Christkindlmarket Chicago

Crowded, pricey (even with free admission), and mostly cash only. With that said - we had a fun time. I think I still prefer similar Christmas markets like in Philadelphia (who have way more credit card accepting vendors), but this was a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon in November.

Christkindlmarket is a wonderful holiday tradition. The market is full of festive stalls offering unique gifts, delicious food, and warm drinks like hot cider and glühwein. The atmosphere is cheerful and perfect for getting into the holiday spirit. A must-visit during the Christmas season! ☃️❄️🎄🎅 (It can get very very crowded so it’s best to go at a not so busy time)

I visited Christkindlmarket Chicago on Saturday night after the Magnificent Mile Lights Parade, so it was understandably packed. The market has such a festive atmosphere, and I loved that it was free to enter. I treated myself to a $14 hot chocolate served in the adorable collectible ceramic boot mug—it was absolutely delicious and worth it for the experience! The food options looked amazing, but the long lines made it hard to fully enjoy everything. I’d recommend visiting during off-peak hours if you can, but overall, it’s a magical holiday tradition!

Entry : free, Carry CASH Must try : hot chocolate $5, Small pretzel $6. Lots of outlets to try, always crowded. A bit expensive to buy souvenirs. Long waiting lines at the entrance!

Way too crowded. In years past there was more authentic merchandise, now it’s just low quality food.

The market itself was very charming, however make sure to bring some cash because most of these stalls are cash only. The downsides; prices are CRAZY. It was $30 for a hot chocolate basically the size of a double shot glass, and not only this item but every single one. Along with this, it’s so packed it’s hard to move, there’s not clear lines to booths and everyone crowds around in random places so good luck getting literally anywhere. It was a nice one time experience but not worth fighting any kind of crowd again.

I loved this place. Try to go when is not as busy because I get super pack. Bring cash because almost everything is only cash and sometimes the ATM doesn’t work. The almond croissant is absolutely amazing same with the sandwich with the smelly cheese. The hot coco is really good. You have to go

So many cute ornament stores! And get your fill of bratwurst and Bavarian pretzels.

Been to this market in Chicago numerous times over the years. It's great! Great food including sweets, chocolate covered stuff, great schnitzel from the German kiosks, etc. etc. Vendors have beautiful ornaments, and traditional European Christmas decor and other things for sale. Can be packed so be sure you can tolerate the crows. Food is pricey but very delicious. Parking can be tricky - we were lucky to park on the street which is not too bad. Would recommend!

If you're in Chicago during the winter holidays, you gotta stop at Christkindlmarket downtown by Daley Plaza. We've gone several years now and it's always fun - lots of people shopping for gifts and trinkets, and plenty of good food to fill your belly and delicious hot chocolate to warm your hands. And while you're at it, grab a souvenir commemorative cup to remember the fun at home. It can get crowded, so I recommend arriving early or late, and be prepared to lug a bunch of bags around because you'll definitely find things to buy. But it's a fun way to spend a day in downtown Chicago!

I had the chance to visit Christkindlmarket during my trip to Chicago, and it was such a fun experience! There were so many cute shops to explore and a lot of delicious food to try. The festive atmosphere and unique finds made it a memorable part of my visit.

The Christkindlmarket in the Loop is excellent. Authentic vendors with great food and beautiful crafts. If you can possibly avoid it, DO NOT GO ON A WEEKEND. Take any reviews that grouse about how crowded it is on a weekend with a grain of salt. The reviewer has no idea what they're doing. No one has any business being there on a Saturday night. It's Christmas time in one of the largest cities in the country. What did you expect? Weeknights are pretty delightful. I don't drink the gluhwein because it tastes like warm Robitussin. If you drink there, have someone with you to keep you from spending $1500 on a cuckoo clock. They are really nice cuckoo clocks. The hot chocolate is tasty and not intoxicating. (Unless you sneak in your own flask of bourbon, which goes very well with hot chocolate. Not that I'm recommending that.) If there's a long line at a hot chocolate vendor, try walking around to the other side. Almost always, there's a near empty stall that no one noticed. Crafts are expensive because they're mostly handmade. Beautiful ornaments, wonderful woolens, and all you could want to put you in a holiday mood. I have to stress: This Christkindlmarket is vastly superior to the one at Wrigley Field. More authentic vendors, better quality food, bigger, and more holiday ambiance. Anything worth doing at Wrigley costs extra. Not cool. Also, the brats at Wrigley are absolute trash. Go to Christkindlmarket downtown. Go on a weekday. Get the brats from a real German vendor. Buy some roasted candied nuts. Drink if you want, but have a trusted, sober friend hold your money.

