Christkindlmarket mugs unveiled for 2024 — the boot is back in Aurora and Chicago

For those eagerly awaiting the shape of this year’s Christkindlmarket mug design — the boot is back.

Mugs have been a souvenir staple of the traditional outdoor German market since it premiered in Pioneer Court off the Magnificent Mile in 1996. Though the popular boot design didn’t make its first appearance until 2005, it’s always an iconic souvenir of the holiday season in Chicago.

German American Events, which operates Christkindlmarket, has added a beer stein, a glass-blown ornament and a mug for non-alcoholic beverages in recent years.

“We’re thrilled to bring back the fan-favorite boot mug, along with exciting new designs like the nutcracker mug and the beautifully crafted ornament,” said Maren Biester Priebe, CEO and general manager of German American Events. “These collectibles capture the magic of the market and make perfect holiday keepsakes.”

The boot

Like a fine European automobile, the boot design has a sleek black exterior featuring lively market scenes and warm red interior. Cost: $9 (up $1 from 2023)

The beer stein

Christkindlmarket has unveiled its 2024 beer stein. (German American Events)

Returning for its second year — but with an all new design — the ceramic beer stein depicts its own bustling holiday market scene. Cost: $20 (same as 2023)

The nutcracker

Christkindlmarket has unveiled its 2024 nutcracker mug. (German American Events)
Christkindlmarket has unveiled its 2024 nutcracker mug. (German American Events)

Those enjoying hot chocolate, hot apple cider or other nonalcoholic drinks can imbibe from this stately design. Cost: $9 (up $1 from 2023)

The mementos and a commemorative glass-blown ornament and gift boxes featuring items sold be Christkindlmarket vendors can be purchased at both the Chicago and Aurora locations. No Christkindlmarket will take place in Wrigleyville at Gallagher Way this year due to the NHL Winter classic and additional programming.

Christkindlmarket Chicago

Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St. Open Nov. 22-Dec. 24. 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Thanksgiving (Nov. 28) and Christmas Eve (Dec. 24). christkindlmarket.com/daleyplaza.

Christkindlmarket Aurora

RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway, Aurora. Open Nov. 22-Dec. 24. 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Thursday; 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday; and 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday; 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Thanksgiving (Nov. 28) and Christmas Eve (Dec. 24); 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Dec. 16-18 and Dec. 23. christkindlmarket.com/aurora.

Previous designs: 1996-1998

The first mug for Christkindlmarket was used for three years.
The first mug for Christkindlmarket was used for three years.

Thirty-five wooden booths are built in Germany and shipped to Chicago for the first Christkindlmarket Chicago, which lasts 17 days with 15 vendors. The event moves from Pioneer Court on Michigan Avenue to Daley Plaza in 1997, where its opening coincides with the city’s Christmas tree lighting.

1999

1999: The mug gets a fresh design and a collecting tradition begins.
1999: The mug gets a fresh design and a collecting tradition begins.

Food options range from chocolate-dipped strawberries on skewers to bratwurst, and from cheese pretzels to doughnutlike churros with strawberry, chocolate and Bavarian cream fillings.

 

2000

2000: The annual Christkindlmarket mug.
2000: The annual Christkindlmarket mug.

Items for sale include handcrafted glass ornaments, cuckoo clocks, nutcrackers, wooden toys, jewelry, sweaters and food.

2001

2001: A monochromatic design makes its debut.
2001: A monochromatic design makes its debut.

The market’s footprint expands beyond Daley Plaza to include the vacant Block 37.

2002

2002: Glass blowers from the Bavarian Forest demonstrate their craft.
2002: Glass blowers from the Bavarian Forest demonstrate their craft.

Glass blowers from the Bavarian Forest demonstrate their craft and sell the finished products.

2003

2003: Displays include the Guinness World Records' largest beeswax candle.
2003: Displays include the Guinness World Records’ largest beeswax candle.

Displays include the Guinness World Records’ largest beeswax candle.

2004

2004: A mug for the ninth annual market.
2004: A mug for the ninth annual market.

The market opened on Thanksgiving to give shoppers a sneak preview.

2005

2005: Christkindlmarket offers its first souvenir boot mug.
2005: Christkindlmarket offers its first souvenir boot mug.

Christkindlmarket celebrates 10 years in Chicago and offers its first souvenir boot mug.

2006

2006: Tribune restaurant critic Phil Vettel gives a
2006: Tribune restaurant critic Phil Vettel gives a “hearty ja” to the spiced red wine in a boot.

Chicago Tribune restaurant critic Phil Vettel gives “a big yodeling ja” to Helmut’s Original Austrian Strudel and a “hearty ja” to the spiced red wine in a boot.

2007

2005: Christkindlmarket offers its first souvenir boot mug.
2005: Christkindlmarket offers its first souvenir boot mug.

Mader’s, a famous Milwaukee German restaurant, participates.

2008

2008: More than 50 vendors participate.
2008: More than 50 vendors participate.

More than 50 vendors participate this year.

2009

2009: The return of the boot.
2009: The return of the boot.

Christkindlmarket now lasts almost one full month in Daley Plaza.

2010

2010: It's a boot design, but this time it has a lower toe area.
2010: It’s a boot design, but this time it has a lower toe area.

German food, drink and trinkets still attract crowds to Daley Plaza 15 years after the event began in Chicago.

2011

2011: Three years in a row of the boot design.
2011: Three years in a row of the boot design.

In addition to running Christkindlmarket, German American Services expands to put on an Oktoberfest celebration at Navy Pier.

2012

2012: Marks four years in a row of the boot design.
2012: Marks four years in a row of the boot design.

