I'm always sad when this is over! Plan on bumping elbows with 700 people, but overall the joy and merriment of the Season makes everyone in the crowd very pleasant and fun! Make sure to drink at least 7 glasses of mulled wine, the red is better in my opinion. Better yet buy one for a complete stranger and you'll probably have a friend for life.
Great annual event. Lots of variety in booths / vendors. Beautiful location. Great quality items for sale. Excellent food and drink! You have to try the Currywurst offered by several vendors. It can get crowded at times, especially during the lunch hours, but well worth a visit. Be prepared for a great time.
My son first went to this market when he was in HS. I have been once before and with the weather being so mild we decided it was the perfect day to go. The vendors are almost all from Germany and the items they sell are so beautiful and not something you can find just anywhere. Add the traditional food and you are in for an amazing experience! They even have cute souvenir mugs you can get with either yummy hot chocolate or cider in them. The festive feeling is very catching. Parking is hard. If you don't want to pay an arm and a leg to a garage I recommend parking a few blocks away and walking. Save the money for the cool stuff you can buy.
Very appealing and popular. The only reason I can't rate it higher is because it's just too small a space for the enormous crowd it attracts. From open until close (at least on weekends) the place is packed so there is never a good time to get in there and comfortably look around at all of the items for sale or enjoy food or a beverage without bumping elbows with people. Hopefully one day they will find a way to relocate it to a larger area.
My first time at a German market. ..very interesting. A variety of things to see and eat. #foodieEveryone should go at least once just for the experience (no need to buy anything). But I tried Cappuccino Pecans, Wiener Schnitzel, & traditional hot coco/chocolate (in a souvenir mug. ..only $5 for the mug!) Oh. .it's especially good for unique Christmas ornaments. .. I'll definitely go, again.
Only reason for not giving perfect 5 stars is it was overly crowded I heard people say it was because it's a weekend (Saturday). So, a weekday may beer a better option if you don't like crowds Others verbalized the need for a bigger location. ..Though I agree, because of the large crowd, I'm thinking that would take away from the German village feel -- suspecting that's what the organizers were going for.
Great for Pokémon GO. I forgot how good the plaza actually was. I never looked up. There was a Lugia AND a Moltres!!!!
Anyone visiting Chicago in the months of November and December should stop by this market. It is often packed, but so unique with the merchandise and food you can get!
Great little holiday tradition in the heart of the Loop, filled with activities, trinket & food vendors! Lines for food can get long when it's busy, so be prepared to wait! DonerMen also serves vegetarian/vegan options! Awesome!
Excellent place to get in the holiday spirit! I recommend going mid-day during the week to beat the crowds.
Been coming here every year as a tradition for about 20 years now. I remember skating at the ice rink they had which was probably the best part! Now everything is packed in one area. Never buy anything other than food but things are nice to look at at the different stands.
My favorite Holiday event, so much to eat, I always buy something new to add to my holiday collection. Be warned: the line for spiced wine gets LONG.
Adorable. A bit overpriced but honestly worth it for the overall experience. Everything is cozy and handmade! I go every year to enjoy hot cider and appreciate the fine craftsmanship.
A Chicago event to look forward to all year. Traditional German Christmas market with toys and sweets for sale, and all the bretzels, bratwurts and beers that help you brave the cold Chicago winds. Highly recommended: hot spiced wine to warm your insides and bring out the Christmas spirit with some "Christmas spirits". The wine is served in commemorative mugs to remind you all year of a beautiful event.
It's super cute! Lots of cute items for sale and delicious apple cider to warm you up when it's too cold. It was something fun to visit and I would definitely recommend going to it!
This seasonal market is so iconic that it becomes a press of people during its peak times. There are many cool aspects, from the seasonal foods to the decorations and gifts. If you have never been, it's worth doing, but I'm not sure it's worth going repeatedly, especially if you don't get there early on in the season. If you don't do well in crowds, I would recommend you give it a skip.