Denver Christkindlmarket

Loved the vibe at the Denver Christkindl Market! It’s a great spot for a holiday evening and really gives European Christmas market vibes in the U.S. Lots of good German-style food and festive booths. Well organized event and easy to walk through. Portable restrooms are available, which is normal for an outdoor setup. Definitely recommend checking it out during the holiday season.

What a magical way to start the holiday season. Looking for a unique gift for someone special, you're sure to find it at one of the vendor. Want a taste of the old country try the food and beverage vendors. And don't forget to grab a cup of Glühwein, in the 25th anniversary cup. Enjoy the drone show, the lights of Mile high tree, ride the carresole, or take a glass blowing class. There is something for everyone. Can't wait to go back!

Enjoyed the christmas market so much, we only planned to go the one day but ended up going 3 more days because we had such a good time there. Atmosphere was amazing and people were really friendly !

My first time going. I really enjoyed all the different food booths and looking in the little windows of the other shops. It was so super cold and windy and no place to find relief.

I really enjoyed the new location and the extended hours. I've always gone during the day, but I enjoyed it more during the late evening. Krampus night is also when I attended which was a lot of fun to see. The drone show was also spectacular and I saw more vendors at the location. I also like how spread out it was. A skating rink would have been awesome to have.

I had a great time. There were some really great ornament booths etc. There were lines but, they moved pretty well. The food looked amazing but, I didnt have time to try it. I would go again for sure! It's definitely worth a visit.

Have come in previous years and thought the market was fun and fine, this year was a total waste of time. Fewer vendors, absolutely nothing worth buying, minimal decor. Everything was so spread out that the market looked empty and felt sad. I would skip and go to a Christmas bar somewhere downtown instead.

It was okay. Very crowded and expensive. Cider was good and there was a lot of food but the crowds were thick. The venue wasn't really that big. I think the highlight was the lit Christmas Tree.

Had a great time at the market. Starting at 5 pm they light up the market with lights and it's very festive. There are little wood huts where you can buy all different German type food. Brats and sauerkraut, pastries, potato cakes, savory and sweet crepes, beer, mulled wine in a cute comparative mug. Definitely go hungry and grab some tasty food. It's free to enter and all the vendors are friendly and having fun. There are also several huts to buy little gifts. Nesting dolls, knitted hats and mittens. Blown glass. There is a carousel ride and a covered beer garden. The prices are good for the food and we enjoyed a Nutella crepe and a ham and cheese crepe. Had a yummy mulled wine in the little yellow mug . Was very nice warm drink for the cold night. I think the market changes locations at times and it was nice in the Tivoli square area. Fun date night or night out with the family.

Monday night is a quieter time to go. Bring the dog or the kids. Wander around and enjoy the market, eat some traditional food and drink and enjoy the music and festive feeling of the holidays. Set on Auraria campus, there is plenty of space for all the friends and family to join.

Denver Christkindlmarket is a big tradition come the winter months. This year, for their 25th anniversary, the market moves to Tivoli Quad in Auraria Campus from the Civic Center downtown due to construction. Though that wasn't the only thing that changed, the number of European markets/vendors seems to had changed too. Given the political climate we're currently in, I guess maybe that's why there weren't as many markets as before and possibly due to location and how many they can have there. Parking was costly compared to last year. We paid $16 for surface lot parking. I did enjoy having multiple paths to wander through the market, it felt more spread out and seemed like more seating was available. We got to some of our favorite food vendors and did purchase a few gifts. Plus our must have souvenir mugs. They were extra cute this year! And bonus!!! We went on Krampus Nacht and meet Krampus himself :)

We enjoyed the new location. It felt more spread out and not so overly crowded like before. The giant Christmas tree was the highlight, although, they should not allow people to lay down in the middle. Those people just seemed wholly unaware that it's a space to be enjoyed by all instead of selfishly taking up all the room. But alas. The food vendors did a great job. We especially loved the potato latkes. One of the pretzel vendors was serving pretty cold pretzels with the most bland watered down cheese sauce--so I would be selective in who you buy from. Pretzel vendor was right next to the I hear Den sign. Not worth it. The artisans had some really fun items, although very pricy. One vendor was selling ponchos with alpaca fur for over $700! lol. It's worth a peruse. You don't need all day for it. And the beer tent was very pretty and a fun atmosphere.

