5 U.S. Holiday Markets to Get You in the Christmas Spirit

Offering handcrafted gifts, delicious treats and wintery fun, they conjure the magic of Europe

3-minute read

By

Rebecca Treon,

 
Updated October 08, 2026
AARP
Updated October 08, 2026
Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park in New York City
Holiday markets are not just in Europe. There are plenty in the U.S., including the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park in New York City.
Francois Roux/Shutterstock

The famous Christmas markets of Germany and other European countries draw visitors from around the globe who want to experience their enchanting atmosphere. But there are wonderful Christmas markets in the U.S. too, with food, drinks, gifts and activities that will put you in a festive mood.

According to AARP’s 2026 Travel Trends survey, 7 percent of adults 50-plus plan to travel domestically for the holidays, while 5 percent plan to travel internationally during that time.

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American holiday markets offer something for everyone and make a great outing with friends or the whole family. Whether they have a modern take on the holidays or bring the past to life, these five holiday markets will get you in the spirit.

Carmel Christkindlmarkt in Indiana
Carmel Christkindlmarkt in Indiana focuses on an authentic German experience.
Roben Bellomo/Bellomo Studios

Carmel Christkindlmarkt, Carmel, Indiana

This market in the Indianapolis suburbs prides itself on an authentic German experience, with demonstrations by German glassblowers and wood-carvers and nearly 50 vendors selling items such as imported ornaments, cuckoo clocks, beer steins and nutcrackers. Food sellers hawk authentic potato pancakes, gooey raclette, bratwurst, pretzels and glühwein served in a collectible boot. Says market CEO Jason Adamowicz, “When visitors step on site, they feel like they have been transported directly to Europe. It’s a beloved holiday tradition for hundreds of thousands of people annually.” Admission: Free. Nov. 21 to Dec. 24 (closed Thanksgiving Day). carmelchristkindlmarkt.com

people dancing at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair
Victorian London comes to life at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair.
Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu/Getty Images
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Bank of America Winter Village
Glass kiosks line the decorated Bank of America Winter Village in New York City’s Bryant Park.
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Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park, New York City

Each year in midtown Manhattan, the nearly 10-acre Bryant Park transforms into a holiday wonderland inspired by Europe’s open-air markets. Glass kiosks lining the park house about 200 vendors offering gifts and gourmet treats. “It is most certainly a magical place,” says Catherine Mariasch, who owns Mariasch Studios and has sold home accessories at Bryant Park for more than 20 years. The market also features free ice-skating, a carousel, a food hall and cozy igloos for relaxing with seasonal drinks and snacks. Admission: Free. Oct. 23 to Jan. 5. bryantpark.org

people dancing at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair
Victorian London comes to life at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair.
Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu/Getty Images

The Great Dickens Christmas Fair, San Francisco

A 4-acre-plus event venue mimics Victorian London, with glowing streetlamps and winding lanes full of holiday revelers. Surrounded by people in vintage dress, guests can explore both the upscale and working-class sides of town, enjoy high tea or a pint at the pub, tuck into fish and chips and see live performances. 

Owner and coproducer Kevin Patterson says his parents started the fair in 1970 and were fascinated by the Victorian period. “The story of A Christmas Carol is alive in the streets of the fair,” he says. Amid the gaiety, dozens of vendors sell handmade ornaments, housewares, costumes and art. Admission: All-day tickets $45 for adults, $25 for children; twilight tickets (after 3 p.m.) $30 for adults, $18 for children; free for those under 5. Weekends Nov. 21 to Dec. 20. dickensfair.com

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a 26-foot-tall Weihnachtspyramide, a traditional wooden carousel-like structure
In Fredericksburg, Texas, a 26-foot-tall Weihnachtspyramide, a traditional wooden carousel-like structure, sits in the town’s central plaza, the Marktplatz.
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Weihnachtszeit, Fredericksburg, Texas

In the heart of Texas’ Hill Country, Fredericksburg is known for its rich German heritage and its vineyards. During Weihnachtszeit, or the Christmas season, the whole town embraces the festivities. Not only are there holiday markets at wineries and churches, but the 150 locally owned shops and galleries in Main Street’s historic limestone buildings also deck the halls. “It’s just magical — it’s like a Hallmark movie,” says Mary Ann Turbeville, owner of the Grasshopper, a year-round holiday store on Main Street. “The stores are decorated. It’s a community effort because we are a friendly Texas town and we want people to come and have a wonderful experience. It’s extremely family-friendly; everyone brings their children and grandparents.”

The season kicks off in late November with the lighting of Fredericksburg’s community Christmas tree and 26-foot-tall Weihnachtspyramide, a traditional wooden carousel-like structure, in the town’s central plaza, the Marktplatz, which also has an ice-skating rink. The 30-year-old Light the Night Christmas Parade, held on the first Friday of December, features 150 floats, holiday music, children’s activities and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Admission: Free. Nov. 25 to Jan. 6. visitfredericksburgtx.com/events/holiday

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Denver Christkindlmarket
At Denver Christkindlmarket, the community holiday tree is at the center, with wooden huts around it where revelers can find ornaments, candles and alpaca scarves, among other gifts.
Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post/Getty Images

Denver Christkindlmarket, Denver

For 25 years, this market has brought Europe’s holiday festivities, foods and crafts to the Mile High City. It’s set against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains and located next to the historic Tivoli Building, a onetime German brewery. “What I love most is its ability to transport you to a simpler time,” says Nico Diamantopoulos of Berliner Haus, a German food vendor. With Denver’s community holiday tree at the center, the market offers tasty fare such as sausages, glühwein and German dumplings called knödel. Wooden huts with striped roofs host sellers of ornaments, candles, alpaca scarves and other gifts. The many entertainment options include appearances by St. Nicholas and his darkly delightful counterpart in European folklore, Krampus. Admission: Free. Nov. 20 to Dec. 23. christkindlmarketdenver.com

Editor’s note: This story was originally published on Nov. 12, 2024. It has been updated to reflect new information.

Rebecca Treon is a Denver-based freelance food and travel writer and the author of a forthcoming guidebook, Colorado Food Trails. You can find her work at rebeccatreon.com.

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