Christkindlmarket Aurora at RiverEdge Park

The suburban Christkindlmarket returns to RiverEdge Park on the Fox River in downtown Aurora from November 20 through December 24, 2026. The organizer calls it the largest of its three locations; it had more than 60 vendors in 2025 and the 2026 announcement lists 60-plus again, per NBC Chicago. Expect the same wooden huts, German food, Glühwein mugs and family programming as downtown, spread across a riverside park with room to move.

The market runs Thursday through Sunday only: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays. It adds a Wednesday on November 25 (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.), opens December 21 through 23 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and closes early at 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. Admission is free.

The organizer posts an event calendar and market map on its Aurora page, along with parking deals with nearby garages.

Plan your visit

Metra’s BNSF line ends at Aurora’s Transportation Center, directly across the river from RiverEdge Park and a short walk over the bridge. Drivers can use the downtown Aurora parking garages listed on the organizer’s parking page; street parking near the park fills on weekend afternoons. Thursdays and Sunday evenings are the lightest crowds. The park is open air along the river, so dress warm.