Across the country, communities in small country towns and cities alike are rigging thousands of twinkling lights, constructing wooden chalet stalls, and readying festive crafts and produce for this year’s Christmas markets.
Visiting a Christmas market is an age-old tradition marking the beginning of the festive season. It’s a chance to spend quality time with family, friends, and neighbors while having the first of many cups of mulled wine and hot chocolate (and shop for ornaments and novel gifts, of course). Depending on the market, there can be seasonal food trucks, fairground rides, music events, parades, ice rinks, and Santa Clauses — everything you need to get into the mood for Christmas.
Perhaps your hometown is on this list. If not, these winter wonderlands are all worth a trip. From German-inspired Christkindlmarkets with all the bells and whistles to smaller local volunteer-built festivals, these are some of the best pop-up Christmas markets in the United States.
Where: Cow Palace Arena, 2600 Geneva Ave, Daly City, CA
Dates: November 22 through December 21, 2025
Opening times: Saturdays & Sundays from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM — plus Friday, November 28 (the day after Thanksgiving)
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair in Daly City, isn’t your average German-inspired Christmas market. Instead of browsing wooden huts for scarves and mulled wine, visitors step into a theatrical re-creation of Victorian London — four acres of lamplit streets, pubs, and performance halls filled with costumed characters and immersive scenes. Hundreds of actors roam the crowd, weaving stories from the era of Charles Dickens while hundreds of vendors offer handmade crafts, Victorian-style gifts, and artisanal foods.
Each day of the market has a packed schedule of performances, caroling, and guest appearances — from late-night-style stage revues to family-friendly activities like a children’s tour of “London.” New this year are expanded food halls with traditional English fare such as roast beef sandwiches, mince pies, and buttered rum punch, as well as dedicated afternoon-tea sittings that can be booked in advance. Other experiences include Champagne-and-chocolate tastings, corset fittings, and character meet-and-greets. Tickets for 2025 are available online only and start at $45 for adults and $25 for children, with discounted early-bird options in September.
Opening times: Stores open daily, with events running until about 9:00 PM on select days
California’s central coast may have more palm trees than snowfall, but the holiday season still feels unmistakably festive in Solvang, the state’s “Little Denmark.” Set in the Santa Ynez Valley, just 45 minutes from Santa Barbara, the Danish-style village turns into a month-long celebration of light, food, and local craftsmanship for Julefest.
From Thanksgiving weekend through early January, the town’s streets are dressed in thousands of twinkling lights and lined with events that blend old-world traditions with California flair. The tree-lighting ceremony on December 5 and the Julefest Parade on December 6 fill the main streets with marching bands, horses, and community floats. Throughout December, the outdoor Maker’s Market pops up on Wednesdays, bringing together local artists and small-batch producers alongside Solvang’s year-round boutiques and bakeries.
Families can join the Nisser Adventure, a town-wide scavenger hunt to find hidden Danish gnomes, or stop by Solvang Park for the nightly light show, which plays on the hour from 5 to 9 PM. The air smells of fresh pastries and æbleskiver (round Danish pancake puffs), and visitors can join hygge walking tours led by a local Dane or board the horse-drawn trolley for the Christmas Light Tour. Adults can step into nearby tasting rooms for a glass of Santa Ynez Valley pinot noir between shopping stops.
When the lights dim in January, the community gathers for one final event — the Solvang Christmas Tree Burn on January 9, 2026 — a decades-long fire-safety tradition where residents bid farewell to the season beside one enormous, controlled blaze.
Opening times: Monday–Thursday 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM; Friday–Sunday 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM (Thanksgiving Day 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM)
Denver’s German-style holiday market has a new home this season at the Auraria Campus, set on the Tivoli Quad with downtown Denver as the backdrop. The move brings the same mix of gift sellers, food vendors, fire pits, and live entertainment — plus heated tents for cold evenings — to a larger, centrally located space. Expect handmade ornaments, carved wood, glass work, and plenty of local makers alongside European imports. Nearby, the Mile High Tree lights up nightly through the end of December, adding another stop to an easy evening circuit.
It’s still very much a family outing: week-to-week programming includes visits from the Christkind and St. Nikolaus, a Krampus night, and kid-friendly activities like storytime on select dates. Food stands cover the classics — bratwurst, schnitzel, hot soups, and sweets — along with mugs of hot glühwein and German beer served in souvenir steins. Plan for heavier crowds on weekend evenings and around special performances.
