Christmas markets
Christmas Markets in the United States, 2026
German-style Christmas markets have spread across America in the last thirty years, from Chicago’s Daley Plaza to a small town in Pennsylvania that started it all. Here are the dates for 2026, region by region, and the few markets where you’ll find a nativity scene.
A Christkindlmarkt (German for “Christ Child market”) is the traditional Christmas market of Germany and Austria: wooden stalls, ornaments and handmade gifts, mulled wine, sausages and gingerbread. American cities have adopted the idea since the 1990s, often with the help of local German clubs. To learn where the tradition comes from, see Christmas markets in France and Christmas markets around the world.
Labels: CONFIRMED means the 2026 dates are on the market’s own website. USUAL means the market comes back every year but hadn’t posted 2026 dates when we last checked, on October 4, 2026; we give the last dates we could confirm. REPORTED means the 2026 dates come from an outside source. Check with the market before you go.
2026 at a glance
Every market on this page in one table. A tag in the last column means there’s something for nativity lovers at the market or close by; the details are in where to find a nativity.
| Market | 2026 dates | Status | Nativity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Village at Bryant ParkNew York, NY | Late October to early January | Usual | — |
| Union Square Holiday MarketNew York, NY | Nov 12 – Dec 24 | Reported | — |
| Christkindlmarkt BethlehemBethlehem, PA | Weekends, Nov 13 – Dec 20 | Confirmed | Moravian putz in town |
| Christmas VillagePhiladelphia, PA | Nov 21 – Dec 27 | Confirmed | Nativity sets for sale |
| Christkindl MarketMifflinburg, PA | Dec 10–12 | Confirmed | — |
| Peoples Gas Holiday MarketPittsburgh, PA | Mid or late Nov – Dec 24 | Usual | Pittsburgh Crèche nearby |
| German Christmas Market of NJAugusta, NJ | Dec 4–6 | Confirmed | — |
| Christmas VillageBaltimore, MD | Nov 21 – Dec 27 | Confirmed | — |
| DowntownDC Holiday MarketWashington, D.C. | Nov 13 – Dec 23 | Confirmed | — |
| Herndon WinterMarktHerndon, VA | Dec 12 | Confirmed | — |
| Christkindlmarket, Daley PlazaChicago, IL | Nov 20 – Dec 24 | Confirmed | Life-size nativity on the plaza |
| Christkindlmarket WrigleyvilleChicago, IL | Nov 20 – Dec 31 | Confirmed | — |
| Christkindlmarket AuroraAurora, IL | Nov 20 – Dec 24, Thu–Sun | Confirmed | — |
| Carmel ChristkindlmarktCarmel, IN | Nov 21 – Dec 24 | Confirmed | — |
| Germania Society ChristkindlmarktCincinnati, OH | Nov 6–8 | Confirmed | The Christkind |
| Grand Rapids Christkindl MarktGrand Rapids, MI | Nov 18 – Dec 24 | Confirmed | — |
| KerstmarktHolland, MI | Weekends, Nov 20 – Dec 19 | Confirmed | — |
| Frankenmuth ChristKindlMarktFrankenmuth, MI | Thanksgiving weekend and the two after | Usual | Nativity shop nearby |
| European Christmas MarketSt. Paul, MN | Four weekends from Thanksgiving | Usual | — |
| Old World Christmas MarketElkhart Lake, WI | Early to mid-December | Usual | — |
| Texas Christkindl MarketArlington, TX | Nov 20–22, Nov 27 – Dec 23 | Confirmed | Nativity sets for sale |
| Tomball German Christmas MarketTomball, TX | Dec 11–13 | Confirmed | — |
| Tulsa ChristkindlmarktTulsa, OK | Dec 4–6 | Confirmed | Nativity display |
| Atlanta Christkindl MarketLawrenceville, GA | Late Nov – Dec 24, Wed–Sun | Usual | — |
| Helen ChristkindlmarktHelen, GA | Nov 28–29, Dec 5–6 | Confirmed | — |
| Denver ChristkindlmarketDenver, CO | Nov 20 – Dec 23 | Confirmed | — |
| Christkindlmarkt SLCSalt Lake City, UT | Dec 2–5 | Usual | Living nativity |
| Seattle Christmas MarketSeattle, WA | Nov 20 – Dec 27 | Confirmed | — |
| Turn Verein ChristkindlmarktSacramento, CA | Dec 5–6 | Confirmed | The Christkind |
The American Christkindlmarkt
Which one came first
The best known is Chicago’s Christkindlmarket, first held in 1996 on Pioneer Court and on Daley Plaza since 1997, modeled on the famous market in Nuremberg. It celebrates its thirtieth season in 2026.
It isn’t the oldest, though. Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem, in Pennsylvania’s “Christmas City,” dates to 1993, and the small Christkindl Market in Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania, first held in 1989 and started by an Austrian-born resident, calls itself the oldest outdoor Christmas market in the country. German clubs in America held indoor Christmas bazaars long before that, so “first ever” is a claim we’d rather not make.