This market is super cute looking. However, it is very crowded and lines everywhere, even to get into any ornament stores. For me all the food was expensive and small portions/not that good or fresh. You will pay at least $12 plus for a tiny cup of hot wine or $10 plus for a sad sausage. The food prices aren't extreme, but the food wasn't good in quality so wasn't worth it. I enjoyed looking at the different ornaments/crafts offered but found everything for sale to be pricey for what it was. I did enjoy that everything seemed to be from Europe, that was definitely neat! Vendors didn't really seem all that friendly or greet you until you asked to buy from them. I have been once now but wouldn't say it's a mistake-visit attraction or something I'd go back for. Was average.

My first Christkindl was one for the books! We decided to go on a weekday evening and I'm SO GLAD we did! I've heard horror stories about weekend crowds! Unfortunately, we had already had dinner, so we were really hunting for desserts and souvenirs! Next time, I'm going to try some of the savory food offerings! I really don't have a bad thing to say other than, I wish more places took apple pay! Cash only is tough, but they had lots of ATMS. This is truly the closest you'll get to a traditional Christmas market! I felt like I was in Europe again!

I was so, so cold, but we happily went to this yearly Chicago event. What an amazing experience! So many cute little shops, super kind vendors and so much delicious food. The market is nicely laid out and easy to navigate. We had to have the hot chocolate in the little souvenir mug. I couldn't resist buying the cutest stocking advent calendar garland from Bavarian Tradition, while my daughter chose a colorful winter jacket from Himalayan Chai. We ate too many snacks to list -- but we enjoyed them all! I agree with other reviewers that items are pricey, but it's really not much different from other events like it. Yes, it was crowded, cold and some lines were long, but we came with all of that in mind. It was such a festive atmosphere, and everyone seemed to be in the holiday spirit. We would come here again and again!

Everyone must visit this holiday gem at least once! My friend was visiting so we took advantage of the nice weather and walked over for an afternoon visit. This place is a lot of fun day or night. We visited on a Sunday afternoon and it was packed. We cruised around the market, taking in all of the sights and sounds. The food trucks were busy preparing German fare. The potato pancakes looked and smelled divine. We had rich and creamy cups of hot chocolate. It also had marshmallows and cinnamon. Yum!! They are famous for their hot wine. It looked like everyone was loving it. I have had it before and look forward to trying it again next year. The wares offered are incredible. The Christmas ornaments are diverse and beautiful. You can find the best gifts for f friends, family and yourself. The location is perfect for a visit to Macy's and Christkindl Market. It's a kid's dream - adults too!!

This used to be such a great Chicago holiday tradition, but it has gone completely downhill. If you want to wait in line for a raclette, be prepared to wait an hour. That's if you can identify where the line even is! There's no organization or order to this chaos. You'll be bumping people left and right. It's simply an awful experience now. Instead of feeling festive and joyful, you'll regret ever coming here and fuming over people not giving a $#!+ about walking over and through you. This needs to move to a larger venue and crowd management.

Loved the market! Lots of good food and shopping! It's pricey but exactly what you'd expect for a tourist attraction. Many of the German made Christmas things are at least that much online plus more if you're shipping. A bit crowded, but also what you'd expect. We went during the day and again at night. The night time vibes were good, but it was less crowded during the day. My one neg would be that it's in the financial district, so there are big skyscrapers around -- not that quaint. But we had to try the original! I'd like to go to the Wrigleyville one to see if it's perhaps a bit more scenic?

I lived in Chicago all my life, and I feel so bad for all of the tourists who come here to get excited for Christkindlemarket. It's Chicago's biggest scam of all time. It is always crowded and overpriced. The food is terrible and stale. I get so angry at the TikToks that glamorize what a dump this is. I can almost beg you to not come here

It is our annual tradition to walk around in the market and see the various trinkets. It's just a lovely outing for the family after being stuffed with thanksgiving dinner. It was very crowded on the Friday after thanksgiving but that is to be expected. Highly recommend!

One of the best European Christmas markets in the USA. The selection of ornaments and other holiday crafts is outstanding. Prices are not inexpensive but the quality of the work justifies spending a little more. The blend of products and food is really exceptional and I always enjoy visiting the market, even if it's just to look around. Recommended.

