Christkindlmarket Aurora

We were there for the afternoon in Aurora, IL just before Christmas, and this market had a varied and interesting selection of food, goods, and drink inspired by nations the world over. Beautiful glasswares, handmade clothing and gifts, and delicious food and drinks sure to please everyone. No admission cost offers an opportunity for all to explore and enjoy. They have something for people of all ages.

Plenty of parking space. If the lots are full, you can park on the Metra parking lot, which is free of charge on weekends. Overall atmosphere was positive. Vendors were generally nice and easy to talk to. It was cold as monkey droppings. Food was mostly ok. Big veriety of german sausages, polish borsch and hot chocolate stands. Belgian fries did not resemble the belgian ones. Huge variety of Christmas merchandise, however, largely overpriced. Be prepared to stand in lines for food.

There is free parking on the lot across the river and a walk path you can take to get here. It gets busier as it gets darker but they are strict on their closing hours. The vendors are expensive but there are different knickknacks available. I liked that they had some warm wine and beer served in cute mugs. Food was absolutely delicious everywhere. There is also a few couple of enclosed areas where you could enter to warm up since they are heated. There was also a caroling group around. Very Christmasy vibes. It is worth to visit.

Visited the Christkindl Market on Christmas Eve with family. While the atmosphere is festive and it’s nice for a quick walk-through, overall it felt a bit overrated. Many items were quite expensive for what they were, and there wasn’t much that truly stood out or felt unique. Food options were limited and pricey, and the crowds made it hard to fully enjoy the experience. It’s fine to visit once for the holiday vibes and photos, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to come back. Good for a short stop—not a must-see.

We got here at 5:30 p.m. on the Saturday before Christmas week. We really appreciate the wonderful booths and the city of Aurora did a pretty good job with this German Christkindle market. However, for the future there needs to be many more food vendor options. I don't understand why they didn't use the preset kitchen area to also serve other options of food. I counted at least 85 people in each line for the German sausages as well as for the German hand made ham sandwiches. That is way too long of a wait. Yes, the parking was wonderful and free, and just a short walk over the Fox River bridge.

Nick was an absolutely awesome glass blowing instructor at the Christkindlmarket in Aurora! He was knowledgeable, patient, and made the entire class both fun and approachable. He explained each step clearly, encouraged everyone, and made sure we felt confident and safe throughout the process. His passion for glass blowing really shows, and he created such a relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere. It was a truly memorable experience, and I’d highly recommend taking a class with him!

My family & I went to Christkindlmarket Aurora this past Friday and we had a great time! Beautiful set up, amazing food, awesome decorations and very nice people working the market! I am from Aurora and am proud my hometown hosted this awesome market. Highly recommend to anyone wanting to do something with great Christmas spirit