A fun time in a great new space! Free entry. Many of the stand workers were from Europe and were so friendly and fun to talk to! My favorite was the pierogi factory stand. I really enjoyed their pierogi varieties; yum! The hot wine was expensive and a small cup. But fun to indulge in. Enjoyed seeing the Christmas ornaments and decorations for sale. Great place to welcome the season and hangout with friends over foods, drinks, and festivities.

The Denver Christkindlmarket was a fun event for the family! First, I really enjoyed that there is no entry fee! We parked a few blocks away and then made our way to the event at Auraria campus. The shops were very fun and all of the folks working were extremely nice and friendly. There are so many options to purchase gifts. We bought an ornament and a poster with an image of Denver. We really enjoyed the food as well and the blueberry wine! This is a great place to check out with the family.

Let me start by saying that my wife and I LOVE going to The Christkindl Market. There's good and there's bad, but I have to give 4 stars because the good outweighs the bad. First the good. The beer hall, the bartenders, and the entertainment. It's what brings us back 5-10 times each year! While it's no Munich Festzelt atmosphere, it's still a great place to drink tasty beers, glüwein, hot chocolate, along with numerous shot choices. Watch out for the 160 proof Stroh dark rum!!! The Prost beers are awesome as always, and the glüwein hits the spot on a cold day. Watch for the waving German flags to know which bartender is waiting for you. Pay attention and keep that long line moving! And if you're not afraid of a strangers, you're sure to meet the people you're sharing a table with and enjoy good conversation! PRO TIP: DON'T BE AFRAID OF STRANGERS! Last year we met the guy who coined the Colorado phrase "300 days of sunshine a year". Google it, his name is Rich Grant. Rudy Da Polka Guy spins polka music on many evenings, including polka versions of Taylor Swift and Snoop Dog. It's great! There's also polka bands, Jim Ehrlich, the one man band on the accordion, Denver Symphony Brass Quintet, and LOTS more. Oh and we can't forget stein hoisting!!! Ok the bad. And it's not really THAT bad. For me, the bad is the food, but it's not all bad, so I'm starting with the good. We've tried most everything and the BEST foods are the Berliner Haus döner sandwiches and the candied roasted nuts. The döner is SO tasty, but wear your bib! And the nuts...crispy, roasted, candied. Need I say more??? The pierogis and cabbage rolls receive honorable mentions. The Christmas platter at the pierogi place ain't too shabby. The rest of what we've had is pretty meh. The schnitzel is thin, dry, and fairly tasteless. The various sausage options are quite expensive for what you get. The latkes are basically hash browns. We haven't tried the salmon so can't comment on that. The vendors are basically the same every year. We don't buy a lot since we're not tourists, but it's still fun to browse. And the Mile High Tree is fun to see and visit, although I feel like it's getting a little long in the tooth. So overall, I say visit The Christkindl Market. If you're like us, you'll visit it numerous times while it's open! And if you only visit once, I hope you enjoy it! Prost

I pop in every year to refresh my stash of Bjorn's honey and shop for fun treats and enjoy the quaint little cabins filled with chocolates, ornaments, and cute little gifts and treats. We stopped by today while it was nice and warm and sunny and enjoyed German pretzels, Nutella crepes, Apple ciders. And left with fancy caramel and a years worth of honey. It was a beautiful day to walk along the Platte trail to the new location and I love that there is no entry fee. We had a ton of fun and I look forward to it every year.

