Loyola Students Explore Chicago’s Christkindlmarket

Every winter, Chicago’s loop transforms into a festive wonderland with the arrival of Christkindlmarket — an open-air holiday market that brings the spirit of a traditional German Christmas to the heart of the city. 

It serves as a market that many view as a cultural touchstone, bringing together elements of community, celebration, and holiday spirit.

Christkindlmarket has been a beloved Chicago tradition since it first opened in 1996. Based at the downtown Richard J. Daley Plaza, the market is a gathering place for people to experience the warmth and joy of the season. 

Christkindlmarket showcases a blend of diverse traditions, featuring authentic German goods, traditional holiday foods, and cultural performances, offering visitors a glimpse into global holiday customs. From African crafts to German delicacies and Nepalese artistry, the market unites global cultures, inviting everyone to share in the joy of community and connection.

Isabella Lockhart, a second-year social work major from Minnesota, shared that the market’s holiday decorations reminded her of home. She said she decided to visit Christkindlmarket because of the opportunity to explore festive traditions and reconnect with the holiday spirit she cherished growing up. 

The warm, inviting aroma of roasted nuts, freshly baked sweet pastries, and spiced mulled wine filled the air, creating a sensory experience that immediately enveloped visitors as they entered the market.

“Back home, my family always decorated the house together, so I’ve been missing that,” Lockhart said. “This feels like a little piece of that warmth.”

For Julia Maina, a second-year education major from South Bend, IN, the crisp Chicago air was a refreshing reminder of the city’s unique energy and vibrancy.

“It’s been a while since I’ve experienced a true winter holiday,” Maina said. “Walking into a market like this, it’s straight out of a movie.”

Benjamin Lopez, a second-year business student from Providence, RI, said he was excited to see the Christkindlmarket’s collections of glass-blown ornaments.

“My mom would love these,” Lopez said, picking up a delicate ornament shaped like a snowflake. “It’s cool seeing how every stall has something unique. It’s like traveling the world in one place.”

The three students were surrounded in a festive wonderland of twinkling string lights, the soft hum of holiday music and the comforting aromas of roasted nuts and spiced mulled wine. Wooden chalets lined the bustling market square with rows of wooden chalets adorned with twinkling lights and festive garlands, reminiscent of a quaint European winter village.

Lockhart snapped a photo of the group as a Christmas tree glowed in the background. 

“I’m going to send this to my family,” Lockhart said. “It’s proof I’m celebrating, even from far away.”

Inside the shops, handcrafted ornaments shimmered alongside delicate nutcrackers, intricate cuckoo clocks and traditional German steins. Vendors proudly displayed rows of baked goods, each carefully crafted to delight both the eyes and the heart. 

Stollen, dusted with powdered sugar, symbolized the warmth of tradition, while intricately decorated gingerbread hearts bore cheerful messages of love, hope and togetherness. 

The air buzzed with cheerful chatter as shoppers sipped warm drinks from collectible mugs, the scent of bratwurst wafting through the crisp evening air. From the glowing lanterns to the artisanal crafts, the market radiated warmth and nostalgia, creating a magical escape in the heart of the city.

“This is going to be a tradition for us,” Maina said. “Every year, we’ll come back. Who knows, maybe someday we’ll bring even more friends along.”

Christkindlmarket runs Nov. 22 to Dec. 24 at Daley Plaza in Chicago and Aurora’s RiverEdge Park. Regular hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, with shorter hours on Christmas Eve.