12 European-Style Christmas Markets in the US With Old-World Charm

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The US is full of wonderful Christmas markets. It also has charming European-style markets that will make you think you’ve landed in Bavaria.

From Danish towns in California to German villages in New York, there’s no shortage of European culture in the US. During Christmas, these communities put together some of the largest and most European Christmas markets outside of Europe.

It’s time to throw on your lederhosen and head to the US for the ultimate European Christmas market experience. Below are the top 12 European-style Christmas markets in the US.

Christkindlmarket, Chicago, Illinois

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Chicago may have one of the biggest Christmas markets in the world and certainly one of the most European. The German-inspired Christkindlmarket is where to go to satisfy all your German cake, glühwein, and schnitzel cravings.

You’ll enjoy hundreds of artisans selling their homemade traditional crafts and delicious food in wooden booths. You’ll see traditional German Christmas decorations and characters from timeless European Christmas tales.

The festival draws its inspiration from Nuremberg, Germany’s annual celebration. Come hungry because there’s enough gingerbread and tasty bratwurst to satisfy the biggest appetites.

Solvang Julefest, Solvang, California

In the center of one of Central California’s most famous wine regions, Solvang is an unlikely place to get Christmassy. However, the town has a history of Danish immigration and has become an island of European kitsch in the Californian countryside.

At the annual Julefest, you’ll get to enjoy windmills, lego toys, and, of course, Danish pastries galore. Solvang’s downtown turns into a Danish-style holiday party every December.

Don’t miss parades, Santa Villages, and the main event, the Julefest Christmas Market. Other than the market and festivities, you can tour Santa Barbara County’s wine country and try hot mulled wine during a beautiful Californian sunset.

Savannah Christmas Market, Savannah, Georgia

The coastal city of Savannah puts on one of the best holiday celebrations in the country. At the center of it all is its Austrian-themed Christmas Market. This fun event is perfect for the whole family and features artisans and small businesses that sell just about everything under the sun.

Among the Southern treats, you’ll find schnitzel, pretzels, and plenty of mulled wine. There are also chocolate vendors selling homemade chocolate treats and hot cocoa.

The event starts with the annual Savannah Harbor Boat Parade of Lights and a tree-lighting ceremony. After enjoying the market, don’t miss Sacannah’s famous Christmas light decorations and the many live performances and Santa appearances in the historic downtown.

Philly’s Christmas Village, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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The City of Brotherly Love is famous for its historical landmarks and rowdy sports teams. It also has one of the best European-style Christmas markets in the US.

When you enter the Christmas Village near the famous Love Park, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into Europe. From German decorations and traditional holiday clothing to the very German food options, the market is a unique holiday destination for visitors.

You can enjoy a traditional beer garden and sample artisanal bratwurst and other seasonal specialties. If beer isn’t your thing, you can fill up on mulled wine or hot chocolate while watching performers dance under the sparkling lights and Bavarian decor.

Aside from the lederhosen you may find a Rocky impersonator in a Santa hat. This is Philly after all.

Christkindl Market, Arlington, Texas

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Texas lacks the snowy nights you’d expect from a European Christmas destination. However, Arlington’s Christkindl Market feels like you’ve been teleported to Germany, aside from the cowboy hats of course.

For over a century, German immigrants have called the Lone Star State home. In Arlington, the German traditions come alive for a month-long holiday experience.

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At the market, you’ll find all the wonderful treats and items you’d expect at a traditional Bavarian Christmas market. There will be plenty of nutcrackers, festive lederhosen, and traditional music. But don’t worry, there are plenty of rodeos to check out nearby in case you forget where you are.

The Great Dickens Christmas Fair, San Francisco

From November 23 to December 24, San Francisco’s Cow Palace Exhibition Halls transform into old London. In a tip of the hat to the great novelist Charles Dickens, people come from all over the country and beyond in full Victorian costume.

