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.
| Christkindlmarket, Chicago | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Date(s) | Varies |
| Begins | Friday before Thanksgiving Day |
| Ends | Christmas Eve |
| Location(s) | Chicago, United States |
| Inaugurated | 1996 |
| Most recent | 2023 |
History
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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
editThe 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
editReferences
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Further reading
edit- Zug, J.D. (1991). German-American Life: Recipes and Traditions. Iowa City: Penfield Press.
Notes
edit- ^ 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.
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