Where to find a nativity
A few markets with a crèche, a living nativity or the Christ Child
Most American Christmas markets are about gifts, food and lights, and few include a nativity scene. These are the exceptions we could confirm:
- Christkindlmarket, Daley Plaza Chicago, Illinois
- The market itself has no nativity, but a life-size nativity scene, set up by volunteers every year since 1985, usually stands on the same plaza from the Saturday after Thanksgiving to the Saturday after Christmas. See our Chicago guide.
- Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
- Across the river from the market, Central Moravian Church builds its community putz, a nativity under the tree with scenes that light up one after another. See our Bethlehem guide.
- Tulsa Christkindlmarkt Tulsa, Oklahoma
- “The Bethlehem Village,” a display of thousands of small figures, is part of the market run by the German-American Society of Tulsa.
- Christkindlmarkt SLC Salt Lake City, Utah
- The market lists a live nativity among its attractions.
- Cincinnati and Sacramento Ohio and California
- The Christkind, the golden-haired angel who stands for the Christ Child in German tradition, appears on stage. It isn’t a nativity scene, but it’s the custom that gave these markets their name.
- Käthe Wohlfahrt stands Philadelphia and Arlington, Texas
- The German Christmas shop from Rothenburg has a stand at both markets. Its range includes nativity sets, so it’s worth asking.
If you’re looking for nativity scenes rather than markets, see where to see nativity scenes in the US and the US nativity events calendar.
Northeast
New York City
- Winter Village at Bryant Park UsualBryant Park, Midtown Manhattan, New York
- More than 180 European-style shops around the skating rink. Usually late October to early January (October 24, 2025, to January 4, 2026), daily 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Official page.
- Union Square Holiday Market ReportedSouth end of Union Square Park, New York
- Often called the oldest holiday market in the city, with about 185 vendors. November 12 to December 24, 2026, according to one of its partners. Free. Made in NYC.
Mid-Atlantic
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, D.C. and Virginia
- Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem ConfirmedPNC Plaza at SteelStacks, 645 E. First St., Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
- One of the largest Christmas markets in the country, held since 1993. Weekends only: November 13–15, 20–22 and 27–29, and December 3–6, 10–13 and 17–20, 2026. $14 Thursday and Friday, $16.50 Saturday and Sunday, free for ages 5 and under; free for everyone on Fridays from 5 to 8 p.m. Pair it with the Moravian putz in town: see our Bethlehem guide. Official site.
- Christmas Village in Philadelphia ConfirmedLOVE Park and City Hall, Philadelphia
- More than 120 vendors in a market modeled on the German ones. November 21 to December 27, 2026 (closed November 23–25 and December 25), Sunday to Thursday noon to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday noon to 9 p.m. Free. Official site.
- Christkindl Market of Mifflinburg ConfirmedDowntown Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania
- The small-town market that started it all in 1989, on a Main Street closed to traffic. December 10 to 12, 2026. Official site.
- Peoples Gas Holiday Market UsualMarket Square, Pittsburgh
- Alpine-style wooden chalets in downtown Pittsburgh, free to browse. Usually mid- or late November to December 24, daily except Thanksgiving. The Pittsburgh Crèche is a few blocks away on Grant Street. Official page.
- German Christmas Market of New Jersey ConfirmedSussex County Fairgrounds, 37 Plains Road, Augusta, New Jersey
- A nonprofit market with wooden huts, in its 25th year, whose proceeds go to local charities. December 4 to 6, 2026. Tickets go on sale online in November. Official site.
- Christmas Village in Baltimore ConfirmedWest Shore Park, Inner Harbor, Baltimore
- A German-themed market on the waterfront. November 21 to December 27, 2026, closed Mondays and Tuesdays (and November 25 and December 25). Official site.
- DowntownDC Holiday Market ConfirmedF Street NW between 7th and 9th Streets, Washington, D.C.
- An American craft market rather than a German one, with more than a hundred local makers. November 13 to December 23, 2026, closed Thanksgiving. Official page.
- Herndon WinterMarkt ConfirmedHerndon, Virginia
- A one-day market in the D.C. suburbs modeled on the German ones. Saturday, December 12, 2026, noon to 7 p.m. Official site.
Midwest
Chicago and its neighbors
- Christkindlmarket Chicago, Daley Plaza Confirmed50 W. Washington St., Chicago
- The 30th season. November 20 to December 24, 2026, Sunday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. Free. Our guide: Christkindlmarket Chicago 2026, with the nativity on the plaza. Official page.
- Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville ConfirmedGallagher Way, 3635 N. Clark St., Chicago
- The smaller market next to Wrigley Field, and the only Chicago one open through New Year’s Eve. November 20 to December 31, 2026, closed Christmas Day. Free. Official page.
- Christkindlmarket Aurora ConfirmedRiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway, Aurora, Illinois
- The largest of the three by number of vendors. November 20 to December 24, 2026, Thursday to Sunday. Free. Official page.
- Carmel Christkindlmarkt ConfirmedCarter Green, Carmel, Indiana
- A German-style market with an ice rink, north of Indianapolis. November 21 to December 24, 2026, closed Mondays, Tuesdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Free; skating is extra. Official site.
