Christkindlmarket Will Return To West Suburbs With Another Location This Winter

AURORA, IL — Christkindlmarket, the popular German-style holiday market, will return to the western suburbs, making its debut in Aurora this winter, Mayor Richard Irvin announced Tuesday.

Christkindlmarket, held yearly in both downtown Chicago and Wrigleyville, will take place at RiverEdge Park in downtown Aurora during the holiday season. Exact dates, vendors and entertainment will be released throughout the year.

"We’ll close out the year by bringing a new energy to downtown Aurora with a new partnership coming this winter to RiverEdge Park," Irvin said at Tuesday's State of the City address. "A new event that will bring thousands to Aurora, well known for its vendors, its high-quality gifts, its food, holiday cheer, and as an ideal place for families to make memories."

Naperville and Oak Brook have hosted the Christkindlmarket in previous years. The market is best known for its food, traditional hot spiced wine — known as glühwein — and annual commemorative mugs.

According to Tim Rater, president and CEO of Aurora Civic Center Authority, RiverEdge Park is the "ideal site" for the holiday market.

"We’ve always wanted to find a way to activate the Park beyond the summer concert season, and we can’t wait to welcome area residents and Christkindlmarket fans from all over to this incredible new holiday destination in downtown Aurora," Rater said in a statement.

German American Events, LLC, operates Christkindlmarket and is partnering with the City of Aurora and Aurora Civic Center Authority to bring the holiday favorite to Illinois's second-largest city.

"For the last few years, many people have asked when we would have a suburban market, and we are overjoyed to have found such wonderful partners as the City of Aurora and ACCA to make this dream a reality," Kate Bleeker, director of expansion and market development at German American Events, said in a statement.

At the same time Christkindlmarket will run in Aurora, Paramount Theatre — down the street from RiverEdge Park — will be staging "The Sound of Music," giving residents and visitors a chance to do both while in town.

"The City of Lights will truly be lit up with the sights and sounds of the holiday season," Rater said.

Updates will be provided through the Christkindlmarket Aurora Facebook page.