys watching games of the city's soccer team 1. FC Nürnberg. Her hobbies are breakdance, playing the piano as well as snowboarding. As soon as she has finished high school, she hopes to go to Africa or Asia for a year and partake in a year of social services. Her dream is also to visit Canada one day.
The Vision of Christkindlmarket Chicago
The vision of a Christkindlmarket Chicago was first conceptualized in 1995. The German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest Inc. (GACCoM) Consulting Services was seeking alternative ways to promote bilateral trade between the USA and Germany. Peter Flatzek, former Vice President of GACCoM, and Ray Lotter, then Manager of Commercial Services for GACCoM, initiated the partnership with the city officials of Nuremberg, Germany. Mr. Lotter invited companies from Germany and the Chicago area to participate in the first Christkindlmarket Chicago in 1996. The market was an instant success and contriues to flourish.
Popular
from the very beginning, the two-week long Christmas extravaganza attracted
more than 300,000 visitors in the first year. In 1997, Christkindlmarket
Chicago became a four-week long event and the number of visitors quickly
rose to over 500,000. Today, Christkindlmarket Chicago is the largest
and most renowned German winter holiday market in the United States
attracting visitors from the Chicagoland area, the rest of the country
and from around the world.
The Christkindlmarket Chicago is the perfect place for teachers and professors of the German language to bring their students. At the market, students get to experience authenitc German traditions without having to travel any farther than the city of Chicago. The students will also have the opportunity to practice their language skills at the market with numerous German speaking vendors. Approximately 70% of the market's vendors speak German as well as English. Several educational activities for students visiting the market include: scavenger hunts, interviews with vendors, or even singing German holiday songs for all to enjoy. From Kindergartners to graduate students the message is loud and clear: The Christkindlmarket is fun, fun, fun!
