Want a Break From Classes? Time to Get in the Christmas Spirit!

Want a Break From Classes? Time to Get in the Christmas Spirit!

If you’re anything like me and you’re stressing about class registration and exams, you’re looking for a break to not think about classes at all. Chicago has that fix for everyone before–and after–Thanksgiving Break: Christkindlmarket! Running every day from this weekend, November 18th, to December 24th.

The Christkindlmarket has been a Chicago tradition since 1996, with its design inspired by the 16th century Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany. Boasting both local and international German vendors, besides trinkets, Christmas ornaments, and wooden clocks, it’s a hotbed of traditional German culture, food, and spirits.

With choirs singing Christmas songs as well as a traditional German brass band (depending on which day you attend), there’s never a gloomy day, even when the polar vortex rolls through. If food is what you’re looking through, there’s a number of European sweets, chocolates, and pastries, famed gingerbread (which is easily one of my favorites), to Bratwurst, soft pretzels, potato pancakes, crepes, and sauerkraut. Hot chocolate, cider, and beer (If you’re 21+), flows from every food vendor like a waterfall.

With admission being free, it’s great for college students, and definitely where every Chicagoan can come together and celebrate holiday cheer, no matter who they are.

If you’re looking for Christmas cheer and a good time with a couple friends (or a special someone), it can easily be a great place to spend a couple hours browsing all the shops, snacking on a brat-burger, and making some great memories.

Christkindlmarket runs every day from Nov. 18th to Dec. 24th, on the Daley Plaza (Exit at State/Lake on the Red Line, walk south to Washington St., then walk west (headed away from Macy’s), and you’ll run into it in just a couple blocks!) The market opens daily at 11 am, closes at 8 pm Sunday-Thursday, then at 9 pm Friday and Saturday. See you there!

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