NOW OPEN!: Everything You Need to Know About Christkindlmarket in Aurora

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 at RiverEdge Park in downtown Aurora, and it opens TODAY!

Admission is free, my friends!

OK, this all sounds great, right?! But where do we park? That’s the beauty of RiverEdge Park, my friend! Look at all this parking!

If you want to park like A BOSS, you do so for free across the river by the casino, and use the short pedestrian bridge (yellow areas below). If you are A ROOKIE, you’ll probably drive right to the front of the park, then start looking around for parking. You’ll find a lot of it, but you’ll have to pay $5 (green areas). Keep in mind, the areas in RED do not allow event parking–that includes Two Brothers, the Post Office, and Jake’s Bagels. Leave Jake’s alone.

If you live near a Metra BNSF line, you can take the train right to the festival! The train station is right across the street.

There’s entertianment too! You can listen to bands, enjoy some dancing, meet Christkind, and more! Here’s the link for all the entertainment and events at Christkindlemarket Aurora.

As always, admission is free to any of the three Christkindlmarkets in Chicagland (Aurora, Daley Plaza, Wrigleyville). The festival in Aurora is open Thursday-Sunday through Christmas Eve:

Thursdays: 11am-7pm,
Fridays-Saturdays: 11am-9pm,
Sundays: 11am-6pm
Special Hours: Monday (Dec 19) through Wednesday (Dec 21): 11am-7pm
Thanksgiving (Nov 24) & Christmas Eve (Dec 24): 11am-4pm

Have other questions? Check out the FAQ page on the CKM website.

If you are a go-getter and like to plan your trip, here is a list at all the vendors.

“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.

“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.”