⭐️ Honest Review: European Market Experience This European market offers a unique atmosphere, but the negative aspects significantly outweigh the positives, particularly during peak times. The Good If you are of European background, the market successfully evokes the feel of the "old town" with its cute stalls and specialty offerings. For foodies and beer enthusiasts, there are interesting food options and beers available. The best part of the experience, in my opinion, was the mini band that played the tuba and other instruments. Convenience-wise, parking across the street is available, and at $10, it's manageable. The ability to use an app to pay for parking is a plus. Ultimately, it serves as "something to do" and a good item to check off a list. The Bad: Planning, Crowds, and Cost The bad points are critical and significantly detracted from the experience: • Cost and Access: The market is not truly free unless you are local, as mandatory parking will cost you $10. Furthermore, nothing is cheap; even small handcrafted items start at $25 to $30+ after tax. The price shock peaked when we saw a calendar advertising chocolate for $85. • Logistics and Surrounding Area: The drive into town is unpleasant; the surrounding areas look run down, so don't expect a romantic approach. • The Crowd and Lines: This was the biggest buzzkill. If you go on a Friday or Saturday, expect shoulder-to-shoulder, cramped conditions. The lines for popular stalls are a massive deterrent, often requiring you to wait 30 minutes to an hour in the blistering cold. People were constantly shoving to get through. • Poor Layout: The planning of the stalls was terrible. The right side was far too crowded, leading to stand-still traffic because the left side's space was not properly utilized. • The Smell: One area of the fair had an overwhelming, unpleasant odor described as fecal matter/baby diapers. We later found out this was caused by a cheese product being burned or heated nearby, which prompted people to run away holding their breath. • Comfort and Value: There is nowhere to sit and eat, forcing you to stand. It was difficult to see the stalls due to the surrounding crowds, and the whole event felt like an overhyped "money grab," attracting a lot of "yuppies and hipsters." We only lasted about an hour. Frankly, a simple, less-crowded alternative like the Chicago tree would have been ten times better. ⚠️ Critical Warning for Parents Do not bring a stroller. The place is far too packed, making it an impossible, stressful task to push a stroller around. I strongly recommend asking family to watch young children; the risk of injury from crowding or someone toppling over the stroller is not worth the headache. I've checked it off my list, but I won't be returning for at least two to four years. (See Pictures Below, Review Still Remains..) Extremely Crowded…

I believe there is an opportunity to enhance the visitor experience by offering a wider variety of activities beyond just shopping & dining. Adding attractions like ice skating or tube slides could encourage guests who travel from afar to stay longer & truly enjoy their visit. Aurora, known as the "City of Lights," has an excellent opportunity to showcase this theme, especially during Christmas when light displays are so beloved. By highlighting this aspect, you create a compelling reason for visitors to return year after year & enhance the overall appeal of Christkindlmarket. During our visit on a Sunday, we arrived 3 hrs before closing & found the place quite crowded still. Unfortunately, we spent the entire time lining up for hot cocoa & crepes, limiting our ability to explore the stores. Parking was readily available, esp if you don't mind a 5-10 min walk. I took most of these photos 10mins after they announced that they were closed & on our way out.

I just love Christkindlmarket! I'm so happy they have a location in Aurora because in my opinion, it's better than the one in the city. My husband and I shopped so much here! We enjoyed great food, got new body care, coffee cakes, gifts for our dogs, ornaments, hats, the list goes on! The hand painted ornaments are just so adorable. Last year my husband and I wanted to make it a yearly tradition to pick out a couple ornaments each year. The vendors are great and so nice, food is great, and the ambiance is unmatched. Love that the parking is right across the street so very easy access to the market. Thanks for another great year!!

Christkindlmarket is always a fun and festive start the holiday season, especially at this spacious location in Aurora. Parking: Pay $10 to park in the lot close by where a shuttle is available, unless you prefer to walk. There's free parking across the bridge or a farther walk from the market area. Vendors: They are spread out nicely here and expect to pay the usual high prices for gifts, but you can find some unique items. The spiced wine in a boot mug is a must, and serves as a nice hand warmer. Unlike the Chicago location, you can move around here without being shoulder-to-shoulder with others. We went on a Friday during lunch hour and it wasn't too crowded yet. Food & Drink: Plan ahead, as the lines did get long and some of the temporary tents have a line to wait as they space out entry to the inside. There are areas to stop and sit or stand while you drink a beverage, or nibble on a Bavarian pretzel. The baked cheese vendor had the longest line I saw that day. Pet friendly: You can bring dogs here but I suggest only if you have a well-behaved, friendly pet. Ours received a lot of love and requests to pet them. Shopping tip: Be sure to shop around. One vendor was selling small wooden nut crackers for $45 then I found one the exact same size and look at an indoor shop for around $16. Restrooms: Since this is at Rivers Edge, there is a building with restrooms with sinks and nice Dyson hand dryers.

This was my first visit to any of the Chicagoland Christmas markets. I heard Aurora was less crowded but on a Sunday it was still PACKED. We had the beverages and got all the mugs. We also bought the coffee cakes (great gifts!). Prices were about as expected. Nothing was cheap! But a fun experience, for sure.

