In 2017, Stephanie O’Donnell, her husband, Terrence, and their young children Millie and Poppy left their beloved home in Oak Park and moved to Dublin, Ohio. In doing so, they left much of their collective hearts in the middle of Chicago’s Christkindlmarket.
“One of our very first dates early on in our relationship was to the Christkindlmarket,” O’Donnell said. “And our girls have been going to the market since they were newborns. It’s just a part of us. It’s just what we do.”
This month, the family — which now includes 2-year-old Addison — will pack up the car for their annual 308-mile pilgrimage to the place where they can sip warm beverages served in collectible mugs, shop for souvenirs like handmade glass-blown ornaments and partake in pastries.
But most of all, they are looking forward to being surrounded by their fellow Chicagoans again to celebrate an annual holiday tradition.
“It’s really become a place for people to just gather and have a good time,” said Leila Schmidt, senior manager of marketing and intercultural communication at German American Events, which organizes Christkindlmarket. “We hear from a lot of people that they have made Christkindlmarket their annual tradition and that they’re always looking forward to bringing their family and friends.”
Since its inception in 1996, millions of people have flocked to Christkindlmarket. Modeled after the 16th century holiday markets in Germany, the free admission outdoor bazaar kicks off Friday in Daley Plaza in the Loop and RiverEdge Park in Aurora, where recent renovations have allowed the market to expand to 60 vendors. After a hiatus last year due to the NHL Winter Classic, the market returns to Gallagher Way in Wrigleyville on Sunday.
Krampus for the rest of us
New this year is a one-day-only Krampus-themed event at Daley Plaza on Dec. 14, which includes photo opportunities with the mischievous member of German folklore himself.
“We also have a brand new Krampus stuffie,” Schmidt said of the plush collectible with shaggy fur, curled horned and a flicked tail to mark the occasion. “We really wanted to make sure to have something for everyone, because of course the event itself is known as a little more focused on the traditions, and some kids might be scared of Krampus, but the little stuffie is the cute little version of it,” Schmidt said.
While event organizers aim to offer something new every year, what keeps people coming back are the fan favorite mugs and other collectibles.
The official 2025 Christkindlmarket mug is adorned with a festive red exterior and white interior, local landmarks and a German Christmas market scene. The mug costs $10 and can be purchased at vendor booths filled with hot beverages such as the market’s signature drink, Glühwein, for those 21 and older. A limited edition glass-blown ornament — handmade in Europe and resembling a traditional German “Lebkuchenherz” (“gingerbread heart” in German) — matches the heart-shaped mug.
For those who choose not to imbibe, the brown and red gingerbread mug with icing details along the rim features a gingerbread man and woman decked out in traditional lederhosen and dirndl. It is available for $10 or filled with nonalcoholic hot beverages from various vendors.
The beer stein is back for a third year, featuring a night scene of the Christkindlmarket, with the Christkind and flags waving under a starry sky. The stein can be purchased for $20 empty or filled with German beer at one of the vendors.
The hallmark of Christkindlmarket is tradition, and many vendors stick to the tried and true because that is what has long served as an attraction for festivalgoers.
“We’re offering the same offerings — our hot chocolate, which is just the one flavor in the to-go cup, or the Christkindlmarket mug, and we do offer hot chocolate sticks, which we’ve been doing from the beginning,” said Bob Bausch of Bob’s Belgian Hot Chocolate.
What sets apart their hot chocolate is the whipped cream, Bausch said. “We make it really thick. The saying is — whipped cream is done when there are peaks. Well, our whipped cream isn’t done until there are mountains. Then you can stand our gingerbread cookie against the whipped cream. It’s that thick.”
‘Blending old traditions with new traditions’
For siblings Kuba and Maciek Lojewski, co-founders of Puffy Houzz — a Christkindlmarket staple known for their poffertjes, giant stroopwafels and the viral fluffy hot chocolate — the market is all about about “blending old traditions with new traditions.”
“If you come to the Christkindlmarket, you’ll always see people dancing out in front of our booth and kids running around,” said Maciek Lojewski. This year they’ll be vending at the Aurora and Wrigleyville markets.
“House music is a huge thing for us in our booth. It’s all about creating a whole kind of atmosphere and vibe for them so they stick around.”
That sense of community and connection is what makes Christkindlmarket such a destination for so many families.
“I think stepping foot into the Christkindlmarket offers a safe space where everyone is just there to have a great time, spend time with family, enjoy good food, good music and share some laughs,” said Kuba Lojewski. “Our goal is to always contribute to that feeling and that emotion of just creating almost like a magical wonderland.”
And often, it’s those real emotions that the vendors witness time and time again.
“We’ve seen people cry at the booth,” said Lenore Bausch of Bob’s Belgian Hot Chocolate, which can be found at all three markets. “I think it’s because it’s reminiscent of something that they’ve had — a sense, a taste, a feel, and the memories of childhood.”
It’s these sorts of memories that mean so much to the O’Donnell family.
“I hope that no matter where our girls are in life, I hope that they always go back to Chicago and go to the Christkindlmarket together,” Stephanie said. “Maybe my husband and I will be long gone. … I just hope they will be at the Christkindlmarket thinking about us and thinking about what it is and what it will always mean to our family. It’s a family tradition that’s so strong within us that we’re always going to do it.”