One of the quintessential Christmas outings in Denver! The Christkindlmarket is a German/European-style market featuring food, drink, activities, entertainment and shopping. The booths are well-decorated, festive, and everyone seems to be in the holiday spirit. Lines can get long depending on the time of day you show up. If you go visit during the day, you're likely to experience shorter lines and smaller crowds. However if you visit at night, it feels more festive with the Mile High Tree lit up in the background. Food wise you'll find classic German food offerings, as well as various European cuisine to feed the masses. I'm a sucker for Jägerschnitzel with all the fixins, and you won't disappointed with what you'll taste here. Pair it with a German pilsner from Prost and you'll be transported to Oktoberfest. Things to keep in mind: seating/tables are limited (depending on how crowded it is) and in 2025 the event will no longer be held at Civic Center Park. I look forward to this market every year. It's one of the top holiday markets in Denver for good reason. Festive, fun and filling!

Parking was $33 at the parking garage at the Auraria campus. Even after being posted it was $15, this was today today, Friday 11/28. Very disappointing, bah humbug! Really turned us off on the Christlindlmarket this year.

This has been on my Denver Christmas bucket list for a while and I finally went and it's very festive and a nice German festival in Denver. The location is quite nice with the government building in the back and the giant Christmas tree. Parking can be quite difficult but just find a parking lot two blocks away. There are so many stalls so I say come hungry to try as much as possible. But also there are so many unique gifts you can get for people during the holidays. This is a nice location because it's pretty open and spread out. Some booths are busier than others but it's nice to show your support for small local businesses. Very beautiful sight and a lovely holiday memory. I will say, plan accordingly. We tried coming last year on the 23 and there was a line that wrapped around the corner. This year, we came 3 weeks before Christmas and it wasn't too crazy. Just note, you can't see the drone show from here.

2024 is on! Today was the kick off of the Christmas Market at 11am. Of course I was super early and took work off for lunch, but it's all worth it getting that cool stein and hearing some holiday music! Really nice color scheme on the mugs, and always friendly pour staff. It'll be on another month but gets very busy closer to Xmas. I find mid week evenings the best. Heading back for night photos soon!

I have been twice...well almost twice. The first time was when it was downtown, the second " attempt" was when it was located at the Auraria Campus. Here is the beef: Parking is sparse.We literally drove around for 30 minutes on a weekday morning. All student lots are off limits forcing you to find street parking or pay $15.00 plus for a downtown lot. The market itself is charming, but small. I wouldn't mind paying the exorbitant merchandise prices if parking was free or cheap. We are going to see if the event in Old Colorado City is any better. Personally, we will not go again. Camp Christmas does a much better job of providing a family outing.

Fun outdoor Christmas market near the State Capitol building -- there's a number of stalls with kitschy gifts, mostly holiday-themed, as the market name implies. There's also a good number of food options, from German drinks and fare to some stalls focused on sweets. There was even a booth with a chocolate fountain, ready to douse some pastries for you. It's not a particularly large market, you can easily walk by all the booths in 30-45 minutes, at a leisurely pace. But certainly not a bad way to spend time outside if the weather's nice, and a good place to find gifts!

This market was busyyyyy. There are quite a few vendors, and most of the workers seem like they're having a good time. It's a fun and slightly chaotic place to be. Food was delicious, and the spiced wine was amazing for a cold day. Everyone hates a porta potty, but these were pretty clean and had hand washing stations outside. Only complaint was everything was pretty expensive, but that's to be expected.

What a magical evening. The market was way bigger than we expected, and there were so many options for gifts, souvenirs and food. Everyone working the booths were extremely friendly, laughing and joking with patrons and providing excellent service. The food was amazing, so were the drinks... especially the mulled wine! And her, it's a few market, so there isn't much to lose by going? I wish we had markets like this in my town, it was so fun and enjoyable!

This is one of my favorite traditions to celebrate the holiday season in downtown Denver. From the lights all around with the mile high Christmas tree, to all of the eclectic vendors and the delicious food ,there plenty for everyone to enjoy! I personally enjoyed the bratwurst with sauerkraut and potato latkes on the side, so tasty it was worth the 20minute line. It does get very crowded, so if you're looking for shorter wait times I would recommend trying to go earlier in the day when they first open. If you are in no rush, then take in the bustle of the crowds window shopping and taking samples from the stalls that offer it. And I definitely recommend grabbing a mug of gluhwein and heading into the tent to listen to music and gather around the tables. Make sure this is high on your list of things to see if your in town for he holidays!

