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A holiday market vendor stall with ornaments, wooden santas, and Christmas decor.
Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza.
Xinhua News Agency via Getty Image

The best Chicago holiday markets

To find special gifts from local makers, shop here

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Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza.
| Xinhua News Agency via Getty Image

By far the most popular holiday market in Chicago is Daley Plaza’s Christkindlmarket. Little wooden stalls feature delicate ornaments, wooden cuckoo clocks, and, of course, the coveted boot-shaped mugs. A visit to the charming, but crowded, Christkindlmarket is a cherished holiday tradition for some. However, there are a few other holiday markets across the city that shouldn’t be missed.

Interested in hunting for the perfect vintage Christmas ornament? Need to shop sustainable makers? Looking for handmade gifts? We’ve tell you where to find it all.

Most holiday markets are pop-ups over weekends at the end of November and early December, so make sure to mark your calendar.

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Vends + Vibes

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Stroll along the historic Garfield Park Boulevard at Washington Park during a two-day winter marketplace featuring local artists and small businesses around the South Side. More than 30 vendors will be selling items like artisanal soaps, stained glass art, prints, candles, and vintage posters. There will also be DJs, marshmallow roasting, and other holiday activities for kids. Open December 14 and 15.

Renegade Holiday Craft Fair

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Renegade is known for curating the best local makers, crafters, and artists. In Chicago it has multiple fairs throughout the year, but this one takes place indoors at the Bridgeport Arts Center. Shop ceramics, candles, table top decor, custom art prints, hand-dyed textiles, and stained glass ornaments from 250 designers. Open from December 7 to 8.

Ye Olde Holiday Shoppe

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For the fifth year in a row, Land and Sea Dept. is hosting its Ye Old Holiday Shoppe with local makers and shops like Ace High Vintage, Fleur, and Meha Ceramics. Find vintage housewares, handwoven textiles, house plants, and ceramic candle votives at the market set up at Lincoln Park’s Chicken & Fish.

The Hatchery Chicago

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The Hatchery opened a space this spring on the West Side dedicated to helping residents build their small food and agriculture businesses. On December 14, the space will host a holiday market where residents can shop products from West Side businesses and artists. Families will also be able to get photos with Santa and kids can craft in an ornament-making workshop.

Christkindlmarket

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Inspired by German Christmas markets, visitors can enjoy the European tradition right in the middle of downtown Chicago. The open-air market features a number of vendors selling everything from fried cheese to pointed star lanterns and winter-themed cuckoo-clocks. The little wooden stalls, sparkly lights, and giant menorah are bound to put you in the holiday spirit. It opens Friday, November 22 and runs until Christmas Eve.

Vintage Garage Holiday Market

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During the warmer months, Vintage Garage is known for its antique flea markets in an Uptown parking garage. This year the group will have its first holiday market in Evanston. Regular vendors have a knack for supplying midcentury modern furniture, but many will also have vintage Christmas ornaments, decorations, and gifts. It’s the only time Vintage Garage will have a holiday market, so you can bet antique hawkers will bring their best. Open Sunday, December 1.

Made in Chicago Market

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This market resulted from a desire to celebrate creative Chicagoans making beautiful items right in their own neighborhoods. At the seasonal markets organized by the Chicago Sun-Times, visitors can shop handmade gifts like candles, stationary, and wall art produced by local makers. Open on Saturday, November 30.

Randolph Street Market

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The Randolph Street Market is one of Chicago’s largest antique markets. Vendors pack three floors with antique glassware, paintings, home decor, and small pieces of furniture. The two markets scheduled on for November 23 to 24 and December 14 to 15 will have a special holiday flair and an Elves Workshop to entertain kids with festive crafts.

BIDE Holiday Market

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For those shoppers being mindful of the environment, visit this fully sustainable and plastic-free holiday market. This luxury market will feature just 25 vendors—all local, ethical brands. Shop single-use alternatives like artful kitchen brushes with wooden handles, learn about neighborhood composting services, and buy upcycled photo frames with mini moss gardens.

One of Kind Holiday Show

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In the Merchandise Mart, the 19th annual One of a Kind Holiday show will feature 600 artists selling fiber art, ceramics, sculptures, photography, wood carvings, glasswork, and furniture. As one of the largest pop-ups, it could be overwhelming to tackle without knowing exactly what you want to find. But keep in mind, the market is broken up into districts—fashion designers, fine art, emerging crafters, and so on. Open from December 5 to 8.

Lincoln Park Zoo Holiday Market

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This holiday market takes place right in the middle of Lincoln Park’s ZooLights. It’s the perfect, family-friendly way to begin knocking off items on your holiday shopping list. There will be local shops and artisans with a selection of wintery items, ornaments, and Chicago-themed gifts. There’s complimentary gift-wrapping too. Open on Tuesday, December 3.

