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Chicago's Christkindlmarket, pictured here in 2004 with a giant tree and menora, is the biggest Christmas market in the world outside of Germany, drawing more than 1 million visitors annually.

(© picture-alliance/dpa)

One of the most memorable experiences for anyone in Germany is savoring the winter holiday season at one of the country's myriad Christmas markets. The colorful fairs are held in most towns and cities during the four-week Advent season leading up to Christmas.

The scent of roasted almonds, gingerbread cookies and savory snacks like fried bratwursts and potato pancakes intermingles with the steam rising from mugs of hot spiced mulled wine as people stroll through the cozy markets choc-a-bloc with cute wooden booths and stalls. Locals and tourists alike shop in these "cities of cloth and wood" for Christmas ornaments and traditional handicrafts - from nutcrackers, wooden figurines, straw stars and smokers, to textiles, cards, cookie tins, toys, and glass or tin tree ornaments.

Ringing in the holiday season, cities across the US are celebrating with their own reincarnations of the traditional German Christmas market. Not unlike the Christmas markets in Germany, each of its American cousins has a flair that is unique to the city or region where it takes place.

Chicago (November 27 - December 24)

Christkindlmarket Chicago

The Christkindlmarket in Chicago is the largest and most renowned Christmas market in the United States, attracting more than one million visitors annually from the Chicagoland area, across the US, and around the world. This yearly event, which has taken place since 1996, celebrates the city's friendship with Nuremburg, home to one of Germany's most famous traditional Christmas markets, with traditional German specialties, music, and decorations.

Cincinnati, OH (November 21-23)

Christkinlmarkt Cincinanti

Presented by the Germania Society, this Christmas market features crafts, entertainment and traditional food, including full dinners, all under a covered, closed and heated pavilion at Germania Park, as well as free carriage rides.

New York City, NY (through Christmas Eve)

Union Square Holiday Market (November 22 - December 24)

Columbus Circle Holiday Market (December 3-24)

Visitors are invited to linger at German Christmas stands at two holiday markets in New York City featuring imported gifts and treats from Germany, including hot winter drinks, gingerbread cookies, the famous Dresden-style Stollen cakes and chocolate advent calendars and Christmas cards.

Denver (November 28 - December 23)

Christkindl Market Denver

Since 1999, the German American Chamber of Commerce of the city of Denver has held an annual Christkindl Market with a variety of concerts and entertainment as well as vendors selling holiday goodies and gifts.

Bethlehem, PA (November 28 - December 21)

Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem

This Christmas market, located in Bethlehem's historic downtown district, is a heartwarming holiday event for the whole family. It features live holiday music, great food, and old St. Nicholas as well as vendors of exquisite handmade gifts by artisans from around the country. Open Thursdays to Sundays. Bethlehem also bills itself as "Christmas City" and features a host of related seasonal events.

Akron, OH (November 28 - December 30, closed Mondays)

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In the Hausdörfer Christmas decorations factory in southeastern Germany, an employee examines decorations ready for shipment to German and American Christmas markets, including one held annually in Akron, Ohio.

(© picture-alliance/dpa)

Christkindlmarket Akron

Twelve charming cottages house some 40 vendors - including craftsmen, entertainers and chefs - from Chemnitz, Germany, Akron’s sister city, and feature handcrafted wares, including Moravian stars, Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains) arts and crafts, and hand-blown glass ornaments as well as seasonal fare.

Leavenworth, WA (November 28-30)

Leavenworth Bavarian Village

Visitors come back year after year for the famous Leavenworth Christmas Lighting Festival, held in the "Bavarian Village." At dusk on Saturdays and Sundays, everyone gathers to sing Silent Night and witness the lighting of the village as it is transformed into a magical wonderland of lights. Booths with holiday fare and a variety of music and entertainment round out the festival.

Hermann, MO (November 28 - mid-December)

Christmas in Historic Hermann

Enjoy German Christmas traditions at this event featuring food and craft demonstrations, story telling, and a visit from Father Christmas as well as a select group of artists and crafters and a variety of food and entertainment. Two Christkindl markets are part of the program at the Stone Hill Winery Pavilion (December 6-7) and the Hermannhof Festhalle (December 13-14).