The S'mores Haus Snow Globe Experience was great in the heart of the Denver Christkindl Market down in Civic Center Park.

This is a holiday tradition at civic park you can't miss! It is free to get in and you can enjoy various German and European treats and vendors. I recommend going at night if you can so you can enjoy the mile high tree lights and the city and county building all a glow! At 6:45 the city and county building has a light show which is synchronized to holiday music which was a fun treat! We enjoyed sampling soups, hot coca and pizza. It was a bit crowded on the weekends so it may be better to go when it's not so busy. Also be sure to plan extra time for parking downtown or for transportation as it's in a busy area. In the evenings they also have smores stations around a fire. There is a beer tent which had lots of seating areas and dancing. We had such a fun time going to this holiday market- it felt like a scene out of a holiday movie!

This is a European/German style Christmas market reminiscent of the famous Christmas markets in Europe. It was quite enchanting filled with many booths and vendors with artisan crafts, Christmas ornaments, German food and baked goods. We had fun during the day perusing all the cute and creative ornaments and Christmas creations and sampling some of the German food. We are not beer drinkers, but if you like beer, you will like this as it features many of the German beers. We came back at night to see the beautiful and magical Christmas lights. The line was so long to get in at night, that we stayed outside the gates and watched the spectacular light shows from the street. We had already gone in during the afternoon to shop the booths and vendors so it was ok for us, but be prepared for a long wait in line if you go at night. The food was just so-so, authentic German food but carnival and County Fair quality. All in all, it was an enchanting and magical experience and really fun to go to. Will try to go every year!

Visited this in December while visiting Denver. I was a little disappointed in the size but it overall was a great market. Free to get into, just had to find paid parking. The location is great! Being in the center of all of those cool buildings was neat. We ate food and shopped around. Prices were standard market prices. It does get quite cold so bring warm clothes!

Terrific Event!! Fun to walk around and see all the vendors, from food to steins. I had some great apfelstrudel! Lots of people traffic, cheek to cheek!

Decided to check out the Christkindl Market at Civic Center Park. It's a free German/Nordic Christmas themed market featuring local crafts, holiday decorations and live music. The food vendors we selling German themed foods like pretzels and sausages. They also had gyro's, apple cider, fresh roasted nuts, homemade baked goods, beer and alcohol options. You could definitely come to this event hungry. They also had locally made crafts booths for people wanting to pick up gifts at the market. Soaps, essential oils, realistic handmade chocolate tools, alpaca fur, they even had a couple toy booths for the kiddos. Christkindl also features a heated tent with live music and beer maids serving big mugs off hoppy goodness. I loved all the decorations they had in the tent it made me think of traditional solstice. It was a very lively environment. The market was crowded when I went so there was no seats available even though there was tons of tables. One of the other main draws of the event is the Holiday light display in Civic center park. The trees are sprinkled with millions of lights and light sculptures surrounding massive color changing light tree. Very ethereal and romantic. I think couples on dates and families would enjoy this event if they are looking to bring a little holiday cheer to their winter.

The Christkindlmarket is a fun outing if you're looking for holiday vibes around Christmas but it's been insanely crowded every time I've come. Maybe it is better on week days, but on weekends you can barely even stop to look at anything in the vendor stalls. I would come here to get food but never with the expectation of actually getting holiday shopping done. The food is somewhat overpriced, but I got cinnamon roasted almonds here that were to die for. Overall, it was an experience that I'd come back to every few years but the crowds and prices make it difficult to fully enjoy.

