7 of the Best European-Style Christmas Markets in the U.S.

The most wonderful time of year can be even more magical when you attend a European Christmas market. Popular in cities such as Brussels, Vienna, Cologne, and Prague, these open-air events are held during Advent, the four weeks before Christmas, beginning in late November or early December. Mazes of rustic wooden stalls feature vendors selling mulled wine, traditional foods such as bratwurst or latkes, gingerbread cookies and other sugary treats, toys, handcrafted ornaments, and holiday décor often made of carved wood or blown-glass. But if you can’t jet across the Atlantic to experience the festivities firsthand, these destinations across the U.S. host similar markets so everyone can join in the fun. 

Christkindlmarkt – Frankenmuth, Michigan

Walking the streets of Frankenmuth, you may feel like you’re in Germany, so it’s no wonder this city stages a spectacular European Christmas market. The town was established in 1845 by a group of 15 Lutheran immigrants from the Franconian region of Germany, who brought their Bavarian culture with them. The settlers built a log church-school and developed a community known for its brewing, milling, and cheese-making, and their holiday traditions also remained very much alive. 

Today, the world’s largest Christmas store, Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, is located in Frankenmuth, and the world’s oldest school for Santa Clauses in training is in nearby Midland. The German settlement also hosts Christkindlmarkt, with more than 100 vendors selling produce and goods from local farms, alongside pastries, Christmas ornaments in all shapes and colors, and other festive treasures. The event features glockenspiel performances, a holiday parade, horse-drawn carriage rides, riverboat cruises, visits with Santa, and an ice-skating rink. 

Julefest – Solvang, California

Nestled in Southern California’s Santa Ynez Valley, Solvang is known for its Danish heritage, evident from the numerous half-timbered buildings with thatched roofs and windmills across town. Founded in 1911 by three Danish immigrants, the city honors its Scandinavian roots with Julefest, a festive event featuring a tree-lighting ceremony, live caroling, ballet performances, and a maker’s market with local produce, flowers, and Danish pastries and handicrafts for sale.

Christkindlmarkt – Carmel, Indiana

Come Christmas, this suburban city just outside Indianapolis goes into full holiday cheer mode. Carmel lives up to its sweet name with Christkindlmarkt, a German-inspired market featuring a massive outdoor skating rink and more than 60 huts selling fare such as Bavarian pretzels and almond-filled pastries, along with ornaments and other Yuletide trinkets. Award-winning displays and live demonstrations by artisans ensure this event is one you won’t want to miss if you’re looking to experience Christmas in the Midwest.

Old World Christmas Market – Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin

Indoor festivities are the norm in Wisconsin come winter, which is why the village of Elkhart Lake in Sheboygan County goes all out to give residents a festive place to warm up. Hosted at the Osthoff Resort and Spa, a four-star accommodation on the water, the Old World Christmas Market was inspired by the centuries-old Christkindlesmarkt in Nüremberg, Germany. It features 95 vendors in a heated tent selling goods made by local artisans, with the scent of fresh evergreens and roasting almonds wafting through the air. Attendees can dance to German folk music and be merry while they indulge in traditional German fare, beers, and gluhwein (mulled wine).

Christkindlmarkt – Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Christkindlmarkt in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, looks a little different from the birthplace of Jesus Christ, which inspired the city’s name. For starters, the event is set against the backdrop of a former steel plant that was converted to an entertainment venue nicknamed “SteelStacks.” There aren’t any donkeys or sheep lying by the manger, either, but the German-inspired market features the chance to have breakfast with St. Nick, a holiday martini tasting, glass-blowing demonstrations, and even holiday speed-dating. Attendees can fill their bellies with beer, mac and cheese, and mashed potato balls before wandering among the many stalls selling some of the most creative Christmas gifts in the region.

The Great Dickens Christmas Fair – Daly City, California

Located immediately south of San Francisco along the Pacific Coast Highway, Daly City hosts a holiday festival that first launched in 1970 and was inspired by Victorian England. The Great Dickens Christmas Fair is held each season inside the historic Cow Palace, which has been a hub for live entertainment in the Bay Area since 1941. Try the port, chocolate, and Champagne tastings or a pub crawl as you interact with hundreds of costumed performers in Victorian-era garb. Theatrically lit shops reminiscent of London sell handmade gifts as well as books and festive treats like roasted chestnuts.

Christkindlmarket – Chicago, Illinois

Chicago goes big with its Christkindlmarket. You can experience it at three locations — in downtown Chicago, the Wrigleyville neighborhood on the city’s north side, and the western suburb of Aurora. No matter which one you visit, the Windy City promises an event to remember, with free admission to the magic.

The event dates back to 1995, when the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest was seeking alternative ways to promote bilateral trade between the U.S. and Germany. The outdoor market was officially launched in Pioneer Court the following year. Since then, millions have flocked to the authentic wooden stalls to peruse the array of imported ornaments, mugs, and Bavarian souvenirs from Europe. In addition to Santa Claus, you can take pictures with Krampus, the legendary half-goat, half-monster figure popular around Christmastime in Germany and Eastern Europe.