Photo by Ground Picture at Shutterstock
Discover a winter wonderland as we embark on a festive journey through the enchanting realm of magical European-style Christmas markets in the United States. These charming markets bring the spirit of Old World holiday traditions to life, creating yuletide magic.
You can immerse yourself in the tantalizing aroma of mulled wine, the warmth of twinkling lights, and the joyous melodies of carolers as you explore the stalls brimming with delectable treats and artisanal crafts.
Indulge in the nostalgic charm of these markets, each one meticulously organized to capture the essence of European holiday festivities.
From the festive ambiance inspired by French Marches de Noel to the quaint wooden stalls that’ll remind you of German Christkindlmarkts, these places transport you to a festive dreamscape.
So join Must See Places as we uncover the top 10 European-style Christmas markets scattered across our country, where the season’s magic is limitless!
Wish you could be visiting Tivoli Gardens this Christmas? Well, instead of going all the way to Copenhagen, you can get your fix of a Nordic Christmas at Solvang Julefest, an annual celebration that takes place in California’s Danish town.
Lights and decorations only add to this European-style Christmas market’s storybook atmosphere, and Julefest is the heart of the charming town’s holiday magic.
While here, be sure to try some festive Danish delights like asæbleskiver, which are small pancakes dipped in sugar and jam, and gløgg, the Scandinavian interpretation of mulled wine.
The event also includes a parade, tree lighting ceremony, tours by candlelight, appearances from Santa, obviously, and a community-wide scavenger hunt for secret Christmas elves.
It’s definitely much colder in Carmel during the winter months. So begin your festivities by grabbing a mug of glühwein or hot chocolate when you visit this European-style Christmas market.
Located roughly 30 minutes away from Indianapolis in the heart of Carmel City, this Christmas market has 50 vendors selling nutcrackers, Christmas decorations, cuckoo clocks, and authentic German food from wooden stalls adorned for the holidays.
After shopping at the market, embrace the winter weather with a quick skating excursion on The Ice at Carter Green. The Carmel Christkindlmarkt operates annually from the weekend before Thanksgiving all the way through Christmas Eve.
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.
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.
On the brink of extinction, after its sawmill and logging industry vanished, the Cascade Mountain town of Leavenworth established Projekt Bayern. It transformed the area into a Bavarian-inspired village roughly 5,200 miles from the original.
Many decades later, the 2,500 citizens of this Central Washington town can understandably challenge many of the US’s claims of “most authentic.”
Because the charming town of Leavenworth exudes Bavarian culture year-round, it’s especially festive when decked out with over 500,000 magical lights that are turned on Thanksgiving evening and shine bright through Valentine’s Day weekend.
And while you’re at this European-style Christmas market, be sure to stop and admire over 7,000 nutcrackers from more than 40 countries at the Nutcracker Museum in this unique town.
Taking place at The Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake, the Old World Christmas Market is held in a grand heated tent trimmed with fresh fir boughs and decorated with many twinkling lights.
Even though you’re sure to find specific German gifts, like hand-carved wooden ornaments and nutcrackers, the Old World Christmas Market also features items from other areas in Europe, including Russian nesting dolls, Czech blown-glass ornaments, Estonian woolens, and many more!
But if the Old World Christmas Market is on your wish list for this holiday, you’ll want to start planning your trip now.
While many European-style Christmas markets run from just after Thanksgiving through the holidays, the Old World Christmas Market in Elkhart Lake is only open for two weeks at the beginning of December.
The 16th-century version of the same name in Nuremberg, Germany, inspires Christkindlmarket Chicago every year.
With dozens of decorated wooden booths scattered across Daley Plaza, steaming glühwein mugs, both alcoholic and nonalcoholic, and sweet and savory German snacks, it’s a highlight of Chicago’s famously cold winter.
Similar European-style Christmas markets take place in Wrigleyville, a couple of “L” stops away, and Aurora and all have family-friendly activities for kids and musical performances.
If you do happen to be traveling with the littles in tow, be sure to grab some free Kinder Club passports, which contain riddles to educate children about German tradition and culture. The markets are open from the middle of November through Christmas Eve.
The Denver Christkindlmarket brings together local and European food and drinks, live music, schuhplattler and polka performances, and those famous wooden market huts to Civic Center Park.
You’ll be able to shop for local and internationally-made presents with a steaming cup of glühwein or a Bavarian-style beer to warm up your hands.
As for the food, you absolutely can NOT leave without first trying a soft pretzel, roasted nuts, knödel, or an artisan s’more. This European-style Christmas market is open daily from the middle of November through December 23rd.
Since every Michigander uses their left hand as a map of the Mitten State, hold yours up and touch the fleshy spot between your index finger and thumb.
That’s where our next European-style Christmas market takes you! Roughly 30 minutes south of Saginaw, in a charming town known as Michigan’s Little Bavaria, the Frankenmuth ChristKindlMarkt is open on weekends between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.
There isn’t an admission fee to explore the open-air market that unites over 40 gift and food vendors at the Frankenmuth Farmers Market pavilion on Main Street. And don’t forget to pack some warm boots for this one. Here are our favorites from Amazon!
For 5 weekends starting in the middle of November, you can be transported back in time to Victorian London through The Great Dickens Christmas Fair in San Francisco.
You’ll likely forget which century, or city for that matter, you’re in as you stroll around the lamplit lanes of this not-so-wintery wonderland with characters the renowned Charles Dickens himself created.
Venues from music halls to shops get into the spirit of Christmas with festive-themed activities and events. And while at this European-style Christmas market, follow your nose to the delicious-smelling cart serving freshly roasted organic chestnuts in traditional paper cones.
We hope you enjoyed reading about all these wonderful European-style Christmas markets in the US. But Must See Places has much more to offer this season. For instance, check out: 12 Magical Christmas Destinations In The US
Check out these unique travel experiences for an incredible learning vacation! Looking for some inspiration…
You won't believe the forgotten ruins hiding under our streets! Sometimes, our nation's cities have…
These newly added UNESCO sites are begging to be on your travel bucket list! The…
These are some of America's most beautiful and walkable US cities When you plan a…
Plan your next trip around some of these incredible plant-lover travel destinations! Saying the words…
These East Coast fall foliage train rides are a railway lover's dream! Seeing fall foliage…