Visited Chicago for a little family Christmas getaway. After seeing so many viral videos of this market we decided to make it a priority. We visited the market twice. Once during the day right when it opened (recommended) and once in the evening which was miserable.... The market was so crowded at night you really couldn't even move. Our visit during the day was much better. They have a ton of very cool vendors, food, and Christmas cheer. Must do's are the cheese haus sandwich and ornament shops and the infamous Christmas mug! Definitely worth your time if you plan accordingly.

Such a cute little Christmas market in the heart of Chicago!!! There are plenty of trinkets to buy and food & drinks for you to enjoy while you're walking around!

Definitely worth going to every winter because it's free and a lovely cultural immersion. Have been going every year for the past 7 years. Love always buying the mug of the year with the spiced mulled wine. It really warms me up and I enjoy the photo booths to take pictures. So many cute booths to check out even if you don't buy anything.

Sold out of mugs so that was a bummer. Also very packed this time of year. Went right when it opened and it is still shoulder to shoulder. Overall it is still a good time though if you have an hour and looking for something to do. Many cool shops to look at and good smells too.

I have seen these type of German, Sweden markets on tv all over the world and always wanted to go to one and experience the culture, cold weather, the spirit of Christmas that it brings. You are happy to walk in and immerse yourself in the spirit that it brings with first buying a hot cocoa in an adorable ceramic reindeer mug to take home with you as your wonderful memory. They also had food to buy from their countries like"strudel, pretzels, beer,pierogies" while walking around enjoying the sounds of Christmas music and seeing the extremely talented artisans and all that they have created " ornaments, blankets, steins, jewelry" to name a few. The way they constructed this right in the middle of downtown Chicago you felt like you were transported to Sweden. The only other thing that would have made this a perfect experience if there was snow everywhere.

A yearly tradition in Chicago for both locals and tourists alike. Glühwein in the iconic mug is generally a must, along other German treats and goods. My year cannot end until I get my yearly brat with saurkraut at the Christkindlmarket!! This place gets packed and lines are unfortunately long. Most places are cash only, so be prepared for that. 10/10 do NOT recommend strollers here as there will be a lot of people on the plaza. If you decide to visit, it's best to come on weekdays when they open up.

This was my first time visiting Chicago and this was one of the top events to check out during November-December time and it did not disappoint! This little market was super cute and give the chance to learn about other cultures. The food was amazing and the drinks were something I'd come back for. I've never had warm/hot wine but having it in the cute souvenir mug just made it all the more better. Would recommend checking this event out if you can!

Pure chaos the morning of 12/2. Rain the day before, rain forecasted the next day, and only being in the 40s was great for the vendors and not for anyone trying to buy. Most people were nice, understanding, but you really just need to run into one of the negative nellies to put a damper on your experience. Complete chaos for line control, they really should have staff outside for that.

For years this has been Chicago's best holiday festival and market. It's been around a few decades and has been in Daley Plaza most of the time. Christkindlmarket is based on the types of markets in Germany, even if this isn't as authentic. Lots of people come for the mulled wine, known as gluhwein. There's also pretzels, and lots of interesting and unnecessary knickknacks and souvenirs. Anyone in Chicago for Christmas has to come here. It's located in Daley Plaza, making it convenient if getting here by public transportation. This is located at Clark and Washington. Probably the best known thing about it is the gluhwein. This is a warm drink made with mulled port wine. It's kind of expensive at $10, but you get to keep a mug. There's a couple kinds to try. Also there's food. It's about $5 to get a pretzel. Get a classic Bavarian, or something more interesting. There's the ones stuffed with feta and spinach. Also there's lots of things for gifts. Things like nuts, ornaments, and more. Got to go here at least once, and the good thing about going when it's cold is that it won't be as crowded. It runs from the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve. This is open from morning to night on weekdays and weekends.

Great place to stop by during the holidays for locals and tourists alike. Even if the weather outside is frightful, the stars here are delightful. Give yourself a couple of hours to check out each shop. Seriously. Amongst the market are several foods to try, drinks to taste and sights to see. Some of my highlights: My fave was the ornament shop (You can tell by the line out the door). There's an awesome paper star ornament shop, candle shop, chocolate treats and more. Great place for families, friends or even solo. Let it snow, but if isn't, the feel here is all Christmas awesome. -Take an Uber. Pick up and drop is just a block away -Go semi hungry. Plenty of snacks, sweets, Wurst, pretzels and more. -Beer! Coffee! Hot Chocolate!!!

