Christkindlmarket Opens Friday In Aurora: What To Expect

AURORA, IL — The time has come: Christkindlmarket is officially open for its second season in Illinois's second-largest city.

The popular German-themed outdoor market runs through Sunday until Dec. 24, turning RiverEdge Park in downtown Aurora into a wonderland filled with vendors selling holiday items, food and drink, and special events.

This year, Christkindlmarket is increasing the sitemap to host 54 vendors — as opposed to the inaugural year's more than 35, Patch reported. Add-ons include vendors specializing in German Flammkuchen, similar to pizza, and Belgian poffertjes, almost like mini pancakes.

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German American Events, a subsidiary of the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest, puts on three Christkindlmarkets in the Chicago area: two in the city (in Wrigleyville and the Daley Plaza downtown) and one in Aurora. It's the most authentic traditional holiday market of its kind outside of Europe, organizers boast, with traditional candy-striped huts modeled after the classic holiday market in Nuremberg, Germany.

In Aurora, Christkindlmarket will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.

Times will be slightly adjusted for holidays and a few days in December. On Thanksgiving, it'll operate from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 18-20, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

Organizers are looking to make Christkindlmarket an annual occurrence in Aurora but will make final decisions in the new year when organizers meet to set dates and locations, Patch reported.