Christkindlmarkt , Helen, Georgia
Against a setting of half-timbered buildings, the Christkindlmarkt that takes place in the Helen Marktplatz is another magical European-style Christmas market.
Even though it’s a mere hour and a half drive from Atlanta to this northern Georgia town on the border of the Chattahoochee National Forest, you’ll quickly feel as if you’ve entered the Alps for the holidays.
Admission is free to visit this magnificent market. But it only operates on the last week of November and the first weekend of December.
Christmas Village, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Christmas Village in Philadelphia truly is the closest you can get to an authentic German Christmas market. Located at Love Park and City Hall, it runs between mid-November all the way through Christmas Eve.
You can expect over 100 vendors in adorable wooden booths that sell the same kind of goods you’d find in Europe. This includes ornaments, edible delicacies, jewelry, sweets, and arts and crafts from all around the world.
While here, enjoy the nostalgic scent of waffles and twinkling lights around you. But you can also expect to find bratwurst and gingerbread. Of course, they’re all best washed down with a nice cup of hot mulled wine.
There’s an ice rink, a “Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market,” and a municipal Christmas tree in the area as well. You can even ride a magical Christmas Village carousel found in City Hall’s courtyard while visiting this European-style Christmas market.