Once again it was refreshing to visit the Christkindlemarket on Washington Street in Chicago this year -2022! As always it is crowded;however, people were respectful in their movements and there were some lines to get into some of the enclosed shops. No seating areas...just a few tables to stand at if you wanted to eat one of the many food items available. One of my favorite shops is the Black Forest German hand-crafted wooden coo coo clocks from different artists from that area of Germany. This year I went with my Mom and she bought me a Chicago themed ornament. It is a nice memory of our time together-this year and in future Christmas Seasons!

My first Christmas Market ever in the United States and it was in the city of Chicago. I was surprised that there was a Christmas Market. But it was been around since 1996. It's located in the downtown city of Chicago. The line was wrapped around buildings and inside the market was filled with a ton of people enjoying the holidays as I was. The market sells different food items that are traditional eats for Christmas. I had some dumplings called pierogi, hot chocolate, and also warm cider. They do serve alcoholic drinks as well. Some were warm and my friends said it was pretty unique since they never had them. They also have a famous cheese bread which we waited in line for 45 minutes! It was so good and a must if you do come here. I also loved all the Christmas cups that we ended up getting and some of my friends got them so they can give them as Christmas gifts!

Super busy day on a Sunday! A bit chaotic and somewhat confusing if you are trying to enter at the exit only. Find the guy in the yellow vest with a white sign that says line starts here. At one point going to through the line it does seem to end and their is no direction but keep walking south towards the corner where the metal fencing is. Once inside it does bottleneck at the front, lots of confused out of towners. The lines are not long but its slow when ordering. Everything is very over priced and come with cash to avoid the ATM fees!

First time being in this kind of market. Pretty fun and interesting. It's a German market with food, drinks, and shopping during the Christmas time. This market is only during Christmas time and is only in a few states. If you can make it, go for the experience. Admission is free. We walked there from our hotel as it was pretty close. Parking is probably limited. We got there 30-45 minutes before it opens and there was a long line. Luckily, we were actually near the second entrance and was able to get in before it got crowded. We stood in line for anything we saw was interesting. Most food vendors here are cash only and at least $10 for an item. We tried some German food Kraut dogs ($10) and dumplings ($11). The Kraut dog has a lot of topping of sauerkraut (fermented cabbage). It came with two smaller sausages. It had a sweet/sour taste to it. Very interesting, I like it. The dumplings, we got beef and it came with toppings of onions, bacons, and side of sour cream. The dumpling is kind of like ravioli but with cold sour cream. Think it was too cold for us to have cold food. There were also drinks available such as apple cider, chai tea, and hot chocolate which is about $5. If you want the Christkindlmarket mug/souvenir it's a few dollars more. This event is mainly outdoor, there was only one cabin looking structure that was indoor but limited space. It gets very cold, so make sure to stay warm!

This market is very fun if you are looking for something different to do in the city and are in the exploring mood to try out some German-style food while examining some fun stores. That alone makes it a great experience but there are a few drawbacks that takes away from it. Pros: -Super cute market with local workshop stores including Christmas ornaments, woodworking, and other trinkets -Local German food/drink includes pretzels, raclette, beer/mulled wine -Cute souvenir cups Cons: -Cash only for most food places so make sure to bring some! Most stores tended to take credit card -For most drinks you needed to get a souvenir cup thus making it a markup of $10 for just a cup of hot chocolate... probably $12 oz mug -It is open air and on a small plaza, so it can get crowded where it's shoulder to shoulder and there's only a few tented areas to escape the cold Would check it out if I'm in the area but now that I've been I wouldn't seek it out on my own. Definitely a fun time for visiting family or friends.

Be patient and leave some time, and you'll have a lot of fun here! Yes, it can get busy, but going here is a fun tradition. They have beautiful Christmas ornaments that are different from what you can find elsewhere. The snacks and treats are tasty, such as the roasted nuts. Come for some holiday cheer!

I've heard a lot of hype about this place but was a little underwhelmed upon actually going. Lots of little stores with ornaments, food, and some other trinkets. There was a nice little shop with tons of nativity scenes and lots of different types of hot drinks, chocolates, cheese, and German/Polish food. Also, I didn't know this going in but everything except for one place was cash only. They do have ATMs on site however. My friend and I paid about $10 each for our hot chocolate in our 2022 mugs. We did the experience haha and probably won't be back. Overall a slightly quick and underwhelming experience. Spent about 45 minutes in the actual market itself.