- Germania Society Christkindlmarkt Confirmed3529 W. Kemper Road, Cincinnati
- One of the earliest of the season, held since 1998, mostly under cover, with a lantern parade and the Christkind on stage. November 6 to 8, 2026. $5, free for children under 12 and for military with ID. Official page.
- Grand Rapids Christkindl Markt ConfirmedDowntown Market, 435 Ionia Ave. SW, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- November 18 to December 24, 2026, closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Official site.
- Kerstmarkt Confirmed8th Street Marketplace, Holland, Michigan
- A Dutch-style market held since 1997, with a visit from Sinterklaas. Weekends from November 20 to December 19, 2026. Official page.
- Frankenmuth ChristKindlMarkt UsualFrankenmuth, Michigan
- An open-air market in a Bavarian-style town, usually on Thanksgiving weekend and the two weekends after. The official page hadn’t been updated for 2026, so check before you go. While you’re there, Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland has a large nativity department. Official page.
- European Christmas Market UsualUnion Depot, 240 E. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, Minnesota
- Four weekends starting Thanksgiving weekend, in and around the historic train station (November 28 to December 21, 2025). Free. Official site.
- Old World Christmas Market UsualThe Osthoff Resort, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
- Modeled on Nuremberg’s market, in a heated tent, with German carvings and Czech glass ornaments. Usually early to mid-December (December 5 to 14, 2025). $8, free for ages 14 and under. Official page.
South
Texas, Oklahoma and Georgia
- Texas Christkindl Market Confirmed1650 E. Randol Mill Road, Arlington, Texas
- Held since 2011, with ties to Arlington’s friendship city, Rothenburg ob der Tauber. November 20–22 and November 27 to December 23, 2026, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Official site.
- Tomball German Christmas Market ConfirmedTomball, Texas, near Houston
- A street festival with several music stages. December 11 to 13, 2026. Free. Official site.
- Tulsa Christkindlmarkt ConfirmedGAST Event Center, 2301 E. 15th St., Tulsa, Oklahoma
- An indoor German market with “The Bethlehem Village” on display. December 4 to 6, 2026, with a tree lighting on December 3. Free. Official page.
- Atlanta Christkindl Market Usual210 Luckie St., Lawrenceville, Georgia
- A German-style market for metro Atlanta, Wednesday to Sunday (November 20 to December 24, 2025). Free. Official site.
- Helen Christkindlmarkt ConfirmedDowntown Helen, Georgia
- A small handmade-gift market in a Bavarian-style mountain town. November 28–29 and December 5–6, 2026, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free. Official page.
West
Colorado, Utah, Washington and California
- Denver Christkindlmarket ConfirmedTivoli Quad, Auraria Campus, 1000 Larimer St., Denver
- Its 25th season, at a new location. November 20 to December 23, 2026. Free. Official site.
- Christkindlmarkt SLC UsualThis Is the Place Heritage Park, Salt Lake City
- A nonprofit market with a lantern parade and a live nativity. The site lists December 2 to 5 without a year; in 2026 those days fall Wednesday to Saturday, as usual, but confirm before you go. Official site.
- Seattle Christmas Market ConfirmedSeattle Center, Seattle
- European sweets and gifts, a carousel and daily “snow showers.” November 20 to December 27, 2026. Ticketed; season passes from $31.99, free for ages 6 and under. Official site.
- Sacramento Turn Verein Christkindlmarkt Confirmed3349 J St., Sacramento, California
- A small club market, in its 26th year, with the Christkind visiting every day. December 5 and 6, 2026. $5, free under 15. Official page.
Ended or uncertain
Still listed online, but check first
- Milwaukee Christkindlmarket (Deer District): held in 2018 and 2019, then canceled. It hasn’t come back.
- Christkindlmarket Naperville: ended after 2018; the Chicago organizer’s suburban market is now in Aurora.
- Leavenworth Christkindlmarkt, Washington: we couldn’t confirm a recent edition. The town’s Christmastown celebration continues from Thanksgiving through February.
- Charlotte Christmas Village, North Carolina: no longer runs as a market.
Missing a market near you? Tell us and we’ll check it.
Frequently asked questions
When do Christmas markets open in the US in 2026?
Most of the big ones open on Friday, November 20, 2026, the week before Thanksgiving: Chicago, Aurora, Denver, Seattle and Arlington among them. A few start earlier (Cincinnati’s runs November 6 to 8), and most close on or just before Christmas Eve.
Which US Christmas markets have a nativity scene?
Very few. Tulsa’s market shows “The Bethlehem Village,” Salt Lake City’s lists a live nativity, and a life-size nativity usually stands on Daley Plaza during Chicago’s market. In Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the Moravian putz is across the river from the market.
Are Christmas markets in the US free?
Most are free to enter. The main exceptions are Bethlehem ($14 to $16.50, free on Fridays from 5 to 8 p.m.), Seattle (ticketed), Cincinnati ($5), Elkhart Lake ($8) and Sacramento ($5).
What is the oldest Christmas market in the US?
The small market in Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania, first held in 1989, calls itself the oldest outdoor Christmas market in the country. Bethlehem’s dates to 1993 and Chicago’s to 1996.