Craving the cozy charm of a European Christmas market, with sweet Glühwein and handmade ornaments, but not planning a winter trip to Germany?
You don't have to cross the Atlantic. German-style Christmas markets have been part of the American holiday season for decades, from Chicago's Christkindlmarket, now in its 30th year, to small-town markets founded by Dutch and German immigrant communities.
This guide covers the 12 best Christmas markets in the US for 2026, grouped by region so you can plan a weekend around one. Every listing has its 2026 dates as published by the organizers, opening hours, what makes it worth the trip, and how German it really is.
Planning a trip or looking to make a special gift for your loved ones? Start with the dates table below.
Other Christmas Market Guides
US Christmas markets 2026 by region
Northeast and Mid-Atlantic
- Union Square Holiday Market and Bryant Park, New York City
- Christmas Village, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Christkindlmarkt, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
- Christmas Village in Baltimore, Maryland
Midwest
- Christkindlmarket in Chicago, Illinois
- Christkindlmarkt in Carmel, Indiana
- Kerstmarkt in Holland, Michigan
South
Mountain West and Pacific Northwest
- Denver Christkindlmarkt in Denver, Colorado
- Seattle Christmas Market, Washington
- Christmastown in Leavenworth, Washington
Also in this guide: 2026 dates at a glance, what makes a market German-style and FAQ.
Christmas market dates 2026 at a glance
Most US Christmas markets open on the weekend of November 20 and 21, 2026, the weekend before Thanksgiving. Dates below are the ones each organizer has published; hours change around Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, so check the official site before you travel.
| Market | City | 2026 dates | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bryant Park Winter Village | New York, NY | Oct 28, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027 (shops to Jan 3) | Free |
| Union Square Holiday Market | New York, NY | Not yet announced (usually mid-November to Dec 24) | Free |
| Christmas Village | Philadelphia, PA | Nov 21 to Dec 27 | Free |
| Christkindlmarkt | Bethlehem, PA | Weekends, Nov 13 to Dec 20 | Ticketed |
| Christmas Village | Baltimore, MD | Nov 21 to Dec 27 | See official site |
| Christkindlmarket (Daley Plaza) | Chicago, IL | Nov 20 to Dec 24 | Free |
| Christkindlmarket (Wrigleyville) | Chicago, IL | Nov 20 to Dec 31 | See official site |
| Christkindlmarket (RiverEdge Park) | Aurora, IL | Nov 20 to Dec 24, Thu to Sun | See official site |
| Christkindlmarkt | Carmel, IN | Nov 21 to Dec 24 | See official site |
| Kerstmarkt | Holland, MI | Fridays and Saturdays, Nov 20 to Dec 19 | Free |
| Texas Christkindl Market | Arlington, TX | Nov 20 to 22 and Nov 27 to Dec 23 | Free |
| Atlanta Christkindl Market | Lawrenceville and Senoia, GA | Not yet announced | See official site |
| Denver Christkindlmarket | Denver, CO | Nov 20 to Dec 23 | Free |
| Seattle Christmas Market | Seattle, WA | Nov 20 to Dec 27 | Ticketed |
| Christmastown | Leavenworth, WA | Nov 27 to Dec 24 (lights to end of February) | Free to stroll |
Christmas markets in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic
The Northeast has the densest cluster of Christmas markets in the country. New York, Philadelphia, Bethlehem and Baltimore sit within about three hours of each other by train or car, so two markets in one weekend is easy to plan.
1. Union Square Holiday Market and Bryant Park | New York City
2026 dates: Union Square has not announced its 2026 dates yet. It usually opens in mid-November and closes on Christmas Eve (it opened on November 13 in 2025). Bryant Park Winter Village runs October 28, 2026 to February 28, 2027, with the holiday shops open until January 3.
Entry: Free at both. Bryant Park's rink is free if you bring your own skates.
