City officials raised the capacity limit at Daley Plaza’s Christkindlmarket by 1,000 people after organizers, vendors and patrons complained about a last-minute crowd restriction on the beloved holiday market.
The new capacity limit of 2,553 at the market, which opened Nov. 21, is still less than the 3,494 people allowed under the COVID-19 capacity rules set in 2021, when social distancing was still in effect.
Mark Tomkins, president and chief executive of the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest, said the city informed his organization, which runs Christkindlmarket, of the decision Monday morning.
“It’s progress. It will help, but it’s still rough for our vendors,” Tomkins said Monday, adding that the change “doesn’t move the needle a lot.”
Tomkins said his organization would continue to work with the city to raise the capacity limit further before the end of the season, hopefully returning to the 2021 level, and also work toward long-term solutions.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the mayor’s office said the city would “continue to make adjustments as needed” to Christkindlmarket’s capacity and will work with organizers to evaluate possible alternative locations for next year, the market’s 30th anniversary.
“The city’s top priority will remain ensuring that the event is held safely and successfully for all involved,” the spokesperson said. “To address the concerns raised by the organizers, the city is continuing to work with them to increase capacity in a safe and organized manner.”
Organizers said the city previously implemented a limit of 1,553 just hours before the market opened. The move had since led to long lines and a significant drop in vendor revenue.
Sabine Korger of Biene’s Honighaus, for example, has seen the sales of her honey products and ornaments fall by more than 40%, she told the Sun-Times last month.
Since its inception in 1996, millions of people have flocked to Christkindlmarket, modeled after the 16th century holiday markets in Germany, In addition to the Loop, Christkindlmarket has locations in Aurora and Wrigleyville.