Known as “Montana’s Christmas Village,” Bigfork offers a holiday experience straight out of a Hallmark movie. The tradition began in 1981 when three friends decided to bring more seasonal spirit to their community. Their modest efforts that first year have evolved into a town-wide celebration that now attracts visitors from far and wide.
On the Saturday before Thanksgiving, Bigfork comes alive with the sounds of carols and the sight of thousands of twinkling lights — volunteers of all ages (known as “Bigfork elves”) gathering to string over 10,000 feet of garland and lights. At 7:00 PM, the tree-lighting ceremony takes place in front of Bjorge’s Gallery, followed by a communal reading of The Night Before Christmas. Families can stroll through galleries, sip hot cocoa, and explore the locally made gifts and festive treats throughout the village downtown.
Village of Lights, Christmastown in Leavenworth, Washington
Opening times: Lights are turned on every day from 6:00 AM until 11:00 PM — check the event calendar for specific activity times
Leavenworth tops the list of adorable US towns to visit year-round with its Bavarian village charm. The streets are lined with traditional German Fachwerkhaus architecture, surrounded by the Cascade Mountains. But come mid-November, the town is transformed by over half a million lights, decking it out in dazzling holiday cheer and making it an ideal winter getaway. Starting November 28, Christmas events begin, turning the entire town into a market-style experience with the main town center, Festhalle, as the epicenter of activities.
Enjoy the Gingerbread House Exhibition, make snowman-themed crafts, or write letters to Santa with your kids — all while carolers stroll through the streets. Then sip on hot cocoa as you browse the local shops for handmade gifts from local artisans. During the Village of Lights, shops and restaurants stay open later, giving you a chance to thaw out between festive stops.
Jingle all the way to get your photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus alongside his merry elves. Rudolph even makes an appearance, and you can also visit the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm, just a mile from the town center, for a hands-on educational experience where you can feed and interact with reindeer. At night, check the event calendar for holiday concerts featuring nostalgic tunes. Grab a bite and a pint at the München Haus Bavarian Grill & Beer Garden, where you can savour traditional bratwursts (including vegan and vegetarian options) paired with a choice of 14 different mustards. For something sweet afterward, pick up some lebkuchen hearts from the Gingerbread Factory or try the German Chocolate Cake Ale from the local Icicle Brewing Company.
Carmel’s Christkindlmarkt is one of the largest in the country, with more than 60 stalls selling everything from intricately carved wooden toys and hand-blown glass ornaments to knitwear and festive wreaths, plus food vendors serving rounds of melting raclette, German bakery treats, waffles, and sausages.
The German-inspired booths surround the ice rink and the Glühwein Pyramid — a 33-foot, 10-ton, light-strewn tower that pours mulled wine in classic and seasonal flavors, along with German beer and children’s punch. You can also pick up the market’s seasonal mug as a souvenir. New this season, a weekend shuttle helps with busy-hour arrivals, and the market’s app lists daily performances and pop-up activities.
The outdoor skating rink, Ice at Carter Green, opens November 22 and runs through February 1, 2026. Bring your own skates or rent on site; sessions last 75–90 minutes and can be reserved online.
Time your visit with one of the many events — from choir performances to the traditional German Sankt Martinstag lantern walk and a visit from Sankt Nikolaus on December 6.
Where: Civic Center Marketplace, 150 W 8th Street, Holland, MI 49423
Dates: November 21 through December 20, 2025
Opening times: Fridays from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM; Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
During springtime, tulip festivals and windmill gardens draw visitors to this part of Michigan — but during the holiday season, the city hosts a Dutch-style Christmas market that brings the Kerstmarkt tradition to life in its charming downtown. Thanks to the largest municipally run snowmelt system in North America, the streets and sidewalks are completely snow-free, making it easy to explore on foot or by car.
Beginning the weekend of November 21, grab a mug of glühwein in this year’s collectible Kerstmarkt stein and explore the booths filled with local artisan creations and handmade trinkets. Around 35 vendors rotate each weekend, offering new finds on each visit and giving a chance to support multiple small businesses. Stock up on holiday gifts, from handmade soaps and handcrafted wooden birdhouses to locally sourced wool mittens. After working up an appetite, indulge in homemade European-inspired fare like saucijzebroodjes (Dutch pigs in a blanket) and sourdough stroopwafels, then build your own steaming mug of hot chocolate at the special bar.