Where can you be transported to a German inspired market that is bringing European holiday traditions to Denver... We visited The Denver Christkindlmarket over the weekend and had an absolute blast. We arrived at the market, and we were greeted by a massive Christmas tree made up of twinkling LED lights that were synchronized to Christmas music. We wandered through the market, taking in all the sights and yummy smells. There were rows of charming wooden huts that were selling numerous kinds of finely crafted artisan gifts and holiday treats. The vendors were Coloradan and international merchants who specialized in the creation of holiday crafts, cooking, & baking. Traditional German food was available throughout the event grounds. The market was free entry and dog friendly. We had a beer hall table reserved for us in the Festival Hall to enjoy live music and German beverages. I highly recommend reserving a table, this is our third year doing so and I can't say enough good things; it's so much fun! Reservations are available Sunday-Wednesday 12PM - 5:30PM, and Thursday-Saturday 12PM - 7:30PM. Tables are booked for 2 hour time blocks. The Festival Hall was heated. Table reservations accommodated six people comfortably (and up to eight people with a squeeze). We enjoyed table service with traditional German beverages. The Festival Hall Stage was graced by a local band who played traditional and modern takes on German Polka songs and more. The band was fabulous and kept us dancing and singing all night long. Frenchie - the queen of the Denver Christkindlmarket - was our Beer Hall fräulein for the evening (we are obsessed with her). Frenchie had stellar drink recommendations including the Glühwein (traditional German mulled wine) and specialty shots like the Kleiner Feigling. Frenchie's upbeat energy was contagious & she made our visit to the market memorable. I had the Classic White Glühwein with a shot of Apfel in it for an extra dash of flavor. The Glühwein was wonderful; it was a piping hot white wine blend enhanced by aromatics of apple & cinnamon. Frenchie was knowledgeable on the market's vendors and had us head over to S'mores Haus' igloo for dessert. S'mores Haus specializes in artisan s'mores. Frenchie's daughter, Natalie (the sweetest thing) whipped us up a huge s'mores platter to enjoy. Market goers can rent out the igloo complete with cozy seating & fire pit. What a night - Frohe Weihnachten!

My friends and I decided to go on a Tuesday night to this Christmas market. I had gone last year and wanted to make sure I got another souvenir mug and really enjoyed myself last year. I got there at about 5 o'clock in the evening and realize that approximately 50% of the market was closed. The only way to get Any of the alcohol beverages was to go to the tent. It was cold that night and in order to get to the line you had to pass through people who were just trying to stay warm and gathered under heaters blocking the way to get to the place to place an order. Once we were able to get an order placed, we went out to walk around and made some purchases and enjoyed what merchants were open. We made our way back to the tent with food to eat and wanted to purchase another beverage and the time was about 7:15. They had already closed the beverage service. The market is open until nine. How are you going to be serving hot foods and no beverages? This makes no sense to me. Also on a night when it was below freezing, none of the heaters were on in the main courtyard. Also, there was no music in the tent. I feel like we got a fraction of the experience and still had more to spend if the market was fully open until nine as advertised. It is free to get in. But I feel you have more to see and do on the weekends.

Pro tip: come earlier in the season, the closer to christmas the more packed this fun market gets! We sampled our way through all the vendors and the s'mores haus was our favorite. They have so many options and you get to make your own. It was the cherry on top of a fun night. Pro tip #2: lay under the tree and gaze up at the lights! It's truly an experience!

A great free market for everyone to enjoy, we were glad to be able to come back this year! Parking wasn't too much of a hassle to find on a Friday afternoon, but I'd definitely recommend coming earlier Monday-Thursday if you are able to in order to avoid larger crowds. When we arrived, there were crowds of people and long lines for most of the food stalls, but the lines moved very quickly and we never had to wait long at all! Food and drinks tended to be on the pricier side for sure, and I was shocked at the prices for canned drinks especially ($4+ for a canned soda seems like such a scam) and about $8 for a hot cocoa with food ranging anywhere from around $6-$20. I'd recommend the holiday spiced tea from the german pizza stall over buying a $4-$5 canned soda. There were also plenty of stalls selling alcoholic beverages too and a little cozy area to roast some s'mores and hang out. There were a lot of vendors selling various goodies, mainly holiday ornaments, soaps, scarves/hats, honey, hot sauces, baked goods, and other various trinkets.

What a quaint Christmas market. So many fun food vendors to try and artisan vendors to peruse. It was cold and snowy and absolutely perfect when we went this Saturday morning. We got there about 30 minutes after they opened. Which just means it wasn't completely packed. The spiced wine was absolutely wonderful to walk around holding to keep my hands warmed up. The only negative is the bathrooms. We had over an hour drive up, and when I found the restrooms all of them, seriously. All of them were nasty! Granted they are porter potties, so I knew what to expect but omg lol.