Highlights/Lowlights 1. Get there early! Very busy 2. Great/Festive gluhwein 3. Lots of little shops/vendors Attending the Christmaskindl Market in Chicago has been on my bucket list for years, so I was happy to finally attend on a cloudy Sunday morning. The market opens at 11am. We passed the market around 10:10am en route to pick up coffee and noticed a line was already forming. By the time we got back around 10:30am the line had snaked around the block. If the weather is decent, standing in line with a coffee isn't too shabby! Since this is a free/non-ticketed event, I am not really sure if entry can be restricted but I think if you arrive late the lines/crowds are just even bigger. Inside the market there does seem to be some vendors that are capacity restricted. Even getting in right away we noticed lines at some of those more popular shops within the market (toy shop, sweets store etc.) As long as you go in knowing this event is very crowded it's super cute and fun! Lots of vendors selling German-inspired ornaments and holiday decor. Plenty of vendors selling German-inspired food (potato pancakes, currywurst, pretzels) and of course beer and gluhwein (mulled wine!). We spent about 40 minutes here which was plenty of time! This was fun, but I do think there are some capacity restrictions/ticketing that could be added to make this a little easier to maneuver around.

This not a "gem", not festive, and not fun! It's extreme chaos. This was not well thought out and is not what it is glamorized as. I've been to the markets in Germany and maybe that is the biggest reason I should have never came here. This is not like the market in Germany. I would not recommend this awful experience. It was so chaotic we couldn't even see anything in the shops and weren't even gonna try to get some mulled wine as the lines were outrageous. I'm mind blown that so many people are allowed in at once.

This will sound incredibly bougie, but I've been to Christmas markets in multiple cities including in Europe and Chicago's Christkindlemarket really can hold its own. This is almost as good as the ones I saw in Vienna during the winter holidays, including selling some of the same wares. Definitely better than ones in London I've seen personally. I think the food at the Christkindlemarket Wrigleyville is better though, but we did get the tim tom snowballs which are a delicious treat to share with a friend. There's also a lot of fun things for sale.

My family is German, and I grew up attending the original Christkindlemarkts while visiting my relatives auf Deutschland. Though small, this Chicago replica market is * SO * authentic! From the little wooden market stalls to the brand of glühwein they use - the whole thing is spot-on! The handicrafts are also so typical of the traditional German Christmas decorations that I grew up seeing everywhere - they even have a giant nativity, which is sehr Deutsch for a Weinachtsmarkt! Food-wise... the currywurst and strudel were delicious. There was also a fusion pretzel stall - we got the spinach/feta stuffed pretzel - which was unique and fantastic! I went on a Friday afternoon, and there was a bit of a crowd but not crazy. There wasn't really a super long line for anything, except the raclette hot cheese booth (which seemed kind of random to me). I've heard it gets packed on the weekends, though, which doesn't surprise me given the crowd for a Friday afternoon. My advice: take the train and arrive right when the market opens. Frohe Weinachten!

Crazy busy and crowded event. Full of Christmas crafts, shops, German/European food and drink. I was getting claustrophobic because it was soooo crowded. Came here to look and buy Christmas ornaments and such. There was more than 10+eats of German food from brats, pirogies, sausages and kraut, beer, crepes, racellet of cheese and more food! Too crowded for me, but luckily outside, there was a jazz, blues guitarist and singer for entertainment, they were awesome!!

Make sure to try ( saucisson sec ) sandwich Hot chocolate, and the honey roasted nuts..

Visiting the Christkindle Market has quickly become a cherished annual tradition for me. With each passing year, they release a brand new mug to hold your delicious hot chocolate, which adds an extra special touch to the experience. The market offers so much more than just amazing food. You can truly immerse yourself in the spirit of Christmas by exploring the wide array of authentic ornaments and unique gifts available for purchase. It's a shopping experience like no other, filled with festive cheer and genuine handmade treasures. The atmosphere at the Christkindle Market is truly enchanting. The vibrant sights, savory smells, and cheerful sounds create a truly unforgettable experience. Whether you're strolling through the bustling stalls or enjoying a warm drink by a flickering fire, you can't help but feel the warmth and joy of the season. No matter your reason for visiting the Christkindle Market, one thing is for certain - the memories you make will last a lifetime.

Lots of fun for the family and a great place to grab a few Christmas gifts. We had a blast and definitely a new holiday tradition.... #familyfun

SO crowded but very fun. You definitely come to look at all the trinkets, get that signature little mug. The warm mulled wine hit different in the subzero temps we went in. Live music and many a character in Krampus cosplay. You will get squeezed because the crowd is insane in some places, and some of the little shops have gargantuan lines because the capacity of the inside places has got to be like 50 when theres hundreds?? of people total at the market. But it's fun and free to walk around.

