8 of the USA’s Best Christmas Markets

Nothing summons the Christmas spirit more than wandering through a festive market with booths offering up artisan-made gifts, delicious treats and holiday cheer. Europe is most famous for such seasonal celebrations – yet in recent years, the trend has happily crossed the Atlantic. From California to Pennsylvania, European-style Christmas markets have taken off in the US.

So go ahead and wander around a Danish-inspired holiday market in sunny Southern California. Check out a Dutch-style holiday market in Michigan, or choose from several markets around the country that will make you feel like you’ve landed in Bavaria. There may be no better gift than a visit to these generators of holiday cheer – without the cost and hassle of international flights.

Advertisement

1. Chicago, Illinois

Starts late November and runs until late December

Chicago’s Christkindlmarket evokes the charming holiday markets of Germany. Wooden booths sell arts and crafts while holiday music and the smell of roasting nuts fill the air. Sip on mulled wine served in a collectible mug, or grab a cozy cup of hot chocolate. Appropriate for a town that’s long drawn immigrants, Chicago’s outdoor Christmas market is inspired by 16th-century holiday fairs in Nuremberg, with mulled wine and beers, currywurst and kebabs all served up in the German way.

Yet a few elements make this an only-in-Chicago happening. The market is held in Daley Plaza, home of a Picasso sculpture that’s made appearances in movies including The Blues Brothers (1980), The Fugitive (1993) and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986). There’s also a pierogi booth, a nod to Chicago’s Polish heritage.

2. Washington, DC

Starts November 13 and runs until December 23

This one-of-a-kind holiday market takes place in the heart of downtown Washington, DC. For 20 years, it’s been popping up just steps from the National Portrait Gallery, a Smithsonian museum that’s free to visit. (There’s no other holiday market in the US so close to such world-class art.)

Featuring more than 100 vendors, the open-air Downtown DC Holiday Market is where you can shop for jewelry, candles, gifts and clothing – or eat more than you thought possible. Sample the savory meats from Old Blue BBQ or grab a taco from the Roaming Coyote Taco food truck. If you’re still hungry afterward, stop for dinner at such hot spots as Jaleo, Zaytinya or Carmine’s, all a short walk away.

Advertisement

3. New York City, New York

Columbus Circle: Starts in December and runs through the month
Union Square: Starts mid-November and runs until late December
Bryant Park: Starts late October and runs until early January

Since New York City is so huge, it’s no surprise there are numerous holiday markets to choose from. Three stand apart. Cap off a scenic stroll through Central Park with a visit to the Columbus Circle Holiday Market, which features more than 100 vendors and lots of tasty treats. There’s a different mix of vendors at the Union Square Holiday Market, one sure to have that perfect something for the impossible-to-shop-for person on your list. In Midtown, the Winter Village at Bryant Park offers yet a different mix of vendors and is anchored by a picturesque outdoor ice-skating rink, all in the shadow of the iconic central branch of the New York Public Library.

4. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Starts late November and runs until late December

Perhaps the most underrated holiday destination in the US, Philadelphia sees its city center transformed each year into a winter wonderland. JFK Plaza, the Center City park that’s home to the iconic LOVE sculpture, becomes Christmas Village in Philadelphia, an open-air holiday market where the smell of bratwurst, waffles and mulled wine fills the air. Numerous artisan booths stock original items for even the pickiest person on your list.

Whether you’re traveling on foot, by public transit or in your own car, the market is easy to get to. It’s just a 10-minute drive from the Philadelphia Museum of Art and a 5-minute drive from the Independence Visitor Center, home to the historic Liberty Bell, making a full day of sightseeing possible. While you’re at Christmas Village, don’t miss the raclette or the schnitzel. Just follow your nose to find them.

5. Holland, Michigan

Starts late November and runs until late December

True to its name, this Michigan town draws its holiday market inspiration from the Netherlands. Kerstmarkt got its start in 1997 with just 10 booths, but now dozens of vendors set up shops here each year, with local farmers joining them on Saturdays. Like its German-inspired peers, Holland’s Kerstmarkt offers glühwein in collectible mugs; there’s also a hot chocolate bar. Sip on your mulled wine or hot chocolate while watching a dogsled demo – a touch you won’t find at most holiday markets in Europe.

6. Solvang, California

Starts late November and runs until early January

Here’s where you can experience a Scandinavian holiday market in the Southern California sunshine. Between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, Solvang every year hosts Julefest, a monthlong Danish-style holiday celebration. The event includes a tree lighting ceremony, parade and citywide hunt for a mischievous gnome. Market nights are Wednesdays in December, and feature booths from Danish-inspired artists.

7. Arlington, Texas

Starts late November and runs until late December

Some things really are bigger in Texas – and the Texas Christkindl Market in Arlington is one of them. This holiday fiesta is the largest open-air holiday market in the Southwest. And if it feels like a taste of Germany, that’s because it is: the market is inspired by Arlington’s German sister city, Bad Königshofen, and Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a fairy tale Bavarian village. Arlington’s market features artists from around the world, a holiday train and collectibles imported from Rothenburg ob der Tauber’s market.

8. San Francisco, California

Starts late November and runs weekends until late December

The Great Dickens Christmas Fair in San Francisco is a rare market that charges admission – but it’s worth it, since this annual extravaganza is much more than a mere bazaar. The immersive event envelops attendees in the costumes, music and vibes of Charles Dickens’ Victorian London. Don’t be surprised to run into Ebenezer Scrooge, Father Christmas and other colorful characters as you’re shopping for art, clothing, jewelry and gifts. Events like corset fittings and chances to sample beer, port and chocolate only up the merriment quotient.