7 Best Christmas Markets in the U.S. to Visit in 2025

Article Overview

You don’t need a passport to enjoy the magic of a Christmas market. Across the U.S., festive fairs bring Old-World charm to Main Street with twinkling lights, mulled wine and handcrafted gifts.

Here are 7 standout U.S. Christmas markets to explore:

• Great Dickens Christmas Fair, Daly City, California
• Old World Christmas Market, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
• Denver Christkindlmarket, Denver, Colorado
• Christkindlmarket Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
• Union Square Holiday Market, New York City, NY
• Atlanta Christkindl Market, Atlanta, Georgia
• Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 

When most people dream of twinkling Christmas markets, they imagine strolling through Europe’s centuries-old squares, sipping mulled wine and browsing handcrafted ornaments under a canopy of festive lights — but today, you don’t have to cross the ocean to experience that same holiday wonder. From Christkindl markets to Christmas fairs to even a Christmas City, America’s Christmas markets bring Old-World charm, hearty treats and timeless traditions straight to Main Street, making it easy to celebrate close to home.

Deck the stalls

Ready to be transported to a time and place filled with hope, cheer and goodwill toward all? Across the country, holiday markets capture the timeless spirit of Europe’s festive squares, right in the heart of American cities and towns. From Bavarian-inspired villages to Victorian-era fairs, these seven standout U.S. Christmas markets deliver Old-World nostalgia wrapped in New-World charm.

1. Great Dickens Christmas Fair & Victorian Holiday Party

Where: Daly City, California

Dates: 5 weekends in 2025, Nov. 22–Dec. 21, including the Friday after Thanksgiving

Details: Even Ebenezer Scrooge knows Victorian London is a prime setting for a good old-fashioned holiday party. Located outside San Francisco at the Cow Place Arena & Event Center, this Christmas fair features more than 140,000 square feet of attractions including music halls, theaters, dance floors and festive shops. As you walk the winding lanes of Charles Dickens’ Victorian London, you’ll be able to interact with hundreds of costumed performers who’ve taken on the roles of colorful characters from literature and history. Pick up a bowl of Christmas pudding or see what roasted chestnuts taste like. Tickets go on sale October 1, 2025.

2. Old World Christmas Market

Where: Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin

Dates: December 5–14, 2025 (Open daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m.)

Details: For 10 days The Osthoff Resort, a beautiful AAA Four Diamond retreat 2 ½ hours north of Milwaukee, hosts artisans both regional and international at a market reminiscent of the centuries-old Christkindlesmarkt of Nüremberg, Germany. Guests stroll beneath a grand heated tent, choosing from a wide selection of unique holiday gifts including intricate ornaments, fragrant wreaths, festive nutcrackers and hand-crafted jewelry. The Old World Food Court beckons the hungry with tantalizing smells of schnitzel, sauerbraten, apple strudel and more. Upgrade the experience and reserve a spot for some hands-on fun--either decorating holiday cookies or making ornaments and stockings--or kick up your feet and go for a horse-drawn wagon ride. 

3. Denver Christkindlmarket

Where: Denver, Colorado

Dates: November 21–December 23, 2025

Details: The Denver Christkindlmarket brings the traditions, foods and crafts of Germany and Europe to the Mile High City each holiday season, this year at the Auraria Campus in downtown Denver. The must-see (and must-taste!) experience is open to the public and free to attend, with hundreds of booths featuring local and European craft and food vendors. Catch a performance by Bavarian musicians, try traditional German food and warm spiced Glühwein and walk beneath the Mile High Tree, the nation’s tallest LED Christmas tree. Keep an eye out for St. Nikolaus and, if you visit on Krampus Nacht (December 5), don’t be surprised if you spot the sinister Krampus! 

4. Christkindlmarket Chicago

Where: Chicago, Illinois

Dates: November 20–December 24, 2025 (Open daily 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; closing at 4 p.m. on December 24)

Details: This venerable Windy City gala has grown to become one of the most popular winter attractions for locals and tourists alike. Hosted at Daly Plaza since 1997 (with additional locations in Illinois and Wisconsin), the event is based on Nuremberg’s medieval Christmas market. Delight to smells of roasted nuts, fresh pretzels, bratwurst and hot spiced wine; the sound of festive music; and the glimmer of twinkling lights and sparkling ornaments. Christkindlmarket Chicago features free admission, live entertainment and hundreds of vendors selling food and gifts in a cozy atmosphere sure to create a memorable experience for the whole family. 

5. Union Square Holiday Market

Where: New York, New York

Dates: November 14–December 24, 2025 (Weekdays 11 a.m.–8 p.m., weekends 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving and closing at 4 p.m. Christmas Eve.)

Details: With so much to do in the city during holiday season, you might not know where to start. Consider a trip to the festive, eclectic gathering at Union Square, New York’s longest running and largest holiday market in the city. Stroll one of New York City’s iconic public spaces, browsing the more than 150 wintry alpine chalets where vendors have gifts for everyone on your list. Need a little nourishment to sustain your shopping spree? Warm up with some hot chocolate or mulled wine, try a little mince pie and finish with some Belgian fries or strudel.

6. Atlanta Christkindl Market

Where: Atlanta, Georgia

Dates: November 28–December 24, 2025 (Wednesdays and Thursdays: 3 p.m.–8 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays: 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Sundays: 11 a.m.–8 p.m.)

Details: This Bavarian-inspired Christmas market has been blending Old-World charm with the modern energy and vibrant spirit of Atlanta each year since 2021. Held at the Buckhead Village District, the event features dozens of food and craft sellers include German vendors who bring an old country feel to the market as well as Atlantan artisans who reflect what’s unique and wonderful about the city. Enjoy brats and schnitzel, warm up with a hot chocolate, cider or mulled wine and join in as local choirs and bands sing Christmas carols. For a special treat, schedule a photo with Santa.

7. Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem

Where: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Dates:  November 15–December 22, 2025 (Fridays-Sundays in November: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.;  Thursdays-Sundays in December: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

Details: If you didn’t already suspect a place named Bethlehem would go big when celebrating the Yuletide season, its nickname—Christmas City—should make that clear. And big is also a good word to describe the 10-acre Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem. It’s a heartwarming holiday event for the whole family. Shoppers can pick up handmade ornaments, nutcrackers and collectibles from German vendors like Käthe Wohlfahrt. Hungry patrons can enjoy authentic cuisine including Bratwurst and strudel. And the musically inclined can sing along to Christmas songs performed by school and community groups and strolling carolers. Once bags (and bellies) are full, cap your experience by visiting the jolly old man himself—St. Nick!

You don’t need a passport to experience the magic of a European-style Christmas market, just a festive spirit and a sense of adventure. Whether you're sipping mulled wine in Chicago, browsing handmade gifts in Bethlehem, or soaking in Victorian holiday charm in California, these U.S. Christmas markets offer unforgettable ways to celebrate the season. Ready to plan your perfect holiday escape? Let AAA Travel help you unwrap the joy with expert planning, exclusive member perks and offers that make spirits bright.