Decided to go and check it out since we was cold outside and wanted to be away from Chicago's lake breeze! It was a plus that two brothers brewery was right across the street as well! I felt like this was bigger than its Chicago counterpart and while there is $10 parking you can park a block away for free! There was a scavenger hunt for the kids and all the shops you would see at the Chicago Christkindlmarket! Plus there were no lines! We now prefer to go here! Glad that we checked it out!

This was my first time going to aurora for the christkindlemarket - and it was significantly less crowded (especially if that was an issue you had with the downtown location). The selection is vast and the prices seem like normal. The service is quick. We did go on the first day - which was a Friday so could help with the crowd.

BAVARIAN CHRISTMAS Aurora's pared-down version of Chicago's Christkindlmarket is ideally suited for the suburbs. For as long as I can remember, my family has made the annual holiday pilgrimage to this beloved outdoor market. The OG location in Daley Plaza is harder to get to (not to mention crowded as hell), so the Aurora Christkindlmarket is the one we've started visiting. They've got most of the same things, but this version is much more accessible. Parking across the street in the Metra commuter lot is $10, which is up from $5 a couple years ago. There's free parking available in a lot to the south, but it's not clearly marked and you'll have to walk a bit. Inside the market, there's scores of vendors in red & white striped tents, some local and others from Europe. Potato pancakes ($10) are a must-order item; get them with sour cream & applesauce ("the works") for $1. The 'kilometer' ($9) is a footlong Thüringer sausage, consider adding sauerkraut for an extra buck. The goulash soup ($6) hits the spot on a cold day--it's hearty and great for keeping hands warm. I highly recommend the raclette (especially the 'jambon cru') for $16, which has melted alpine cheese, ham, pickles, and dijon mustard on a toasted baguette. It's expensive but delicious, and it's something I was never able to get at the Christkindlmarket in the city as the line was always a mile long. Glüwein (mulled red wine) comes in a decorative and highly sought-after mug. These collectibles run $12, refills are $10, and this year they were a Tiffany blue color which my wife absolutely loved. We saw other market-goers drinking out of mugs shaped like a shoe. Other booths sell pierogies, sweet & savory crepes, strudel, Belgian hot cocoa, roasted cinnamon nuts, and warm pretzels. Prices seem to be the same as they are downtown. Crowds aren't too bad early in the season, though evenings can get very busy as the calendar approaches the 24th. There's a large, heated tent for ornaments and another one for chocolates, gingerbread, marzipan, and other sweets. They also have a warming tent with benches that become vital on nights in December when temps are in the 10's and 20's. Regardless, dress warmly in layers! *TL;DR * If you weren't freezing your ass off waiting for mulled wine & melted cheese, did you even celebrate the holidays? For many, visiting the Christkindlmarket has become a yearly tradition. I've always looked forward to it, and now my wife, son, and any other future kid(s) we have can get excited about the sights, sounds, and smells of this wonderfully festive German holiday market. While the food is tasty and the atmosphere is delightful, concessions aren't any cheaper than they are in the heart of downtown Chicago, and that's what stops me from giving Aurora's Christkindlmarket five stars.

Ok experience. Won't come again during busy times. I went again on a weekday and it was a way better experience! Parking next to it was $10 but not enough spots at all. It took me 20 minutes to check out parking to find there was no spot. Thankfully, Jake's bagels close by offered parking for $10 as well. I didn't have the right address for the free parking so I wasn't able to easily find it. However, I came again and used the free parking lot and it was great! It's a little bit of a walk though! This one is just as good as Chicago's which I was very pleased by. My favorite vendors were here, which includes the stuffed pretzels (cheese stuffed is my favorite), raclette cheese sandwich, and pouffy houzz (mini pancakes with toppings). I order the cheese pretzels uncooked and make them at home so I have room for the other options. The bathrooms were so nice. Heated and indoors! So thankful for this! Overall, it's very spaced out but still super crowded and long lines for popular vendors during weekends.

