As the tip of the yr approaches, Christmas markets are a surefire solution to put you in a festive temper. Whereas Europe has a longer-standing custom, these magical markets have gained reputation within the U.S. because of their Instagram-worthy shows, an abundance of spiced wine, and a big choice of handcrafted toys and ornaments.
Christmas markets usher within the heat, fuzzy glow of the vacation season and are an effective way to assist native artisans and join with the neighborhood. They’re additionally an ideal supply for items which are extra considerate and artistic than an Amazon present card.
From Alaska to New York Metropolis, these 10 Christmas markets within the U.S. carefully replicate the true factor in case you may’t make it to Europe this yr.
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Christkindlmarket, Chicago
Christkindlmarket in Chicago, now in its twenty ninth yr, is likely one of the nation’s oldest German vacation markets and attracts greater than 1 million guests yearly. It units the usual to the diploma that its sponsor, the German American Chamber of Commerce in Chicago, has grow to be the de facto guide to different cities that aspire to Christkindlmarket greatness.
Actually that means “Christ Baby Market,” the market fashions itself after the Sixteenth-century Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany, and its Christkind (a golden fairy in white robes) is the German equal of Santa Claus. Amid the twinkling lights and festive music, peruse genuine German handicrafts like weihnachtspyramide (Christmas pyramids) whereas snacking on basic German delights like lebkuchen (gingerbread), large pretzels, scorching spiced wine, bratwurst and roasted nuts.
Chicago’s largest open-air Christmas competition can be unfold throughout three places this yr. The downtown Chicago and Aurora markets will run from Nov. 21 to Dec. 24; the Wrigleyville market will run from Nov. 23 to Dec. 31. All are open each day and free to attend; hours differ by location.
TPG tip: There are lots of superb factors inns in Chicago, however The LaSalle Chicago, Autograph Assortment is only a 10-minute stroll from the downtown market and gives a “Christkindlmarket Expertise” package deal that features two drink coupons for gluhwein (mulled wine) and two memento mugs at check-in. Fundamental charges begin at $172 or 44,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening.
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Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Nestled within the coronary heart of Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, Bethlehem is known as the Christmas Metropolis for a motive: It is among the best locations within the U.S. to expertise the enjoyment and cheer of the vacation season. Arrange on the iconic SteelStacks venue, the town’s Christkindlmarkt options meals, drink and craft distributors providing wares from all around the world. One beloved vendor individuals queue as much as see yearly is Kathe Wohlfahrt, a German firm recognized for its handcrafted Christmas ornaments and decorations.
This yr’s market begins Nov. 14 and can be open on weekends solely via Dec. 21. The market operates Friday to Sunday in November and Thursday to Sunday in December.
Day-of tickets price $13 per particular person Thursdays and Fridays or $15.50 Saturdays and Sundays. It can save you $1 by buying your ticket prematurely, and kids 5 and below get in free. Plus, this yr, admission charges can be waived Friday nights between 5 p.m. and eight p.m.
Christkindlmarkt is not the one solution to expertise the vacation season in Bethlehem. Take a look at the twinkling Christmas timber within the Historic Moravian District, the pop-up retailers in Principal Avenue’s Christmas Village or the window adorning contest alongside the streets of downtown.
TPG tip: Get monetary savings for souvenirs with an reasonably priced keep on the Hyatt Place Bethlehem, a brief drive from the market, the place nightly charges begin at $160 or 8,000 World of Hyatt factors this winter. For one thing extra walkable, strive the historic Lodge Bethlehem (from $229 per evening), which is fantastically embellished through the holidays with greater than 35,000 lights and 25 Christmas timber. It is obtainable on some bank card portals, together with Chase Journey℠ and Capital One Journey, although it books up quick.
DowntownDC Vacation Market, Washington, DC
Celebrating its twenty first anniversary in 2025, the DowntownDC Vacation Market is a glittering jewel of vacation cheer set in opposition to the sumptuous backdrop of the Nationwide Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Artwork Museum. The market is free to attend and open daily of the week between Nov. 21 and Dec. 23.
