Across the country, cash registers are ringing as the holiday shopping season is well underway. The Christmas season brings with it unique pop-up retail opportunities that turn public space into entertainment and shopping destinations.
Here are four of the largest and most popular holiday markets in America.
1. City of Chicago Christkindlmarket
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Chicago's tribute to the Christkindlmarket in Nuremberg, Germany, draws an estimated 1 million visitors annually to Daley Plaza. This year it expanded to the Park at Wrigley outside of Wrigley Field, and suburban Naperville. The Christkindlmarket is filled with vendors hawking handmade clothes, toys, Christmas ornaments, food and enough beer and mulled wine to light you up like a Christmas tree. It is open through Dec. 24 at Daley Plaza and Naperville, and Dec. 31 at the Park at Wrigley.
2. Downtown Holiday Market, Washington, D.C.
A Beltway tradition since 2004, the Downtown Holiday Market transforms Eighth and F streets into a festive pop-up shop teeming with antiques, ceramics, clothing, jewelry, paintings, food and live music through Dec. 23. The market features over 60 exhibitors offering inventive gift ideas and food and drink offerings from over 150 businesses.
3. Dickens Fair, San Francisco
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Through Dec. 17, San Francisco's legendary Cow Palace goes back in time to Victorian London. It spans over 120K SF of music halls and dance floors, pubs and streets teeming with street vendors, carolers and hawkers luring visitors to gas-lit shops filled with holiday gift options. Enjoy roasted chestnuts and hearty English pub fare, to boot.
4. Boston Winter, Boston
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Launched last year, Boston Winter at City Hall Plaza attracted over 300,000 visitors to enjoy a mix of shopping, dining and entertainment through Feb. 25, with expanded hours during the holidays. The highlight of Boston Winter is a skating path built around City Hall Plaza's "Boston" sign and main stage. The path is home to a popular "rock and skate" every Friday from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.
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