Always something we look forward to every year. More vendors at Aurora this year. Pierogis, cookies, cakes, German market, stroopwafels, belgian fries, cabbage rolls, cocoa, wine, beer, raclette sandwiches, candied nuts, chocolates. Many options to enjoy. Other vendors are there with merch like hats, clothings, gloves, ornaments, $$-$, most food items start at $10. Portions are average, but be prepared to spend some decent change while there. Some items are more worth it than others in my opinion. Parking is $10, public bathroom facility is available (not portable pottys) - an actual clean bathroom - that's the bonus of coming to this location versus the Chicago markets.

After living in Chicagoland for a decade and a half, I have been to many Christkindlmarkts over the years (Daly Plaza, a few years in Naperville and Oak Brook). I have to say this was a good choice for a suburban location because it was a large space with nearby parking. We went on opening day because it was sunny and mild; I rather expected it to be more crowded but it wasn't too bad (I have been to the downtown Chicago location when you literally couldn't move because there were so many people). The vendors were about 50/50 food and gift items. For food, we got Belgian hot chocolate, a Bavarian pretzel, ham and cheese croissant, and macarons (the kid running this booth didn't have a smaller box for 4 macarons and told me, "It's ok, they still taste good if they get smashed!" Uhh...at $4 each they had better be in perfect condition when I get home.) We also purchased a Polish pottery ornament, goodies from the Sweet Castle, honey, and dip mixes. There are the two big Kathe Wolfhardtt tents for blown glass ornaments, the large Sweet Castle tent, as well as a warming tent where a three piece oompah band was playing while we ate. Make sure not to miss photo ops (everything from actual photo booths, to various selfies stations around the grounds). The only thing I can grumble about is that as a person who uses the cane, the paved ground was rather irregular in this park, and it seemed like NO ONE at this event had any spatial awareness whatsoever! So it made for a day of trying not to stumble as I kept stopping short as someone would just mindlessly pause despite the flow of foot traffic, or jump in front of me to look at something without warning. Also, there was zero sign of Krampus merchandise! I have always seen candy, ornaments, jumping jacks in the past. So that was odd Overall though, this is a fun event, particularly on a warmer day.

A seasonal must in the Chicagoland area. The Christkindle market has so much to offer - crafts, food, drinks and a great time! I was here on a Saturday night and it was jam packed. I highly recommend coming during the day and on a Thursday or Friday since that seems to be when it is the least crowded. This location has lots of parking, paid parking across the street and free parking however you'll need to walk a few blocks. There are a few indoor spots to warm up at, take advantage of that. Even if there's a long line it's worth being able to warm up a bit!

Second year we've been to Christkindlmarket, and it's a fun seasonal event to look forward to. There are over 50 vendors selling food, drinks, gifts, and trinkets. There is plenty of outdoor seating throughout the market and heated indoor seating in the timber tent. For food, we got - Flammkuchen pizza (grilled onions, bacon, béchamel sauce) from Pizza Ahumada for $14 and it was our favorite thing we tried! - Hot chocolate with whipped cream in a mug from Bob's Belgian Hot Chocolate for $16 (it's $10 to get it without the mug) and while it was rich and chocolatey it was not worth the price in my opinion - The Works (potato pancakes with sour cream and apple sauce) for $10 and an Alpine Cheese Bratwurst for $10 from the Austrian Lodge. We would skip the potato pancakes next time and, while the bratwurst was good, the bun was hard and cold. - Original Stroopwafel from Puffy Houzz for $10. This was a great dessert - sweet, spiced, warm, and gooey. You can park at the large lot across the street (360 N Broadway) for $10 and a short walk to the market or park at the secondary smaller lot (130 N Lincoln Ave) for $2.36 and a slightly longer walk. We came at around 12 pm on a Thursday and the large lot was already full. Some of the lines were long but moved quickly.

