The German-style Christmas market was crowded for it's kick-off to the holiday season. Maddie Mann is visiting the Christkindlmarket with her English husband and baby twin boys. She says being from Central Illinois she's here to continue the family tradition, "I grew up coming here every year as a kid and I wanted to carry the traditions with my kids and it's a bit of international culture in Illinois so I wanted to show my European husband that."
18-year old Maria Osornio is here for the food, "I saw it online while I was scrolling on TikTok and I was like, I need to go there, I want it now for the melted cheese."
Something new this year for merchant Daniel Korger of German Brothers is the cost of his beer steins, made more expensive due to the Trump Administration's tariffs, "because they're coming from Germany and a lot of products have to pay higher tariffs now coming from Europe and abroad. They are up, maybe 15%.
All three Christkindlmarket's will be open by the end of the weekend.