Rebuilding Exchange’s Winter Lumberland Holiday Market

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ReBuilding Exchange, a nonprofit that teaches folks woodworking skills and salvages wood from Chicago neighborhoods, is having its annual lumberyard holiday market. Browse one-of-a-kind crafts from 15 local vendors, last year there were items from home goods shop Neighborly, intricate map art of Chicago neighborhoods, handcrafted wood furniture. Open on Friday, December 13.

Vends + Vibes

Stroll along the historic Garfield Park Boulevard at Washington Park during a two-day winter marketplace featuring local artists and small businesses around the South Side. More than 30 vendors will be selling items like artisanal soaps, stained glass art, prints, candles, and vintage posters. There will also be DJs, marshmallow roasting, and other holiday activities for kids. Open December 14 and 15.

Renegade Holiday Craft Fair

Renegade is known for curating the best local makers, crafters, and artists. In Chicago it has multiple fairs throughout the year, but this one takes place indoors at the Bridgeport Arts Center. Shop ceramics, candles, table top decor, custom art prints, hand-dyed textiles, and stained glass ornaments from 250 designers. Open from December 7 to 8.

Ye Olde Holiday Shoppe

For the fifth year in a row, Land and Sea Dept. is hosting its Ye Old Holiday Shoppe with local makers and shops like Ace High Vintage, Fleur, and Meha Ceramics. Find vintage housewares, handwoven textiles, house plants, and ceramic candle votives at the market set up at Lincoln Park’s Chicken & Fish.

The Hatchery Chicago

The Hatchery opened a space this spring on the West Side dedicated to helping residents build their small food and agriculture businesses. On December 14, the space will host a holiday market where residents can shop products from West Side businesses and artists. Families will also be able to get photos with Santa and kids can craft in an ornament-making workshop.

Christkindlmarket

Inspired by German Christmas markets, visitors can enjoy the European tradition right in the middle of downtown Chicago. The open-air market features a number of vendors selling everything from fried cheese to pointed star lanterns and winter-themed cuckoo-clocks. The little wooden stalls, sparkly lights, and giant menorah are bound to put you in the holiday spirit. It opens Friday, November 22 and runs until Christmas Eve.

Vintage Garage Holiday Market

During the warmer months, Vintage Garage is known for its antique flea markets in an Uptown parking garage. This year the group will have its first holiday market in Evanston. Regular vendors have a knack for supplying midcentury modern furniture, but many will also have vintage Christmas ornaments, decorations, and gifts. It’s the only time Vintage Garage will have a holiday market, so you can bet antique hawkers will bring their best. Open Sunday, December 1.

Made in Chicago Market

This market resulted from a desire to celebrate creative Chicagoans making beautiful items right in their own neighborhoods. At the seasonal markets organized by the Chicago Sun-Times, visitors can shop handmade gifts like candles, stationary, and wall art produced by local makers. Open on Saturday, November 30.

Randolph Street Market

The Randolph Street Market is one of Chicago’s largest antique markets. Vendors pack three floors with antique glassware, paintings, home decor, and small pieces of furniture. The two markets scheduled on for November 23 to 24 and December 14 to 15 will have a special holiday flair and an Elves Workshop to entertain kids with festive crafts.

BIDE Holiday Market

For those shoppers being mindful of the environment, visit this fully sustainable and plastic-free holiday market. This luxury market will feature just 25 vendors—all local, ethical brands. Shop single-use alternatives like artful kitchen brushes with wooden handles, learn about neighborhood composting services, and buy upcycled photo frames with mini moss gardens.

One of Kind Holiday Show

In the Merchandise Mart, the 19th annual One of a Kind Holiday show will feature 600 artists selling fiber art, ceramics, sculptures, photography, wood carvings, glasswork, and furniture. As one of the largest pop-ups, it could be overwhelming to tackle without knowing exactly what you want to find. But keep in mind, the market is broken up into districts—fashion designers, fine art, emerging crafters, and so on. Open from December 5 to 8.

Lincoln Park Zoo Holiday Market

This holiday market takes place right in the middle of Lincoln Park’s ZooLights. It’s the perfect, family-friendly way to begin knocking off items on your holiday shopping list. There will be local shops and artisans with a selection of wintery items, ornaments, and Chicago-themed gifts. There’s complimentary gift-wrapping too. Open on Tuesday, December 3.

Rebuilding Exchange’s Winter Lumberland Holiday Market

ReBuilding Exchange, a nonprofit that teaches folks woodworking skills and salvages wood from Chicago neighborhoods, is having its annual lumberyard holiday market. Browse one-of-a-kind crafts from 15 local vendors, last year there were items from home goods shop Neighborly, intricate map art of Chicago neighborhoods, handcrafted wood furniture. Open on Friday, December 13.