How German is it? Not very. New York's markets are big, modern holiday markets rather than traditional Christkindlmärkte. If you are searching for the largest German Christmas market near New York, the closest traditional options are Philadelphia's Christmas Village and the Christkindlmarkt in Bethlehem, both further down this list.
Don't miss: The Union Square Holiday Market is the one to visit for gifts: rows of local makers, jewelers and food stalls next to the city's largest Greenmarket. Combine it with Bryant Park's Winter Village for skating, then walk up Fifth Avenue for the window displays and the Rockefeller Center tree.
2. Christmas Village | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2026 dates: November 21 to December 27, 2026
Hours: Sunday to Thursday 12 pm to 8 pm; Friday and Saturday 12 pm to 9 pm. Thanksgiving Day (November 26) 9 am to 5 pm, Christmas Eve 12 pm to 5 pm. Closed November 23 to 25 and Christmas Day.
Entry: Free; you pay for food, drinks and shopping as you go.
How German is it? Very. Christmas Village in Philadelphia is built on the traditional German model, with wooden stalls around LOVE Park and City Hall, more than 100 local and international vendors, and German food and Glühwein. For many East Coast visitors it is the closest thing to a Christkindlmarkt in a major city.
Don't miss: The stalls selling imported German ornaments and nutcrackers, and the view of City Hall lit up at dusk.
3. Christkindlmarkt | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
2026 dates: Weekends from November 13 to December 20, 2026: November 13 to 15, 20 to 22 and 27 to 29, then December 3 to 6, 10 to 13 and 17 to 20.
Entry: Ticketed. Check the ArtsQuest Christkindlmarkt page for prices and time slots.
How German is it? Very, and the setting is unusual: the market runs at SteelStacks, the former Bethlehem Steel site, with the blast furnaces lit up behind the stalls. Its organizers describe it as one of the largest and most-attended Christmas markets in the nation.
Don't miss: Pair it with a walk through historic Bethlehem, which calls itself Christmas City USA. It is an easy day trip from New York or Philadelphia.
4. Christmas Village | Baltimore, Maryland
2026 dates: November 21 to December 27, 2026
Hours: Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 12 pm to 8 pm; Fridays and Saturdays 12 pm to 9 pm. Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve 12 pm to 5 pm. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays, except December 21 and 22, and closed November 25 and Christmas Day.
How German is it? Very. Christmas Village has been part of Baltimore's holiday season since 2013 and was inspired by Nuremberg's historic Christkindlesmarkt. More than 60 local and international vendors fill wooden booths at West Shore Park in the Inner Harbor.
Don't miss: The Glühwein Pyramid, the carousel, freshly grilled bratwurst and the boot-shaped mugs. Part of the market is under heated cover, so it works on cold nights too.
Christmas markets in the Midwest
The Midwest is where America's German heritage runs deepest, and its Christmas markets show it. Chicago, Carmel and Holland are within a few hours' drive of each other along the southern end of Lake Michigan.
5. Christkindlmarket | Chicago, Illinois
2026 dates: All three locations open on Friday, November 20, 2026.
- Daley Plaza (50 W Washington St): to December 24. Sunday to Thursday 11 am to 8 pm, Friday and Saturday 11 am to 9 pm; Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve 11 am to 4 pm.
- Wrigleyville (Gallagher Way, 3635 N Clark St): to December 31. Monday to Thursday 3 pm to 9 pm, Friday and Saturday 11 am to 9 pm, Sunday 11 am to 7 pm. Closed Christmas Day.
- Aurora (RiverEdge Park, 360 N Broadway): to December 24, Thursday to Sunday only. Thursday 11 am to 7 pm, Friday and Saturday 11 am to 9 pm, Sunday 11 am to 6 pm.
How German is it? This is the benchmark. 2026 is the 30th season of Chicago's Christkindlmarket, modelled on Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt, and many vendors come from Germany each year. Wrigleyville returns in 2026 after a year off, and Aurora's riverside site is the largest of the three, with more than 60 vendors.
