Christmas ornaments are on display at the Christkindlmarket in downtown Chicago, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019. Inspired by the Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany, which began in 1545, the Christkindlmarket Chicago brings a cherished German and European tradition with international flair and local charm to Chicago. Chicago’s largest open-air Christmas festival was first held on Pioneer Court in 1996. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Christkindlmarket has been in downtown Chicago at Daley Plaza since 1966. A place to peruse local and international vendors and get a hot mug of glühwein and a pretzel.
There have been previous incarnations of the event in the ‘burbs…Oak Brook and Naperville to be specific. But now, it’s back in the suburbs!
Mayor Richard Irvin, during his State of the City address last night, announced RiverEdge Park will be the home to the suburbs only Christkindlmarket this year!
It’s the ideal location! Tons of space to set up the candy-cane striped kiosks and enjoy that hot spiced wine. Tons of parking nearby…and hey, maybe some live music up on the stage?! (That’s not confirmed…just a guess/suggestion).
As always, admission is free to any of the three Christkindlmarkets in Chicagland (Aurora, Daley Plaza, Wrigleyville). The dates and times for the suburban event have not been released.
“We are so happy to bring the Christkindlmarket back to the western suburbs, especially at a site as beautiful as RiverEdge Park! For the last few years, many people have asked when we would have a suburban market, and we are overjoyed to have found such wonderful partners as the City of Aurora and ACCA to make this dream a reality. We can’t wait to share more details and ultimately welcome all our friends #BacktotheBurbs,” said Kate Bleeker, Director of Expansion and Market Development, German American Events, LLC.
The Christkindlmarket unites cherished German and European tradition with international flair and local charm. Inspired by the 16th century Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany, one of the first outdoor markets of its kind, the Christkindlmarket is well-known for its
vendors’ high quality gifts and food, holiday cheer, and for being the ideal place for families to make unique memories.
At Tuesday’s State of the City address, Aurora Mayor Richard C. Irvin announced, “We’ll close out the year by bringing a new energy to downtown Aurora with a new partnership coming this winter to RiverEdge Park. A new event that will bring thousands to Aurora, well known for its vendors, its high-quality gifts, its food, holiday cheer, and as an ideal place for families to make memories. We’re excited Christkindlmarket is returning to the suburbs and coming to downtown Aurora this winter at RiverEdge Park!”
“RiverEdge Park is the ideal site to host the return of the Christkindlmarket to the western suburbs. We’ve always wanted to find a way to activate the Park beyond the summer concert season, and we can’t wait to welcome area residents and Christkindlmarket fans from all over to this incredible new holiday destination in downtown Aurora,” said Tim Rater, President and CEO, Aurora Civic Center Authority. “I also love that in Christkindlmarket’s first year in Aurora, Paramount Theatre will be staging a blockbuster production of The Sound of Music, just a short walk away. The City of Lights will truly be lit up with the sights and sounds of the holiday season.”