Each weekend offers unique experiences, including photos with Santa, the Parade of Lights, storytime sessions at the library, handbell concerts, Dickens carolers, and dog sledding demos — all on the event schedule, so be sure to check the official calendar before you go. And just a five-minute drive away, the town’s historic windmill, De Zwaan, is illuminated by hundreds of lights and thousands of LED tulips.
Where: Daley Plaza, 50 W Washington St, Chicago, IL
Dates: November 21 through December 24, 2025
Opening times: Thursdays and Sundays 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM; Fridays and Saturdays 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Since its inception in 1996, the annual Christkindlmarket in Chicago has grown into one of the largest and most beloved holiday events in the US — with two additional sister markets now running in Wrigleyville and Aurora. Inspired by Nüremberg’s centuries-old Christkindlesmarkt, Chicago’s version recreates its festive atmosphere with rows of wooden chalets trimmed in fir branches and twinkling lights. Visitors can sip glühwein, beer, or hot chocolate served in collectible mugs while browsing gifts from local and international artisans.
The market’s food offerings span Europe — from Dutch stroopwafels and German pretzels to Belgian fries, Hungarian fried bread, and warm Austrian strudel. Handmade ornaments, candles, jewelry, and wool goods round out the stalls, offering something for every kind of holiday shopper. New for 2025, the market will feature live glass-blowing demonstrations and a small-batch schnapps bar near the main stage.
Before or after shopping, visitors can meet the Christkind — the traditional female counterpart to Santa in German-speaking countries — ride the Ferris wheel, or join special events like wine tastings and choir performances.
Old World Christmas Market in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
Every year since 1998, the village of Elkhart Lake brings the charm of Nüremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt into Wisconsin with its Old World Christmas Market. The annual event takes place under a large heated tent at The Osthoff Resort — a lakeside, four-star property set right on Elkhart Lake itself.
The market knows what holiday-seekers want and delivers accordingly — expect an abundance of German holiday fare and drinks like hot glühwein, apple strudel, sauerbraten, potato pancakes, and dumplings. You’ll also find a wide selection of artisan crafts and premium gifts for under the tree: hand-blown glass ornaments, carved woodwork, amber & silver jewellery, fine clothing, chocolates, and much more.
Beyond browsing stalls, you can ride in a horse-drawn carriage, join ornament-making workshops, or book breakfast with Santa (and one of his live reindeer). Admission for is $8 for adults; children 14 and under are free with an adult ticket-holder.
Where: West Shore Park, 401 Light St, Baltimore, MD
Dates: November 22 through December 24, 2025
Opening times: Sunday through Thursday 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM; Friday and Saturday 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM; Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Eve 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM
The Christmas Village in Baltimore brings Bavarian-style holiday charm to the US — with wooden vendor stalls, thousands of lights, and the iconic Glühwein Pyramid overlooking the Inner Harbor. Now entering its twelfth season, the market has expanded its layout with a larger outdoor beer garden and more covered seating areas for 2025. More than 65 local and international artisans set up shop, offering handmade ornaments, wooden toys, jewelry, and imported holiday treats.
Food is front and center — visitors can try bratwurst, pretzels, schnitzel, lebkuchen, and stollen, along with Maryland favorites like boardwalk fries and corn on the cob dusted with Old Bay. New this year, the Glühwein Pyramid will serve mulled wine in several flavors, including cherry and baked apple, plus a spiced “Glühbier” brewed by a Belgian family brewery.
Aside from food and shopping, visitors can enjoy a classic Christmas carousel, live music on weekends, and photo ops with St. Nicholas. The outdoor area is free to enter, while admission to the heated festival tent requires a small fee on select days.
For more than 20 years, the Downtown Holiday Market has taken over F Street NW between 7th and 9th Streets, right in front of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. Nearly 70 vendors set up shop here each day, selling everything from stroopwafels and handmade jewelry to photography, home décor, and locally printed art. Because the roster of sellers rotates throughout the season, repeat visitors can expect something new on each visit. The market also has daily live music, and the heated tents and nearby cafés make it a comfortable stop even on cold evenings.