Don't miss: Glühwein in the collectible mug (each year has a new design), roasted almonds, fresh pretzels and bratwurst, and the handcrafted wooden ornaments and nutcrackers.
6. Christkindlmarkt | Carmel, Indiana
2026 dates: November 21 to December 24, 2026
Hours: Wednesday and Thursday 4 pm to 9 pm; Friday and Saturday 12 pm to 9 pm; Sunday 12 pm to 8 pm; closed Monday and Tuesday. Open noon to 9 pm on November 25 and December 21 to 23, and noon to 4 pm on Christmas Eve. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
How German is it? Very. The Carmel Christkindlmarkt was founded in 2017 as a nonprofit dedicated to sharing German culture and Christmas traditions, and it is set up like a traditional German Christmas market on Carter Green, between the Palladium and the Tarkington Theater.
Don't miss: The Carmel Christkindlmarkt Werkstatt (workshop), where German artisans demonstrate their crafts, and the life-size Glühwein Pyramid. Food runs from roasted chestnuts and pretzels to German and Dutch treats such as stroopwafels.
7. Kerstmarkt | Holland, Michigan
2026 dates: Five weekends, Fridays and Saturdays: November 20 and 21, November 27 and 28, December 4 and 5, December 11 and 12, and December 18 and 19, 2026
Hours: Fridays 3 pm to 7 pm; Saturdays 9 am to 7 pm
How German is it? It is Dutch rather than German, which makes it different from every other market on this list. Holland, Michigan was founded by Dutch immigrants in the 1840s, and its Kerstmarkt, now in its 29th year, is a volunteer-run nonprofit market at the Civic Center Market Place on 8th Street.
Don't miss: Handmade goods from local artisans, stroopwafels, a visit from Sinterklaas, the Dutch Santa Claus, and the town's Parade of Lights.
Christmas markets in the South
The South has fewer traditional markets, but the ones it has are large and growing. For the full state-by-state picture, see our guide to the best Christmas markets in Texas.
8. Texas Christkindl Market | Arlington, Texas
2026 dates: November 20 to 22 and November 27 to December 23, 2026
Hours: Daily 11 am to 8 pm
Entry: Free, with free parking in Lot B, 1650 E Randol Mill Road
How German is it? Very. The Texas Christkindl Market is in its 17th year and grew out of Arlington's ties with its sister city, Bad Königshofen, and its friendship city, Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Many of the gifts on sale come from German makers and retailers.
Don't miss: Traditional German decorations such as glass ornaments and wooden toys, live Alpine music, and photos with Santa.
Check out: The Best Christmas Markets in Texas
9. Atlanta Christkindl Market | Lawrenceville and Senoia, Georgia
2026 dates: Not yet announced. The market expands to two locations for 2026: its established home in Lawrenceville, and Senoia, south of Atlanta, for the first time.
How German is it? Very. Run by the German-American Cultural Foundation, it is the best-known German-style Christmas market in the Southeast, with imported German wooden stalls, handcrafted ornaments and nutcrackers, bratwurst and mulled wine in a commemorative mug.
Don't miss: If you are looking for the best Christmas market in the Southeast, this is the one to build a weekend around. Check the organizer's site for 2026 dates and entry details before booking.
Christmas markets in the Mountain West and Pacific Northwest
Colorado and Washington pair their markets with real winter scenery. In California the season looks different; our guide to the best Christmas markets in California covers Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento and more.
10. Denver Christkindlmarket | Denver, Colorado
2026 dates: November 20 to December 23, 2026
Location: Auraria Campus, 1201 5th St. The market has moved from Civic Center Park, so check the address before you go.
Entry: Free
How German is it? Very. Now in its 26th season, the Denver Christkindlmarket brings German and European traditions to downtown Denver with craft vendors from Colorado and Europe, German food and live music.
Don't miss: The heated Festival Hall, which makes this an easy evening out even when the temperature drops.
