Christkindlmarket has revealed its 2023 souvenir mugs along with its first ceramic beer stein and reindeer mug as markets prepare to open across the Chicago area next week.
This year, visitors can buy location-specific mugs with unique designs at each of the markets in downtown Chicago, Wrigleyville and Aurora.
The Chicago mug features such landmarks as the City Hall building and Daley Plaza’s Picasso, while the Aurora mug includes images of the Paramount Theatre and the bald eagles that can be found along the Fox River.
The Wrigleyville mug shows off Hotel Zachary and the intersection signs at Clark and Addison.
All three mugs will be the same shape — a round base with a tapered top — and will be available for purchase along with a hot drink for $8 at the market’s various vendors. Visitors can buy a pack with all three mugs for $25 at the info booths at each market.
Carrie Ann Prodhan could not wait to get her hands on this year’s mugs.
“I love them,” she told the Sun-Times. Prodhan lives in Kane County but has gone to the downtown market and collected a mug every year for the last five years.
“It’s one of my favorite holiday pastimes in Chicago,” Prodhan said. “I’m kinda far out but doesn’t stop me from going downtown.”
Prodhan has already set a date to attend the market in early December.
“It’s really a wonderful market,” she said. “A beautiful Chicago tradition.”
This year the Christkindlmarket also will introduce its first ceramic beer stein featuring holiday imagery. It will be available for $25 at all of the markets.
This year’s nonalcoholic beverage mug will have a reindeer on the front and a comic market scene on the back. Christkindlmarket held a reindeer-naming and mug giveaway contest on its Instagram the first week of November but hasn’t announced results.
All Christkindlmarket locations — Daley Plaza, Wrigleyville’s Gallagher Way and RiverEdge Park in Aurora — are scheduled to open Nov. 17.
For the first time, the Christkindlmarket Chicago at Daley Plaza will offer $25 fast-entry passes, to shorten wait times on weekends.
The passes, which must be purchased in advance at eventbrite.com, allow patrons to select a 30-minute entry window and use a dedicated gate entrance to the market on Saturdays and Sundays. Pass holders also will get one annual souvenir mug upon entry.
The market will not have an online store this year, so all mugs and souvenir items must be purchased on-site.
Hours for the markets vary by location
Christkindlmarket Chicago at Daley Plaza (Nov. 17 to Dec. 24, 50 W. Washington)
Regular hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Special hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 23 and Dec. 24. Closed Dec. 25.
Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville at Gallagher Way (Nov. 17 to Dec. 31, 3635 N. Clark)
Regular hours: 3-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
Special hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 23, Dec. 24 and Dec. 31; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 26-28. Closed Dec. 25.
Christkindlmarket Aurora at RiverEdge Park (Nov. 17 to Dec. 24, 360 N. Broadway, Aurora)
Regular hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday; 11 a.m to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Special hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 18-20; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 23 and Dec. 24.
Visit christkindlmarket.com for more information.