Been coming here every year for at least ten years, and every year it gets more and more crowded but still such a lovely tradition! Pro tips: 1) if you're going on a weekend, get there right as it opens. It will still be very crowded but more than likely you won't have to wait in a line just to get in. Obviously weekday afternoons are way more spacious and comfortable so if you can plan any other time to go that's ideal. 2) BRING CASH. Most of the food vendors are cash only. There are ATMs inside with a 4$ convenience charge but save yourself some time. 3) Be prepared to wait in lines on the weekend for EVERYTHING. Just to walk around and go in one store took us an hour, so plan on being here for a few hours if you want to go inside all the ornament stores, get food, etc. A little patience goes a long way here!

This was a lot of fun and reminded us of the Christmas markets in Berlin and Copenhagen. The line situation on Saturday was not great but they got us in fairly quickly. The food prices were kind of ridiculous but I suppose that is to be expected for something like this. All in all, we had a lot of fun but we would probably avoid visiting on a weekend in the future. We popped in briefly Friday afternoon and it was a much more pleasant experience.

I've always wanted to come down to Chicago for this market! I love Christmas and all things "typical" European. I've been to a few markets in Hungary- and I will jump at any opportunity to see something similar :) I loved all the booths and handmade ornaments/nutcrackers. My hot chocolate was not hot but still good - my boyfriend really likes the White Apple Cinnamon wine. The pretzel was good, soft and light - can't wait to try again! Also loved all the chocolate options throughout the market. Most booths only take cash!!! We went on a Monday night so the ATM line was not long - I think there is only one -- so plan accordingly!!

Always a delight to visit Christkindlmarket Chicago, festive mood, winter wonderland decorations, and lots of food, beer, wine and cocoa options, what's not to like! I finally tried the highly instagram recommended hot dog with a block of cheese melted before you and shaved on to the hot dog, what a sight that was! Worth it just to go see it and down it! But its a pricey experience, $18! Honestly, it's good but not $18 good. No complaints nonetheless! I expected that but still decided it was a worthwhile experience.

Cute tourist trap. $20 dollar sandwiches with a presentation of melted cheese smeared on artisan bread and $5 cups of hot apple cider or hot chocolate with a bunch of cute Christmas ornaments, decorations and crafts. If the prices were somewhat reasonable it would be worth while to get into the holiday spirit but due to its hefty prices for just about anything there, gonna say Bah! Humbug!.

It's a cool place if you're into Christmas knick knacks. It's not my thing but I enjoyed browsing and checking it out! The food is a bit overpriced but the donuts were delicious!

Always a pleasure visiting this holiday market; there are so many goodies to choose from. I usually buy two big jars of honey every year for my teas. I make it last until the market returns the following year. Then I make my way over to the bratwurst section.

Horrific. Unlimited people allowed in. Just a CRUSH of people/bodies. Cannot enjoy the vendors, the food, or move with any freedom. A safety HAZARD! Honestly, cannot believe this market is run this way! Don't bother during the weekends! Feel bad for the vendors as people cannot even get close to checking out their wares. Traumatized and waste of time!

I've been coming here for years with the obvious exception of last. It's so awesome to have it back open! There's nothing like the Christmas spirit that surrounds this wonderful "European Style Market"! Delicious, mulled wine in souvenir mugs, almost authentic brats with kraut, delicious warm pretzels, amazing fudge/candies, and plenty of unique gift ideas! Going on a Saturday evening two weeks from Christmas was not the greatest idea as it was SUPER packed with the line to get in being about 45 minutes. Once inside though, the wait times were fairly reasonable. BE AWARE! Almost 100% of the food businesses and a lot of the shops are CASH ONLY! They have ATMs on site but they are frequently out of service.

Not a great experience. It smelled like poop. Terrible! It's freezing cold outside, you're trying not to lose your family in the crowd, you want to enjoy the food and the music and a warm drink, but all you smell is sh*t Very busy, very difficult to walk, you didn't know where the crowd began, and where the line started. We were Not a great experience. It smelled like poop. Terrible! It's freezing, cold outside, you're trying not to lose your family in the crowd, you want to enjoy the nice treats in the music and a warm drink, where are you smelly shit. Very busy, very difficult to walk, you didn't know where the crowd begin, and where the line started. We were out of there quick. of there quick.