You’ll experience everything you’d expect from a Victorian London Christmas market. You’ll rub shoulders with people dressed as Dickens characters while performers and vendors entertain the crowd in winter.

You’ll load up on roasted chestnuts and English cuisine and dance through the night to live music. There’s plenty of live theater, arts and crafts, and homemade mead and beer to keep you in the merry spirit for the entire month.

Carmel Christkindlmarkt, Carmel, Indiana

Every December, the small town of Carmel celebrates its German heritage at the Carmel Christkindlmarkt. This exciting celebration of Bavarian Christmas traditions is truly unique.

A massive Glühwein Pyramid is built every year at its center. After filling up your mug with homemade mulled wine, you can parade through the market and check out unique vendors selling all kinds of homemade crafts and traditional German cuisine.

The market is so authentically German that every year German artisans and tourists visit the town to sell their goods and party with the locals. Outside the market, Carmel’s downtown neighborhoods are transformed into one of the biggest Christmas light shows in the Midwest, making this the perfect destination for holiday fans.

Christmas Village, Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore hosts one of the largest European-inspired Christmas markets in the country. It takes on a German-inspired theme in honor of the city’s German immigrants who came to the city over a century ago.

You’ll enjoy all kinds of traditional festivities, including live polka and, of course, beer and pretzels. At the heart of the celebrations is the giant Glühwein pyramid. Local artists build the tower of mulled wine every year as the market’s colorful centerpiece.

Vendors sell a huge amount of traditional crafts, food, and drinks. As the sun goes down, the market turns into a family-friendly Christmas party, with plenty of holiday cheer and live accordion music.

Julmarknad, Raleigh, North Carolina

For a truly Scandinavian Christmas celebration, head to Raleigh, North Carolina’s spectacular Julmarknad. The market features a mixture of traditions from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, and Finland, with a Southern twist, of course.

The market is full of traditional decor and special appearances by the Scandinavian Santa, known as Tomten. There will be tons of mulled wine, pea soup, and Swedish meatballs.

After enjoying the market, head downtown to experience Raleigh’s exciting Christmas celebrations. Restaurants, bars, and shops get into the holiday spirit and serve plenty of Christmassy goodies to anyone, naughty or nice.

Christkindlmarket, Denver, Colorado

With the towering Rocky Mountains in the distance, Denver’s Christkindlmarket feels like a holiday dream world. From November 23 to December 24, Denver’s Civic Center Park turns into a little representation of a Bavarian Christmas.

You’ll dance to polka while wafts of homemade sausages and strudel fill the air. Vendors sell traditional German crafts and toys along with typical burgers and ribs you’d expect from a Colorado cookout.

For beer fans, Christkindlmarket feels like a continuation of Oktoberfest. Nearby craft breweries turn into centers of holiday celebrations with live music and plenty of delicious food.

Kerstmarkt, Holland, Michigan

Holland is famous for being, well, Dutch. Over a century ago, the region was settled by Dutch immigrants who brought their traditions with them to the cold shores of western Michigan. Today, there’s no better place to celebrate the town’s Dutch heritage than the Kerstmarkt.

You’ll find all kinds of traditional foods, ornaments, decorations, and traditional Dutch costumes. There’s also live music and interactive games for all ages.

The event runs from November 23 to December 24. After the market, head downtown to enjoy the town’s beautiful Christmas lights and tranquil small-town vibes. For beer lovers, Holland has several popular craft breweries that turn into festive Christmas parties during the holidays.

Union Square Holiday Market, New York, New York

From November 16 to December 24, New York’s Union Square Holiday Market turns into one of the country’s largest Christmas markets. You’ll find vendors selling traditional European items from various cultures.

From Bavarian bratwurst to Danish pastries, the market will feel like a mixture of traditions and styles. As you walk along the circular paths, you can find locally made items, fresh produce from the New York countryside, and of course apple cider donuts.

At night, the market transforms into a city of lights and costumes. People come from all over the city and beyond so expect to see a truly New York-style mixture of Christmas traditions.