More than 50 vendors sell items including ornaments, beer steins, wooden toys, jewelry and European chocolates.

2013

2013: The official mug is not a boot.
2013: The official mug is not a boot.

The official mug is not a boot and people take to the market’s Facebook page to complain. (The market’s mug has been a boot just nine out of its 26 years.)

2014

2014: More than half of the 50 vendors travel from Germany to Chicago to sell their wares.
2014: More than half of the 50 vendors travel from Germany to Chicago to sell their wares.
Christkindlmarket introduced a mug design for children in 2014. The mug was also used to serve nonalcoholic beverages at the popular Chicago holiday market.
Christkindlmarket introduced a mug design for children in 2014. The mug was also used to serve nonalcoholic beverages at the popular Chicago holiday market.

A snowman mug is introduced for the market’s Kinder Club. More than half of the 50 vendors travel from Germany to Chicago to sell their wares.

2015

2015: The 20th Anniversary mug is a boot.
2015: The 20th Anniversary mug is a boot.
The Kinder Club mug design for Christkindlmarket in 2015 was a young snowman wearing a Chicago flag-themed scarf.
The Kinder Club mug design for Christkindlmarket in 2015 was a young snowman wearing a Chicago flag-themed scarf.

In its 20th year in Chicago, the market is void one accessory — the city’s official Christmas tree. After 50 years in Daley Plaza, the tree is moved east to Millennium Park.

2016

The 2016 Chicago Christkindlmarket collectible mug.
The 2016 Chicago Christkindlmarket collectible mug.

For the first time, the market expands to two locations — the Daley Plaza mainstay and a suburban outpost in Naperville.

2017

2017: For the first time in its 22 years, Christkindlmarket offers three mug designs two of them in
2017: For the first time in its 22 years, Christkindlmarket offers three mug designs — two of them in “punch kettle” shape.
Christkindlmarket's Kinder Club snowman mug featured
Christkindlmarket’s Kinder Club snowman mug featured “Opa,” or grandpa snowman.

The market opens a third location at The Park at Wrigley, just outside Wrigley Field. For the first time in its 22 years, Christkindlmarket offers three mug designs — two of them in “punch kettle” shape.

2018

2018: The mug designs feature a heart-shaped opening and designs are placed atop gingerbread-inspired sides.
2018: The mug designs feature a heart-shaped opening and designs are placed atop gingerbread-inspired sides.

The market opens its first location in Wisconsin, just outside the new Fiserv Forum. The mug designs feature a heart-shaped opening and designs are placed atop gingerbread-inspired sides.

2019

2019: Boot-shaped mugs for spiced wine (or nonalcoholic fare) return. Different mugs were available at the Daley Plaza (above), Wrigleyville and Milwaukee locations.
2019: Boot-shaped mugs for spiced wine (or nonalcoholic fare) return. Different mugs were available at the Daley Plaza (above), Wrigleyville and Milwaukee locations.
Christkindlmarket introduced several different mug designs in 2019, including this penguin design for nonalcoholic beverages.
Christkindlmarket introduced several different mug designs in 2019, including this penguin design for nonalcoholic beverages.

The boot design returns after four years.

2020

Organizers of the popular outdoor holiday market cancel the event and move it online as the coronavirus pandemic continues to hamper large-scale events and international travel.

2021

2021: A 25th Anniversary Christkindlmarket mug.
2021: A 25th Anniversary Christkindlmarket mug.
The 2021 Christkindlmarket Peppermint Penguin mug.
The 2021 Christkindlmarket Peppermint Penguin mug.

The same flute-shaped design about as tall as an iPhone is sold at both the Daley Plaza and Wrigleyville locations to commemorate the market’s 25th anniversary in Chicago, and the children’s “Peppermint Penguin” design is dressed up to celebrate the first Christkindlmarket in almost two years.

2022

2022 : The official mug design for Christkindlmarket, open at Daley Plaza, outside Wrigley Field and in Aurora.
2022 : The official mug design for Christkindlmarket, open at Daley Plaza, outside Wrigley Field and in Aurora.
A dancing penguin greets Christkindlmarket visitors who purchase nonalcoholic beverages in 2022.
A dancing penguin greets Christkindlmarket visitors who purchase nonalcoholic beverages in 2022.

The official mug celebrates “Year of Chicago Dance” and the Kinder Club hosts a naming contest for the dancing penguin mug.

2023

2023: The Christkindlmarket Chicago mug design highlights the city's skyline in addition to the market's handmade wooden booths.
2023: The Christkindlmarket Chicago mug design highlights the city’s skyline in addition to the market’s handmade wooden booths.
2023: The Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville mug design shows Hotel Zachary, which is across Clark Street from the German market.
2023: The Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville mug design shows Hotel Zachary, which is across Clark Street from the German market.
2023: The Christkindlmarket Aurora mug design shows the Paramount Theatre, Fox River and the market's location in RiverEdge Park.
2023: The Christkindlmarket Aurora mug design shows the Paramount Theatre, Fox River and the market’s location in RiverEdge Park.
2023: After completing families of snowmen and penguins, Christkindlmarket chose a new holiday-inspired creature for this year's mug design for nonalcoholic drinks: a reindeer.
2023: After completing families of snowmen and penguins, Christkindlmarket chose a new holiday-inspired creature for this year’s mug design for nonalcoholic drinks: a reindeer.
2023: For the first time in its history, Christkindlmarket offers a beer stein with a special design.
2023: For the first time in its history, Christkindlmarket offers a beer stein with a special design.

The market returns in three locations — Daley Plaza, Wrigleyville and Aurora. For the first time, a fast-entry pass is sold for $25 (and includes a souvenir mug).

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