This yr, greater than 100 exhibitors, together with Black-owned and minority-owned companies, will current an eclectic vary of merchandise that transcend vacation kitsch. There’s high-quality artwork, one-off jewellery items, ceramics, clothes, distinctive culinary objects and lots extra.
Along with stay music spanning blues, soul, rock and nation (in addition to just a few rockin’ vacation classics), festive revelers may also pattern dishes from native eating places alongside extra conventional vacation delights.
TPG tip: The Kimpton Lodge Monaco Washington DC is on the identical avenue because the market and gives charges beginning at $170 or 31,000 IHG One Rewards factors per evening.
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North Pole Winterfest, Alaska
Simply quarter-hour south of Fairbanks, Alaska, you will discover one other North Pole populated with the identical storybook forged and jovial festive spirit. And the city of North Pole will host its annual Winterfest on Dec. 13.
Beneath sweet cane-striped lamps, you may peruse handicrafts from native distributors on the Vacation Bazaar, adorn Christmas cookies and luxuriate in a festive fireworks show. The occasion is free to attend, and the bazaar opens at 10 a.m., with fireworks at 6 p.m.
The big vacation retailer often called Santa Claus Home is North Pole’s hottest vacationer attraction. Whereas looking for festive goodies, it’s also possible to pattern native culinary treats and organize for Santa (who makes frequent appearances) to ship a letter to your children.
TPG tip: North Pole does not have any factors inns, however The Lodge North Pole has rooms beginning at $165 per evening throughout Winterfest. There’s even a completely embellished Santa Suite possibility.
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Peoples Gasoline Vacation Market, Pittsburgh
Now in its 14th yr, the Peoples Gasoline Vacation Market can be held in downtown Pittsburgh’s Market Sq. from Nov. 21 to Dec. 24. Ring within the vacation season on the Highmark Mild Up Evening on Nov. 22, with a conventional tree lighting ceremony, stay music and fireworks taking place throughout the town.
The market’s charming wood chalets will purvey a spread of native and worldwide treats and wares, like chocolate from Copper Coast Confections (certainly one of Pittsburgh’s beloved chocolatiers), Jap European folks artwork (assume nesting dolls, hand-painted Christmas ornaments, pottery and hand-carved Santas) and truthful commerce ceramics, jewellery and blankets from South America.
The market is free to attend; hours differ by day.
TPG tip: The Industrialist Lodge, Pittsburgh, Autograph Assortment is 2 blocks from Market Sq.. Charges begin at $140 or 37,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening through the Christmas market.
Cambria Christmas Market, California
Whereas SoCal vibes and sunny climes may not be the plain backdrop for a German Christmas market, this quaint coastal enclave has loads of vacation spirit (and nice buying). Held on the Cambria Pines Lodge, the 14th annual Cambria Christmas Market has distributors promoting nutcrackers, ornaments, festive bites and libations.
After perusing the stalls and ending your last-minute vacation buying, you may sit back with a German beer or gluhwein beside the fireplace pit, take heed to stay vacation tunes, experience on the vacation prepare and take within the 3 million twinkling lights.
In 2025, Cambria’s market runs most evenings from Nov. 28 to Dec. 31. Tickets begin at $28 (costs differ by date), and a few dates promote out weeks prematurely, so get yours on-line early. This market is cashless, so convey your rewards bank cards.
TPG tip: You may get first rate worth in your Hyatt factors at White Water (from $269 or 20,000 factors per evening), a seaside Mr & Mrs Smith property only a few minutes’ drive from the Christmas market. Alternatively, keep steps away from the motion at Cambria Pines Lodge, which gives a Cambria Christmas Market package deal with breakfast and tickets to the occasion for every particular person on the reservation. Room-only charges begin at $259 per evening.
Carmel Christkindlmarkt, Indiana
A 30-minute drive north of Indianapolis, the city of Carmel brings a contact of European attraction and custom to the Midwest with its quaint Christkindlmarkt. This yr’s occasion will happen this yr from Nov. 22 to Dec. 24 at Carter Inexperienced between The Palladium Theater and the Tarkington Theater.
