After many years as a popular wintertime gathering place, the Bavarian-style Christkindlmarket will not return to the North Side Wrigleyville neighborhood of Chicago. This change arises because of winter event programming that makes use of the field. The market, which was almost identical to those seen in cities like Munich, Germany, attracted many visitors with vibrant lights as well as artisan goods and food vendor stalls. Known for having shorter lines for stalls and rarely having an entrance wait, many preferred the Lakeview market to the condensed one downtown tucked into Daley Plaza.
The hiatus, though made official in April of this year, was initially announced via Facebook in a post by the Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville account. This announcement was not loud enough though, as many people were unaware that it does not exist this year and had been planning to make a visit.
Right off of the Addison Red Line and multiple bus routes, the easy commute to the market occupied more space with recent years placing the ice rink and rides inside of Wrigley and vendor stalls in the adjacent Gallagher Way. This allowed for more walking space and seating. Due to the layout, larger numbers of people were permitted to comfortably occupy the market and reduced the battle between patrons over seating. All of these differences combined allow for more leisure amongst attendees with less pressure to hustle in and out.
The annual National Hockey League(NHL) Winter Classic is being played inside of the ballpark for the second time. Typically scheduled around New Year’s Day, this year it will take place on the 31st of December. The Chicago Blackhawks and the St. Louis Blues are set to go up against each other and a halftime show will be performed by Chicago’s very own The Smashing Pumpkins and Jones alum Chance the Rapper. The exact attendance isn’t known at the moment, but the event typically sees attendance of around forty-thousand people. At this time it’s not known if the market will return in the holiday season of 2025 as official statements have only been made in regards to the 2024 holiday season, but assuming that the city does not host the NHL classic again next year, there’s a solid likelihood for its return.
Despite the fact that there is not a Christkindlamrket the Winterland, which is composed of winter-themed carnival rides and games, has made a return. This brings to mind questions of why could not the usual market take place. Upon visiting the holiday pop-up during what should be prime visiting hours, Friday night from five-thirty to six, it was mostly empty with only a few rides. To use each ride tickets need to be purchased and a varying amount will be collected and they are priced at five dollars each. Bumper cars, Tilt-A-Whirl, a carousel, and a train which operates in the concession portion of the park. Despite the hefty fee per ride they did not run smoothly, with a two-minute five-dollar train ride crashing promptly into a pole. A few stalls are also present, though they are the ones that stay at Gallagher Way year-round this time serving more festive beverages such as hot chocolate and mulled wine. Rather than spark holiday joy feelings of sadness emerge as the old market was arguably more festive, with more stalls, lights, and music.
This pop-up is set to close on the 21st in lieu of the classic, but why couldn’t the market still be set up and taken down by that date? One such reason could be that this way of using the space may be more profitable for the park, leaving the return of the Christkindlmarket uncertain. Or, there may simply be contractual obligations for the length in which it needs to be set up that could not be met this season.
The already extensive, block-long, lines at the Downtown market likely will only worsen as more people flood to it, acting as a deterrent for potential visitors and the holiday joy they’re seeking. There’s also no longer an ice skating rink or rides associated with a Christkindlmarket in the city limits. The loud holiday songs, bright lights, and the stench of raclette sandwiches will be missed by all Chicagoans, but there’s hope for a comeback next year.