11. Seattle Christmas Market | Seattle, Washington
2026 dates: November 20 to December 27, 2026, at Seattle Center. Closed Thanksgiving (November 26) and Christmas Day.
Hours: Until December 13, weekdays 4 pm to 9 pm and weekends 11:30 am to 9 pm. Hours extend in the run-up to Christmas, with a 7 pm close on Christmas Eve.
Entry: Ticketed. Buy through the Seattle Christmas Market website, and book weekend slots early.
How German is it? Partly. It sells European sweets and gifts alongside local makers, but it is as much a family holiday attraction as a traditional market.
Don't miss: The carousel, the walk-through tree installation and the wishing forest. Go after dark, when the Space Needle is lit up next door.
12. Christmastown | Leavenworth, Washington
2026 dates: November 27 to December 24, 2026. The village lights stay on daily from Thanksgiving to the end of February.
How German is it? The whole town is. Leavenworth is a Bavarian-style village in the Cascade Mountains, about two and a half hours' drive from Seattle, and Christmastown lights it with more than half a million lights. It is more a festival than a single market, with carolers, Santa and live music at the Front Street gazebo.
Don't miss: The gingerbread house exhibition at the Festhalle, and staying the night: the village is at its best after the day-trippers leave.
What makes a Christmas market German-style?
Most of the markets above use German names because they follow a tradition that began in German-speaking Europe in the late Middle Ages. If you have searched for the best German Christmas market in the US, these are the things that set a traditional market apart from a general holiday fair:
- Christkindlmarkt: literally the "Christ Child market". Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt is the model for several US markets, including Chicago's and Baltimore's.
- Glühwein: hot spiced red wine, served in a souvenir mug you can keep. Collecting the yearly mug, or the boot-shaped Stiefel, is a tradition in itself.
- Wooden stalls: small timber huts decorated with greenery and lights, rather than tents.
- Handcrafted gifts: glass ornaments, nutcrackers, incense smokers and wooden toys, often imported from Germany.
- Christmas pyramids: tiered wooden carousels driven by candle heat. The giant versions at Carmel and Baltimore double as Glühwein bars.
- Food: bratwurst, pretzels, roasted almonds, Lebkuchen gingerbread and Stollen.
The most traditional German-style markets in the US: Chicago, Carmel, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Bethlehem, Arlington and Denver. For a Dutch twist, go to Holland, Michigan; for a whole Bavarian village, go to Leavenworth.
Frequently asked questions
Are there Christmas markets in the US?
Yes, in almost every region. The largest and most traditional are German-style markets in Chicago, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Bethlehem, Denver and Arlington, Texas, and most big cities now have at least one holiday market from mid-November to Christmas Eve.
What is the best Christmas market in the US?
For a traditional German experience, Chicago's Christkindlmarket is the benchmark: it is in its 30th season in 2026 and runs at three locations. Philadelphia's Christmas Village is the strongest choice on the East Coast, and Leavenworth, Washington is the most atmospheric setting.
Where is the biggest German Christmas market near New York?
New York's own markets at Union Square and Bryant Park are large but not traditionally German. For a German-style market, Philadelphia's Christmas Village and the Christkindlmarkt in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania are both within reach for a day trip or a weekend.
When do US Christmas markets open in 2026?
Most open on Friday, November 20 or Saturday, November 21, 2026, and close on Christmas Eve or just after Christmas. Bryant Park in New York opens earliest, on October 28. Check each market's official site, as hours change around Thanksgiving.
Do you need tickets for US Christmas markets?
Most are free to enter, including Chicago's Daley Plaza, Philadelphia, Denver and Arlington. The Seattle Christmas Market and Bethlehem's Christkindlmarkt sell tickets, so book ahead for weekends.
What is the best Christmas market in the Southeast?
The Atlanta Christkindl Market in Georgia is the best-known German-style market in the Southeast, with two locations in 2026. Baltimore's Christmas Village is the nearest traditional market for visitors from further up the coast.
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