Had a blast here in December! Christmas time means fun outdoor markets in Chicago and the burbs. Get the souvenir mug! Lots of food or drink to try!

I've been to the downtown Chicago location a few times and just visited Aurora's. I'm such a fan of Christkindlmarket. If you haven't been before, It has a mix of vendors, some local and many European with local connections. There are lots of Christmas themed vendors for ornaments and decorations. There are also many food and drink vendors. It's a great way to get in the Christmas spirit. But, the lines are really long and it is always very very crowded. This never has bothered me because I go in knowing what to expect. It's not a great place to bring kids that don't enjoy that sort of thing. I saw lots of exhausted moms and crying kids today. It's absolutely an event for everyone. Just want to give fair warning, as it can take up to 30 minutes to get a hot chocolate and even longer for some of the food vendors. I completely love it and don't mind. I also try to help entertain the kids waiting in lines nearby, because I remember those days :) But sharing for those that have never been do they know what to expect.

We went on a Sat at 11am, right when it opens. It's crowded but still easy to navigate. Tip: Go get the scavenger hunt card. It's easy, fun & you get a choice of a gift which are bags of treats. I chose the chocolate caramel coated popcorn which was yummy. Head all the way to the heated tent at the end, info booth for the card. Easy to find. Parking: Check the website for free parking directions. It's a pretty, easy river walk across the bridge. Follow the crowd. There will be only one bridge. Photo Ops: Pretty snow carriage for those Instagram shots. Also large size tinman. Food: Lines were fairly long. Maybe 30mins. You can get the cute mug, pretzels, round waffle treats & German sandwiches with special cheese. This is a festival so food is more pricy. Two brothers Roundhouse (Historic railroad) is across the street & offers an alternative. Shopping: Good if you are looking for collectibles. Bathroom: Not portable & very clean. Overall: Best location with easy parking & easy clean non portable bathrooms. Good to add to your holiday activities.

Nice Christmas Market. Parking is available for $10 in lot across the street. The weather was mild, which made the fest that much more enjoyable! Clean, spacious location was not crowded on a Friday afternoon. Dog friendly, quite a few attendees brought their well-behaved pooches. Plenty of food and merchandise vendors so that visitors can find nourishment and beverages to fuel their activities. Most merchandise was reasonably priced, but there were a few notable exceptions. One lady had decorated cookies for $7 each. I passed on that!

We went on an evening with some drizzle so crowds were fairly minimal. It seemed to be on par with other markets although there was only one warming house (but there were still seats to grab communally & sometimes full tables). We had actually signed up our daughter for lantern parade & it was well organized despite the weather. Her goodie bag was super cute! Hot wine & chocolate were delicious on this gloomy night. Love the bathroom situation at this location (since it is normally at outdoor concert venue there are actual facilities/no porter-potties). I was slightly bummed to have to pay $10 for event parking in the Metra lot, as parking was always free at Naperville & Oakbrook when they had the market.

I could not imagine a more perfect spot for a Christmas market than by a river. Christmas always brings fun bars, needs, and events for the holiday season. Getting the famous market from the city to the suburbs is a well-executed idea. The reason was that there was more space to walk around and visit each vendor. I enjoyed the hot mulled wine while walking to different vendors to see what they were selling. Some lines can be a little long, but they move fast. So don't let that deter you from going! It's a fun outing for the family or friends before the holiday. I hope they bring this location back next year as well.

Very pretty German ornaments and decorations. Lots of food vendors and other vendors mostly with decorations. Most stuff is pretty overpriced or at least expensive. But unique things that would be hard to find elsewhere. Although the food has been good from years past, I didn't bother because the lines were crazy long. I went on a Saturday, so definitely go on a Thursday if you can. Worth seeing, but I'd eat elsewhere and maybe just get desserts or a few small things. But fun experience to see at least once.