Baltimore, MD (November 29-30)

Christkindlmarkt at the Zion Church of the City of Baltimore

At this annual event at the Zion church in the heart of historic Baltimore, shoppers can feast on authentic German foods and stock their pantries with imported holiday goodies including Stollen, Lebkuchen, Marzipan, and Advent calendars. Local craftspeople display their handmade snowflakes, Santas and floral arrangements along with commercial importers of smokers and steins. A model train garden is also part of the event.

Schaumburg, IL (November 29-30)

Christkindlesmarkt

The Village of Schaumburg will celebrate the holiday season with a European-influenced open-air holiday market featuring ethnic and domestic crafts, holiday gift items, food, live entertainment, children’s activities, and visits from Santa & St. Nicholas, as well as a festival of lights for children and horse-drawn sleigh rides.

Elkhardt Lake, WI (December 4-15)

Old World Christmas Market

The Osthoff Resort's annual traditional European Christmas Market, reminiscent of the centuries-old German Christkindlesmarkt, features authentic gifts, toys, ornaments and food specialties from international and regional artisans in timber booths adorned in fresh greens and thousands of twinkling white lights.

Medina, NY (December 5-7)

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The Christmas market in Lübeck, in the northern German city's historic central square.

(© picture-alliance/dpa)

Old World Market and Christmas Faire

Patterned after the historically European tradition of Christmas Markets; a weekend of holiday crafters, entertainment & wagon rides are a few of the activities around the village.

Mifflinburg, PA (December 11-13)

Christkindl Market Mifflinburg

Mifflinburg's version of an authentic Christmas Market, inspired by the 700-year-old traditional German Christkindl Markt, or Christ Child Market, is a festive event prepared by various churches, organizations, schools, and residents. For three days, Mifflinburg's Market Street, with its many churches, is lined with festive outdoor huts featuring unique handmade crafts and traditional Christkindl treats.

Tulsa, OK (December 5-7)

Christkindlmarkt

The German-American Society of Tulsa creates a winter wonderland which includes many crafters displaying their wares, including booths featuring nutcrackers, smoker-männle, imported Christmas tree ornaments and Germany's famous Christmas Stollen, as well as Wurst, Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes), hot apple cider, hot chocolate and coffee. The Christkindl (Christ Child) and St. Nikolaus walk among the booths to the delight of the children, who are also entertained in a special Spielstube, or playroom.

Fredericksburg, TX (December 5-7)

Weihnachten in Fredericksburg

This Christmas festival and market features a gingerbread house display and contest, photos with Santa, holiday refreshments and German food, a Christmas markt, a Christmas tree forest and a wide variety of live entertainment.

Austin, San Antonio, Brenham and Tomball, TX (December 6-13)

Weihnachtsmarkt Austin and Christkindl Markets

Visit the homepage of the German-Texan Heritage Society for details on several Christmas markets taking place in Texas. The Austin Weihnachtsmarkt features a large selection of handcrafted wooden items imported from the Erzgebirge region of Germany – pyramids, nutcrackers, smokers etc. – and blown-glass ornaments, embroidered linens, baked goods, live performances of traditional German Christmas music and songs and a special visit by Sankt Nikolaus. This market is open December 6, as well as December 9-11. The markets in Brenham and San Antonio will be open on December 6, and a brand-new market in Tomball with 40 vendors selling Christmas items, craftwork and German food, and including a beer garden, is open on December 13.

Dayton, OH (December 13-14)

Dayton Liederkranz-Turner

Celebrate Christmas at the Dayton Christmas market featuring hand-crafted ornaments and gift items, German food and beverages, a Christmas raffle, and concerts by the Dayton Liederkranz children’s, women’s, and men’s choirs.

Christmas in Germany (seasonal special feature from Germany.info)

German Agricultural Marketing Board (CMA)