Food stalls serve international dishes alongside local favorites — think raclette, crêpes, Malaysian noodles, and DC barbecue — while vendors like The Taste of Germany and Capital Candy Jar cover the classic holiday treats. Around the market, visitors can wander to the nearby museums, the Shakespeare Theatre Company, or Capital One Arena, all within a few blocks. With easy Metro access and hundreds of small businesses represented, this open-air fair brings a genuine community feel to downtown Washington each winter.
Where: PNC Plaza at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Dates: November 14 through December 21 (Thursdays to Sundays on select weeks)
Opening times: Thursdays and Sundays 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM; Fridays and Saturdays 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Bethlehem’s Christkindlmarkt sits beneath the rusted steel stacks of the city’s old mill complex, turning this industrial backdrop into one of the country’s most distinctive holiday scenes. The market, now in its 33rd year, brings together dozens of artisans selling hand-blown glass ornaments, carved wooden toys, and Moravian glass stars that reflect the city’s German heritage. Käthe Wohlfahrt, the well-known German ornament maker, returns each year with intricate nutcrackers and tree decorations rarely found outside Europe. Inside the heated tents, live holiday music fills the air, and visitors browse aisles of handmade pottery, leatherwork, and seasonal treats.
Beyond shopping, Christkindlmarkt doubles as a winter fairground. Families can meet St. Nicholas, watch live ice sculpting, or visit the Crayola Creativity Station to make crafts with kids. The ArtsQuest Hot Glass Experience lets guests create their own small glass ornament on site, while the Winter Wonderland section expands the market outdoors with light displays and extra vendor huts. Classic German fare — from bratwurst and strudel to hot glühwein — keeps everyone warm, and local favorites like Stroopies and Eight Oaks Farm Distillery add a Pennsylvania touch. At night, the glow of the blast furnaces against the lights of the market captures exactly why Bethlehem is called the “Christmas City.”
Dates: November 22 through 24; November 28 through December 23, 2025
Opening times: Daily from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Founded in 2011, the Texas Christkindl Market commemorates Arlington’s decades-long partnership with its German sister city, Bad Königshofen. Working with its partner Christmas city, Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Bavaria, the market brings authentic German holiday traditions to the Lone Star State — from handcrafted gifts to classic European fare served with Texas flair.
Visitors can enjoy bratwurst, sauerkraut, pretzels, and roasted nuts, along with mulled wine, hot cocoa, and local craft beers. This year’s market adds a Biergarten tent with live German music and Texas folk bands performing nightly. For families, there’s a children’s zone where kids can meet Santa Claus, decorate cookies, or take photos in front of the market’s 30-foot Christmas tree.
The mix of Bavarian charm and Texas warmth makes the Arlington Christkindl Market one of the most distinctive holiday events in the US — a festive destination for both locals and travelers.
Where: Bryant Park, between 40th and 42nd Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues
Dates: October 24, 2025 through January 4, 2026
Opening times: Monday through Friday 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM; Saturday and Sunday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
New York City is famous for its all-in holiday atmosphere and shopping — and few places capture it better than the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park. Since its first edition in 2002, this Midtown park has turned into a glowing winter wonderland each year, with a 17,000-square-foot ice-skating rink at its center surrounded by trees, lights, and festive music. The rink offers free admission if you bring your own skates, with rentals available on-site, and now stays open until midnight on select weekends in 2025.
Surrounding the rink are more than 190 artisan Holiday Shops housed in custom-designed “jewel box” kiosks — selling everything from hand-poured candles and wool hats to vintage ornaments, gourmet chocolates, and small-batch spirits. Visitors can also try their hand at curling, reserve one of the transparent igloos for a private hangout, or explore Bryant Park’s new sustainable-gift pavilion.
When you need a break from skating or browsing, head to The Lodge — a full-service bar and food hall overlooking the rink. Seasonal cocktails like the maple bourbon old-fashioned or winter-spiced negroni pair perfectly with snacks from local favorites such as Café ’Cito, S’mores N’More, and Sweet Tooth. The lights, the music, and the scent of roasted nuts and mulled wine drifting through the air make Bryant Park’s Winter Village one of the most festive spots in New York City all season long.