A part of this market’s attraction is its genuine atmosphere and decorations (together with a real 33-foot-tall, 10-ton German gluhwein pyramid). Browse high quality handmade crafts and German culinary concoctions — together with feuerzangenbowle, a centuries-old flaming cocktail — at greater than 60 vendor huts. The market additionally gives ice skating, stay demos from German artisans and loads of family-friendly actions. Little ones can adorn cookies and make necklaces at Kinderecke (children nook), and kids can meet Santa and his elves on the Spielhaus (playhouse).
The market is closed Mondays and Tuesdays in addition to Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Entrance is free, and hours differ by date.
TPG tip: The Lodge Carmichael, Autograph Assortment is lower than a 10-minute stroll from the market, with costs beginning at $227 or 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening. For those who keep farther away, make sure to benefit from the brand new free shuttle that runs each quarter-hour on weekends.
Christmas Village, Philadelphia
Christmas Village in Philadelphia is again for the 2025 vacation season at Love Park and Metropolis Corridor from Nov. 22 to Dec. 24. Hours differ by day, and there is no cost to enter.
Conventional timber cubicles characteristic greater than 60 distributors promoting basic European vacation treats, in addition to each regionally made and European merchandise. There’s additionally an old-school Christmas carousel, a Ferris wheel and a prepare that is a giant hit with kiddos.
TPG tip: Philly has no scarcity of factors inns. A seven-minute stroll from the market, The Logan Philadelphia has affordable charges beginning at $160 or 54,000 Hilton Honors factors per evening this vacation season. Or elevate your keep at The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia, bookable from $299 or 50,000 Marriott factors per evening.
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Texas Christkindl Market, Arlington, Texas
For those who’re down south, strive Arlington’s Texas Christkindl Market, the most important open-air Christmas market within the Southwest. It is impressed by a 70-year relationship between Arlington and its sister metropolis, Unhealthy Konigshofen, Germany. Working with its companion Christmas metropolis, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, since 2011, the Texas Christkindl Market goals to convey the European Christmas market expertise to the Lone Star State.
This family-friendly occasion runs from Nov. 21-23 and Nov. 28-Dec. 23 at North Plaza at Globe Life Discipline. The market runs from 11 a.m. to eight p.m. each day and is free to attend.
TPG tip: The Stay! by Loews lodge in Arlington is throughout the Globe Life Discipline complicated, so you do not have to fret about reparking your automobile. Nightly charges begin at $229 through the market. For those who’d fairly earn and burn factors and you do not thoughts a couple of minutes’ drive, think about Hyatt Place Dallas / Arlington (from $94 or 8,000 Hyatt factors per evening).
Union Sq. Vacation Market, New York Metropolis
Is there something like Christmas in New York Metropolis? Though the Massive Apple has multiple Christmas market, the Union Sq. Vacation Market is a favourite amongst locals and guests alike. You will discover 185 cubicles promoting arts, crafts, clothes, vacation novelties and extra.
You should definitely cease by this yr from Nov. 13 to Dec. 24. The market is open each day (besides Thanksgiving), with hours various by day.
If you would like to go Christmas market-hopping, your subsequent cease ought to be Winter Village at Bryant Park, which gives a free ice skating rink, vacation retailers, and rinkside eats and drinks.
TPG tip: The close by Hyatt Union Sq. New York has rooms beginning at $294 or 21,000 World of Hyatt factors per evening. Or splurge on the lately renovated W New York — Union Sq., beginning at $627 or 66,000 Marriott factors per evening.
Backside line
You do not have to fly throughout the pond to expertise the magic of Christmas markets. Our high U.S. picks emulate genuine European markets with German delicacies like gluhwein and lebkuchen, plus worldwide handicrafts which are certain to be the envy of your Secret Santa group this yr. Nevertheless, these aren’t the one markets to think about — an increasing number of U.S. cities (and a few smaller cities) are becoming a member of within the festive enjoyable, together with Atlanta, Baltimore, Denver and San Francisco.
Able to plan a visit? Now could be the time to begin reserving vacation flights. And do not forget to maximise your Christmas market purchases with one of many greatest playing cards for on a regular basis spending.
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