Such a cool market to explore on a cold Denver night. We enjoyed a few loaded to the max gyros . I also grab a few Hefeweizen . Such a fun night with the fam and even the kids jumped on the dance floor. Lots of cool vendors to buy things for. Such a fun experience.

Such a fun free event in Denver! The mulled wine was so good although the lines were so long and it was freezing. Unfortunately the heaters were not working. The tent had super fun music and was very warm. Great food and vendors. Highly recommend!

We attended the weekend before Christmas during the day, around 3pm. It was too crowded comfortably move through. Also, most of the booths are food/drinks and not much in the way of shopping/gifts. They should make the market larger and spread out a bit more so those trying to walk through aren't getting mixed up in the lines for the booths. Also, attend in the evening and it may feel more magical all lit up.

Haven't been here in years! Definitely a fun stop if you're a Christmas fanatic and enjoy the European aesthetic that some of the stalls have. Had the best crepes ever from one of the stalls and the perogies were tasty too! Loved the light show and just browsing around all the stalls. Fun time!

This is a cute little Christmas Market. More food vendors than shops so that was a bit disappointing. I would have loved to see more of a selection of shopping booths. The food selections, however were amazing. German sausages, bratwurst, raclette, and more! Service was slow due to the amount of people so that was expected. I do not recommend cash as they had a bit of trouble processing cash. We had two items from the raclette vendor and they were so good and worth the money. There was no charge for entry so I think it's definitely worth going to.

So happy this event was around when I visited the city. Instantly we were met with the staff selling some of their German shots. The honey and apple shots were delicious. There were a variety of shops and food stands that were stationed across the park. Had to get a Elk bratwurst and s'mores kit when it was cold. The event was free as well so a great place to walk around, people watch and grab some Christmas shopping souvenirs. If you are around the area make sure to stop by!

Having visited Christmas markets all over Europe including many in various parts of Germany, France, and Czech Republic, I had low expectations until I'd seen this market had good reviews and was among the top American Christmas markets. I attended for the first time this past Christmas season and was pretty disappointed. The event itself: the layout was not well thought out; this park is not well suited for this kind of event especially in the way they set it up. The lines were wildly long clogging up walkways and there were not enough picnic or standing tables. It was chaos. Some of the security guards were inexplicably rude and aggressive even to folks who were not drinking, doing anything inappropriate or breaking any event rules. The vendors: There were not enough vendors, and not enough variety of vendors. Some of them were wonderful like the pretzel, puzzle, and cheese vendors as well as the tent bar. Others were not so great, mostly insipid and expensive food/drink and again a bit rude and short, no Christmas cheer at all. The food quality left much to be desired. There was even one vendor selling hot chocolate you can get from any American grocery store at outrageous prices. In short, even when the event itself is free, you're not getting much value and very little Christmas spirit. Organizers: Please consider a different venue for the event and plan the layout of the booths more thoughtfully; add way more tables and more variety of vendors. Consider different German food vendors with more variety. Thanks!

First time here as we visit from California. Son and DIL live in Castlerock and have been a couple of times. Walking to the market on a beautiful November day was wonderful. Before we entered the market, we walked across the street to see the large nativity scene set up. We would have liked to see both the nativity and the market in the evening with the Christmas trees and everything all lit up, but alas, we have toddlers in tow and they wouldn't have lasted that long. We stood in line for 10 minutes until someone came to tell the crowd that if you don't need an alcohol band you can walk right in. Great- The stalls are too close together and the crowd meandering about, so being able to actually stop and look and enjoy the offerings in the stalls was next to impossible. The lines were long for food and drink but the kids wanted a pretzel, so we stood in line and then took our pretzels and drinks and found a grassy area to sit and enjoy them. When in town, we would probably want to visit the market again at a different time.

Always a fun time! Definitely would recommend trying to make time on a weekday instead of the weekend!