Parking is $10 and the food is so over priced. $15 for a German brat? It's crowded and everything is so expensive. Tried it once and will never try it again.

Definately 0 stars. This market is located in AURORA GHETTO. $10 for parking. Really when it could be free. Went there Dec 1st barely any vendors and what happened to rides and Christmas displays as it was last year at Wrigliville. Got 2 small cups of cocoa. Paid for Swiss miss crap quality $11 each. What is this Disney. Crap neighborhood, crap coco $30 for what. Fix your neighborhood. Fix your prices and get some real vendors. This is a very expensive flea market. Will be visiting Wriglieville next year hope I never see this ghetto again.

It is too crowded and alcohol should not be served. Mixing alcohol and family gatherings is not smart. It is a matter of time before some stupid intoxicated adults get in a fight and endanger people's safety.

I've been to the Chriskindle Market in Chicago a few times. Been to one in Naperville when it was at the Naper Settlement. This was my first time here, and I gotta say it was disappointing. The booths seemed smaller. The walk-in tent shops were definitely smaller. Usually it's more European themed and that didn't seem the case. All that was okay. LOTS of people. My main gripe is the hot chocolate. We waited in line for almost an hour and the hot chocolate tasted like instant. This wasn't the case all our previous times we attended the Market. Now grant it, we went on a Saturday night, so maybe they ran out of the good stuff and sent someone to Jewel for some Swiss-Miss or something, but it was a poor excuse for their normal rich and chocolatey hot cocoa. The lines were crazy, but that was to be expected. We ended up bailing and went across the street to Two Brothers for some food and beers. MUCH better choice. Just sayin.

Supposed to be German themed but far from it , more international then German. There's a guy selling tools made from chocolate & another selling great coffee cake. Some nice ornaments but other then that not much there .

This was my first year visiting the market, even after living in the Chicagoland area for the past 5 years. My family had hyped it so much, that I think I was somewhat disappointed. It might have been that we went towards the end of the holiday season, but I found the place to be quite crowded and well overpriced. I can understand that many of the vendors are craftsman and are selling handmade items, which I value a lot - but some items seemed like they didn't warrant the price point. On the other hand, I was looking forward to the hot chocolate, but was saddened to see that the booth we went to ran out of the 2023 mugs and were selling the 2022 mugs (but I saw other vendors selling newer mugs farther down the market!). The last straw for me was that there was no Christmas tree. I was looking forward to the lighting and decorations, but it was quite minimal. We ended up walking around for about 30 minutes or so and leaving relatively early, which seems quite contrary to the experience I was hoping to have (especially given how busy the parking lot was and how many people have said good things).

I didn't want to go to Chicago because of the fear of long lines and enormous crowds. This location definitely was more low key you will have lines, paid parking, but so worth it. You must try the sandwiches! I found the hot chocolate and mulled wine overrated.

Wish it was a bit bigger with more variety. The atmosphere was great- food was good- not too many variety's. They ran out of the 2023 mug-

As of today, 12/9/2023, there is no admission to get into the market, but parking is 10.00. The main parking lot is across the street from the market so it is not a long walk. It differs from the one in the City of Chicago in that you can at least move around and see everything. The vendors are friendly, appreciative and helpful. There are some fairly long lines for some parts such as indoor stores. The craftsmanship is gorgeous at many of the booths but is expectedly pretty expensive. The famous hot chocolate is delicious and rich, and you get a choice of a paper cup serving for 12.00 or a commemorative mug for 16.00. The serving size appears to be about 8-10 ounces. While we did not eat a lot there, we saw plates of food going by and it all looked delicious. There is a building public restroom and it was clean. The view is nice, being along the water. There is a scavenger hunt for the kiddos-they get a card and have to visit certain booths and then they get a stamp on their card. There is a prize for a completed card, but not sure what it was. There is also an indoor warming center if you want to take a break. I gave it 4 stars due to the expensiveness of it, but it's a nice outing to do in the winter.