Christkindlmarket Chicago 2004

Uniting Old World Holiday Market Charm with Modern Architecture

Chicago's popular winter signature event and travel destination, Christkindlmarket Chicago 2004, presented by the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest, returns for its ninth consecutive year to bring this unique and delightful German holiday tradition with international flair and local specialties to Chicagoans and visitors alike.

With over 1 million visitors every year, Christkindlmarket is Chicago's largest, four-week long open air holiday festival. Inspired by the famous German Christmas Market in Nürnberg, which dates back to 1545, Christkindlmarket Chicago will take place in Downtown Chicago on Daley Center Plaza and on Block 37 (Washington, Dearborn & State Streets) from November 25 to December 22, 2004, uniting old world charm with modern architecture.

Heralding the start of the merriest season of the year, Christkindlmarket Chicago opens for a sneak preview on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 2004, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm following the 71st State Street Thanksgiving Parade™ organized by the Chicago Festival Association. Mayor Daley will officiate the 91st Annual City of Chicago Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony and the Grand Opening of the Christkindlmarket Chicago on Friday, November 26, 2004, at 4:00 pm (Christkindlmarket Chicago will open from 10 am to 9 pm). The joined festivities will feature live performances, city dignitaries and the holiday prologue by the official Christkindle, the original Christmas Fairy, from Nuremberg, Germany.

In over 65 charming traditional timber booths, walk-in cottages, and vendor pavilions, vendors from Germany, Europe and the Americas offer a broad variety of unique products and specialties. From German holiday delicacies and chocolates such as the famous Nürnberger Lebkuchen (ginger bread cookies) or the Christmas Stollen (fruit cake) to original German holiday ornaments, from artistic glass, pewter and straw decorations to wooden toys and nutcrackers, from cuckoo clocks to beer steins, from delicate lace products and hand-knit sweaters to candles, jewelry and music, Christkindlmarket Chicago's vendors display high-quality craftsmanship and exceptional products.

Christkindlmarket Chicago offers a special little something for every one: families and children relish the soft pretzels, the merry-go-rounds and the annual Children's Lantern Parade on Thursday, December 2, 2004, at 5:30 pm (the parade is patterned after the German St. Martin parade celebrating Samaritan deeds). Chicagoans meet during their lunch hours sampling the enticing variety of German and American specialties or enjoy the inspiring live demonstrations of glassblowing, woodcarving and onsite baking of pretzels and bread in traditional ovens. Visitors coming from all over the USA and abroad alike unwind to musical performances by choirs and bands while shopping for unique gifts. On the weekends the caroling Glen Sorgatz Brass Band and live performances by a German American band in the Wine & Beer Pavilion accentuate the festive atmosphere.

The popular and heated Timber House on Daley Plaza and the Wine & Beer Pavilion on Block 37 invite visitors to enjoy the famous German Gemütlichkeit. Tasty traditional European and American food, such as brats, potato pancakes, schnitzel, goulash, pork loin or hot dogs await the visitors, to be savored with the famous hot mulled wine, a spiced red wine, served in the signature Christkindlmarket Chicago mugs or a cold German beer. At the Welcome to Germany corner in the 'Wine & Beer Pavilion visitors can learn more about Germany and its beautiful cities and landscapes. They will find diverse information to plan their next vacation. Companies or organization can also rent the special event area in the Wine & Beer Pavilion for special holiday receptions, incentive events or informal business meetings.

Admission to the Christkindlmarket is free: Open daily from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm, expanded opening hours Fri. & Sat. to 9:00 pm. Christkindlmarket Chicago is organized by the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest (www.gaccom.org) and its subsidiary German American Services, Inc. in close cooperation with the City of Chicago and Chicago's Mayor's Office of Special Events. This year, 1.2 million visitors are expected to enjoy this charming, German holiday festival again.

Meet new Friends this Christmas or New Year's Eve

If you'd like to meet new and fascinating friends this Christmas or New Year's Eve, we suggest you join the international Frühstückstreff network of friends. You will be surprised at the free service the editors of christmas-markets-germany.de have been offering thousands of people in over 40 cities in Europe.
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Schedule: 25 November to 22 December 2004

Daily von 11:00 bis 20:00 Uhr
freitags and Saturdays bis 21:00 Uhr

Location: Daley Center Plaza and Block 37 (Washington, Dearborn & State Streets)

Visitor Information: German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest - GACCoM
401 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2525
Chicago, IL 60611-4212
(312) 644-2662 fon
(312) 644-0738 fax
www.christkindlmarket.com

Published: 20.10.2003 - Updated: 13.10.2004
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