The wait time is over.
All three area Christkindlmarkets — Daley Plaza and Gallagher Way in Chicago and RiverEdge Park in Aurora — will open for business on Nov. 17, it was announced Tuesday. This year marks the 27th season for the Daley Plaza locale with its signature red-and-white-striped booths selling holiday wares and food reminiscent of German Christmas markets.
For the first time ever, the Christkindlmarket Chicago is also offering a $25 fast-entry pass, which will help eliminate long wait times to enter the market grounds at Daley Plaza on weekends. Patrons can select 30-minute slots and enter through a dedicated gate area for both the market area and Stammtisch seatings on Saturdays and Sundays. Passholders will receive one highly coveted annual souvenir mug upon entry. Passes can be purchased through eventbrite.com.
The Stammtisch experience (only at Daley Plaza) affords patrons reserved tables inside the alpine-themed Timber Haus heated tent. Reservations are available Thursdays through Sundays, with each of 12 tables accommodating up to eight guests for 90 minutes. Food/drink packages (eight souvenir beer steins and eight initial pours of German beer included) start at $200. Reservations can be made at chiristkindlmarket.com.
“We are excited to have all our staple vendors back at Daley Plaza, and proud to announce that we were able to add many new ones to our two other locations,” said Maren Biester Priebe, CEO and general manager of German American Events, LLC, the Chicago-based nonprofit organization that produces the markets.
According to Priebe, more than 50 vendors will make up the Daley Plaza and Aurora editions, while more than 40 booths will welcome visitors to the Wrigleyville/Gallagher Way location.
At all three sites, visitors can shop for a variety of handmade ornaments, toys and holiday wares, and partake of various food items and beverages, including traditional German fare such as potato pancakes, pretzels, bratwurst and sausages, and a wide variety of European-inspired sweets, draft beer, hot cocoa and mulled wine, the latter two served in collectible souvenir Christkindlmarket mugs.
Also announced: interactive photo ops and scavenger hunts are part of the fun at RiverEdge Park.
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.
This story was originally published on Aug. 16.
