Christkindlmarket Chicago
Daley Plaza, Chicago, IL, USA
Free, easy browsing with a kid-friendly Passport game, held back only by fully outdoor stalls in December cold.
How the Dad Score breaks down
Scored August 2026- Together time17/20
- Wander stalls together, taste bratwurst and hunt for Passport stamps as a pair.
- Low faff16/20
- Free, no booking; just cash, as most stalls don't take cards.
- Value19/20
- Free entry, with a $7 sausage and $6 gingerbread heart for cheap treats.
- Age span15/20
- Christkindlmarket Passport gives kids of varying ages something to collect.
- Weatherproof8/20
- Outdoor stalls in Daley Plaza give little shelter from Chicago winter weather.
Editorial, never paid. How the Dad Score works
Christkindlmarket Chicago sets up in Daley Plaza from mid-November to Christmas Eve, and it's free to walk round. Stalls sell handcrafted wood and glass ornaments, some with free engraving, while food carts turn out Nurnberger bratwurst and hot chocolate in collectable souvenir mugs. Pick up a Christkindlmarket Passport for her to gather stamps at different stalls; five stamps earns an entry into a prize draw at the Visitor Information stand. Most traders are cash only.
Why it works for a dad and child
You wander the stalls side by side, tasting bratwurst and gingerbread hearts and working through the Passport stamps together, not queuing for something she does alone.
When is Christkindlmarket Chicago?
Christkindlmarket Chicago runs 21 Nov to 24 Dec 2026 in Chicago, IL, USA.
Is Christkindlmarket Chicago worth it with kids?
girl.dad gives Christkindlmarket Chicago a Dad Score of 75/100. Free, easy browsing with a kid-friendly Passport game, held back only by fully outdoor stalls in December cold.
What should we plan for at Christkindlmarket Chicago?
It is a christmas market event at Daley Plaza in Chicago, IL. Best age on the listing is 3-12, and the price band is Free-$$.