I have been wanting to come here since we moved to colorado in 2015. Well, today was finally the day. Roads were blocked off because of the parade and it seemed too crowded to be able to enjoy. Most of the booths were food and beer which we didn't get a chance to enjoy because we just finished brunch. I bet it is cute at night with the lights but we went during the afternoon. Nice day to be out but not enough variety in the booths in my opinion. There were some cute and rare ornaments but it will be a one time visit for me.

A great place to visit to get in the Christmas spirit! As the market is located in Civic Center Park, parking is anywhere you can find. There is no shortage of food and cuisine here. I saw crepes, chocolates, gyros, cheeses, pierogis, baked goods, bratwursts and so much more. There is also a stand for beer which was the longest line of any stand in the market. Must be some good stuff. I love supporting small businesses and this is the place to do it. There are a ton of great items to buy like Russian nesting dolls, mini fireplaces, ornaments, beer steins, clothing, food and lots more. If you're into entertainment and not just the market I would look online at the calendar and schedule for who is performing. Almost everyday there is someone performing and there are even themes during certain times. I had a super fun time at the Christkindl Market and all of the vendors were incredibly nice and not overbearing like some sales people can be. Love it!

We had a great time at the Market. We loved all the wares the merchants were selling and the decorations that lit up the area made it the all more fun. Plus the wonderful bier and food.

We were in town and looking for something fun to do, we came across this spot and had to go! The gate guy LOVED his job haha he was so cheerful! He slapped a wristband on our wrists and sent us off. There's some cool stands - lots of art, some chocolate, some AMAZING cheese (this was super unique and cool!), dips, Christmas gifts, knitted goods, etc. You name what you think would be at an art fair and they had it. It was pretty small, but that was okay. My only complaint was prices on food and drink - I paid $5 for a tiny cup of spiced cider that tasted like it was made with a packet, so I was disappointed at that. We also had latkes and a brat and they were delicious, but again, $20 for a tiny bit of food. I understand inflation, but it seemed like robbery. Great beer options, fun to walk around and get festive. Definitely recommend it, but make sure to eat prior!

This market is ranked top 50 in the world of Christmas markets! That's right you have it right in your own back yard. It's only for a limited time. I highly recommend downloading the app so that you can see times & dates of when they will be open. The app also has a map of where all the vendors are. The smell of beer, cinnamon and schnitzel are very tantalizing. There were many different vendors to check out. I highly recommend coming and seeing all the beautiful hand crafted ornaments and baked goods.

My husband and I have been going to Denver's Christkindl Market for years and have always had a nice time. This year we decided to try showing up when it opened on a Sunday and, having a toddler and a dog in tow, decided it is the way to go for the next couple of years at least. First of all, it was a lot warmer, which, given our party, made up for the list ambiance of the pretty nighttime lights. The best part was that at least for the first 45 minutes or so, there were almost no lines. We literally walked right up to the ID check for bracelets and then watched as that line quickly grew and grew. We were also able to get a plate of pierogi quickly- my husband ordered pork as well as our normal potato and I have to say the pork kind spoiled the pierogi experience for me going forward, especially after I found that the stand across the aisle was selling delightful latkes with a German bratwurst for $2 more. My son really enjoyed pretending to play the lawn games and the story time in the tent (where my husband and I were able to enjoy an adult beverage- beer for him and mulled wine for me). A few weeks ago we went to the Cherry Creek Market and I think the the Cherry Creek one is better for shopping and the Denver one is better for hanging out.

Fun, but so cold (30 degrees and windy) when I came around 4pm. There were about 20 vendors selling everything from traditional Polish and German food to chocolate, plus, honey, ornaments, cheese and beer. Beautiful part of town, right across from the Capitol building, art museums, etc. I wish there was music to keep it lively and outdoor heaters. Otherwise pretty fun and happy I got a chance to stop by

This market is a lot smaller than some cities, but I have a feeling they have downsized in all cities in general. The chimney cakes weren't cooked properly but the beer is good. Get there early or they run out of the dunkel fast. Parking is a hassle too. The lights are pretty to look at though.

