# Christmas markets and winter wonderlands in Chicago, 2026

> We found seven Christmas markets and winter events in and around Chicago with 2026 dates posted: three German-style Christmas markets, three holiday markets and one winter wonderland event. Four are free to get in. They’re spread over five areas, with the most in Chicago.

- Last checked: 2026-10-30
- 7 markets and winter events with 2026 dates
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## Markets and winter events

- **Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza** at Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St., Chicago, IL · about 1 mile away. When: Nov 20 – Dec 24. Time: Sun–Thu 11 a.m.–8 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Price: Free admission. Type: German-style market. Hours: Sun–Thu 11 a.m.–8 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Strollers: Tight aisles between huts at lunch and on weekends; weekday mornings are easiest with a stroller. Official page: https://www.christkindlmarket.com/daleyplaza/ (checked 2026-10-30)
- **Christkindlmarket Aurora** at RiverEdge Park, Aurora, IL · about 40 miles away. When: Nov 20 – Dec 24. Time: Thu 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Fri-Sat 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; also open Wed Nov 25 and Mon-Wed Dec 21-23 (11 a.m.-7 p.m.); Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Price: Not listed on the market's Aurora page. Type: German-style market. Hours: Thu 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Fri-Sat 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; also open Wed Nov 25 and Mon-Wed Dec 21-23 (11 a.m.-7 p.m.); Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The suburban sibling of the Daley Plaza market, set along the Fox River at 360 N. Broadway. It runs Thursday through Sunday most weeks, so check the special hours before a weekday trip. Official page: https://www.christkindlmarket.com/aurora/ (checked 2026-10-30)
- **Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville** at Gallagher Way, next to Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL · about 5 miles away. When: Nov 20 – Dec 31. Time: Mon–Thu 3–9 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Price: Free admission. Type: German-style market. Hours: Mon–Thu 3–9 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Official page: https://www.christkindlmarket.com/wrigleyville/ (checked 2026-10-30)
- **Winterland at Gallagher Way** at Gallagher Way, 3637 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL · about 5 miles away. When: Nov 20 – Dec 31. Price: Free to enter; skating, train rides and food cost extra. Type: Winter wonderland. For kids: Skating and a kids' train ride sit right next to the market huts. Official page: https://www.christkindlmarket.com/wrigleyville/ (checked 2026-10-30)
- **Candy Cane Lane Holiday Market** at South Park Ave. between St. Charles Rd. and the Lombard train station, Lombard, IL · about 20 miles away. When: Sat, Dec 5, 2026. Time: 3-7 p.m. Price: Not listed. Type: Holiday market. Hours: 3-7 p.m. Strollers: true. For kids: Holiday characters, hot cocoa and a photo booth; Lilacia Park's holiday lights come on at 5:30 p.m. Run by the Lombard Area Chamber of Commerce. Nutcracker dancers perform at The Schiller Team office right after the lighting. Official page: https://www.lombardchamber.com/candy-cane-lane (checked 2026-10-30)
- **Kris Kringle Market** at Downtown Brookfield, Brookfield, IL · about 13 miles away. When: Sat, Dec 5, 2026. Time: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Price: Not listed. Type: Holiday market. Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Strollers: true. For kids: Santa and his elves, letters to Santa that get a reply, a petting zoo and a trolley between activity stops. The Brookfield Farmers Market's fourth holiday market, with a young entrepreneurs section. The day ends with the village tree lighting. Official page: https://brookfieldfarmers.com/2026-kris-kringle-market (checked 2026-10-30)
- **Roselle Winterfest Holiday Gift Market** at Petal Porch and Petal Plaza, Roselle, IL · about 28 miles away. When: Sat, Dec 5, 2026. Time: 2-6 p.m.; tree lighting 5 p.m. Price: Free skating; market prices vary. Type: Holiday market. Hours: 2-6 p.m.; tree lighting 5 p.m. Strollers: true. For kids: A free iceless skating rink with skates from youth size 8, an inflatable frozen playground and winter characters. The village's Winterfest pairs a local gift market with food trucks and a stage of local acts. Official page: https://www.roselle.il.us/425/Roselle-Winterfest (checked 2026-10-30)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
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## FAQ

### Are there Christmas markets in Chicago in 2026?
Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza at Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St.: Nov 20 – Dec 24. Free admission. Christkindlmarket Aurora at RiverEdge Park: Nov 20 – Dec 24. Not listed on the market's Aurora page. Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville at Gallagher Way, next to Wrigley Field: Nov 20 – Dec 31. Free admission. Winterland at Gallagher Way at Gallagher Way, 3637 N. Clark St.: Nov 20 – Dec 31. Free to enter; skating, train rides and food cost extra. Plus three more on this page.

### Is there a German Christmas market (Christkindlmarkt) near Chicago?
Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza (Chicago, IL · about 1 mile away): Nov 20 – Dec 24. Christkindlmarket Aurora (Aurora, IL · about 40 miles away): Nov 20 – Dec 24. Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville (Chicago, IL · about 5 miles away): Nov 20 – Dec 31.

### Where is there a winter wonderland for kids near Chicago?
Winterland at Gallagher Way (Chicago, IL · about 5 miles away): Nov 20 – Dec 31, Free to enter; skating, train rides and food cost extra.

### Can I bring a stroller?
Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza: Tight aisles between huts at lunch and on weekends; weekday mornings are easiest with a stroller. Candy Cane Lane Holiday Market: true. Kris Kringle Market: true. Roselle Winterfest Holiday Gift Market: true.

### How do you check these markets?
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 30, 2026, and we recheck them every week through December. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).