Are you yearning for gluhwein and other treats found at the European Christmas markets, but can't make a trip to Germany this season? Traditional Christmas markets have been imported to a few cities here in Canada and the US; I found this article on the CNN Travel website today. This sounds so much better than a trip to my local mall.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/12/travel/north-american-christmas-markets/index.html?hpt=tr_c1
Sort of related…I believe there’s a U.S. branch of that Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas store in RodT in St.Paul or Stillwater, MN. Maybe someone from Minneapolis can weigh in. Might be an opportunity to get your Rothenburg fix.
Thanks Elaine! Wish we had one here in SF...
Or anywhere in Northern California...
Hi,
Here in north west NJ the small town of Lake Mohawk has a 1 weekend "German Christmas Market".
http://lakemohawkgermanchristmasmarket.com
Paul
We went to the Toronto market last Saturday. Its our third year in a row. The Distillery District has a lovely historic look and feel despite the modern condos looming over. Glad we didn't plan it for today-Minus 21 Celsius this morning! !
Or if you want a nice fix go to the live cam for the Vienna Christkindlmarkt;
http://www.wiener-maerkte.at/christkind/christkind.html
It is called Punsch there, not Gluhwein, but still very WARMING!!
The Vienna markets are wunderbar!! Especially in Spittleberg, Schoenbrunn, and Karlskirche.
As I understand, some years Bethlehem's Christmas market even has a Käthe Wohlfahrt shop.
I'm guessing there's one crucial element that's going to be absent from most of these markets- the casual Glühwein consumption. Correct me if things have changed since I lived in the US, but large-scale open alcohol use seemed to be a no-no, unless you placed it in a strictly access-controlled environment. Which kind of kills the whole point.
For Northern Californians, why not try the Dickens Faire in San Francisco? It's kind of like a Christmas market mixed with a Renaissance faire, except the timeframe is Victorian England. I love it there!
Tom, at the Toronto Market there's a large section for drinking. You can't wander around the whole market but in this area (I'd say about 1/3 of the area) you can. In fact, lots of companies give out free drinks. We had free Amarula, Calvados, cherry brandy, vodka and more.
There is one in Cincinnati this weekend. http://cincideutsch.com/cincideutschChristkindlmarkt2013.php I am hoping the snow will hold off so we can make it down!
You missed the Christkindlmarkt on 7 December, 2013 at the Sacramento Turn Verein, 3349 J Street, phone 915.442.7360. We (Camtia Dance Ensemble) used to dance there for Oktoberfest and Bock Bierfest.
@Darcy - I totally forgot about that market. I went a couple of years ago. I'm sorry I missed it. They also do a Victorian Christmas in Nevada City. Usually it's one Saturday and one week night. I'll have to check the dates on that.
The Nevada City Victorian Christmas is on Wednesdays - 4th, 11th & 18th - from 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. and on Sundays - 15th & 22nd - from 1:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
The Christkindlmarket in Chicago has been open since before Thanksgiving in Daley Plaza. It's open daily from 11am to 8pm Sunday thru Thursday and 11am to 9pm on Friday and Saturday. On Christmas Eve it's open from 11am to 4pm. I've enjoyed Gluhwein in the souvenir mug along with Schnitzel sandwiches, brats, goulash, and potato pancakes yearly. I haven't gotten my German Christmas market fix yet this year but absolutely plan to.
There is a Christmas Market here in Arlington. Here is the web address: http://www.arlingtonchristkindl.com. It is open now, daily until Dec. 22.
Sarah, yes, we go to the Dickens Fair every year... just went last Saturday. Love it. But it's nothing like a European Christmas market.
Pittsburgh has a Christmas market in Market Square downtown. Last year was the first year. It's open every day for a month up until December 23. I don't know that it's worth a trip from South Carolina, but it's definitely worth a trip from my office, which is three blocks away. :)
Just read an article in the Washington Post last week about the bustling German-style Christmas markets of Baltimore and Philadelphia. Was thinking of checking out the Philly one in the near future.
@Carroll: I do try to avoid wintry weather so that kind of eliminates Pittsburgh in December. Miami would be my first choice for winter travel, but doubt there's much chance of a German Christmas Market there.