The good: It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! There are German things here like wooden sculptures and smoked fish. Fur coats and beer in steins. Christmas garlands and beer hall-like seating inside tents. But best of all, there is Christmas spirit and cheer (or is it spirits and beer)? This event is so special, festive and fun! It's my favorite Denver winter event. Denver is a city full of community, trendy events, family-friendly and dog-friendly gatherings and fun. This event definitely fits that bill. I'm from CA and I have never seen this type of event hosted there. The bad: Downtown parking (of course). The interesting: I've never been to Germany but this Christmas market really pushes me to want to go. It is definitely now a bucket list event.

Not enough variety of food or stuff to buy. Everything overpriced and it seemed like most people were their for the booze. Even though I enjoy mulled wine drinks it gets pretty old after a while. I went during the day and it is probably nicer during the evening when you can take part off the LED lights and the Christmas tree in a different way. I would go again next year but they definitely need to increase the variety of stuff they sell and decrease the prices. I tried the schnitzel with the mushroom sauce from one of their vendors as it was mediocre at best! I have had many pork and veal schnitzels in my life and this was not even close to being in the top 5.

This holiday market is at a new spot this year, #2020, in the Civic Center Park area. Due to social distancing, they were allowing in very, very few people at one time. I'd say around 15% to 20% of whatever the actual capacity is. There was way more than 6 feet distancing unless of course, you were in line for the same thing. The wait in line was painful. Don't make the same mistake I did -- bring a flask!!! Once the sun went down it got cold but at that point, I committed so much time in the line, my friend and I were not leaving. Finally, we get inside. Could not get to the bathroom and find a drink fast enough! Inside, they sectioned the fair off so that you have to wait in ANOTHER line. I find that to be utter stupidity. I'm sure they have some reason, but after waiting outside for 2 hours already, just stop it. On that side, I saw another line from outside that let people into that Christkindl fair. So, there at least two different lines on different streets. I went in by Colfax & Broadway with the CO state capitol to my back). The second section was better, though, because it had the better food and more of the vendors. The mulled wine is so good, I just wish the price wasn't so ridiculous! They make you pay $12 for the first glass of wine. You get to keep the mug and it's kinda cute, but not even full-sized. A standard mug is about 10-12 oz and this mug is 8 oz. The refills are $6 which is a fairer price, in my opinion. I don't like that they force you to buy the mug for $6 the first time instead of just using a disposable cup each time. The wines, there were 3 hot wines to choose from this year (I don't remember there being that many last year, but who knows if I missed it). Two were red and one was white, which was interesting - I've never had a white mulled wine. I do not like sweet drinks, so after talking with the bartender I went with the standard red because she said it was the driest and least sweet. I really liked it! They also ask if you want shots and had two options, peppermint I think it was a honey liquor. Again, not liking sweets, I passed but then later on, as I still wanted to warm up, I tried a shot of peppermint. For $2 they pour it in your wine (I don't recommend it, the glass is tiny enough and you'll get less wine) or for $4 they pour you a side shot and it's a double! I haven't had peppermint schnapps in ages, and remember it being kinda gross and sticky sweet, but to my surprise this peppermint was amazeballs!!! I took a picture of the bottle and am still trying to find out where I can buy some/how much!!! It is local and called Rocky Mountain Peppermint Schnapps from Lee Spirits Co. It's fresher, cleaner, and tastes more natural than what I remembered the basic stuff tasting like. There is a good amount of food options to choose from. My plate of schnitzel with spaetzle (more like potatoes, not the dumplings) and red cabbage was damn good. I scarfed it down fast! I also bought a few trinkets for xmas gifts: a DC comic character Russian doll set for $15, a handmade toddler-sized sherpa hat for $15, and a wooden Ukranian teaching toy for either $15 or $20. There was music but we really couldn't hear it unless you're sitting right there in front. Supposedly on their online calendar, there was supposed to be some sort of aerial show -- but I saw nothing. I don't get why people can't keep their websites updated, it's not that hard... It was definitely different this year. Still fun but in a different way. You really only need 2 hours there max as the way it is this year.