CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Organizers of Chicago’s popular Christkindlmarket said they’ll announce in a couple of weeks what form this year’s event attraction will take place around Christmastime.
Chicago’s Christkindlmarket started in 1996 and is held in Daley Plaza for about 40 days each year. This year, though, there are question marks about what form that might take with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kate Bleeker, director of expansion and operations of German American Events said her group is working with city and state health officials to see what’s possible. She also said there are travel restrictions from Germany to consider.
"About 60 percent of our vendors are from Germany and havng them come in and also being able to ship their products. There’s a lot of restrictions now with imports," she said.
German American Events also puts on a Christkindlmarket in Wrigleyville and in Milwaukee.
Bleeker said keeping customers, vendors, and staff safe is the number one priority.
She wants people to know Chicago’s Christkindlmarket has nothing to do with an online-only Christkindlmarket announced over the weekend.