6 Magical U.S. Christmas Markets That’ll Make You Feel Like You’re in a Hallmark Movie

Listen up, holiday enthusiasts! If you’re bummed about not jetting off to Europe for some festive market action this year, I’ve got great news.

You can get your fill of twinkling lights, steaming mugs of mulled wine, and enough handcrafted ornaments to make your tree look like it belongs in Santa’s workshop—all without leaving the good ol’ USA.

Here are six Christmas markets that’ll have you feeling like you’ve stepped into a snow globe (or at least a really well-produced Hallmark movie).

Holland, Michigan: Where Wooden Shoes Meet Woolen Socks

Kerstmarkt (through December 21)

Okay, picture this: You’re strolling through a quaint Dutch village, munching on a stroopwafel (that’s a caramel-filled waffle cookie for the uninitiated), when you bump into Sinterklaas himself. No, you haven’t magically teleported to the Netherlands—you’re in Holland, Michigan, baby!

This charming town, founded by Dutch immigrants in the 1840s, goes all out for its annual Kerstmarkt. With 26 years of holiday magic under its belt, this market is like a greatest hits album of Dutch-American culture.

You’ve got your wooden booths selling everything from handmade pens to artisanal brooms (because nothing says “Merry Christmas” like a fancy new sweeping implement, right?).

Don’t miss the elderberry chai soda from Mud Lake Farm—it’s a Kerstmarkt exclusive that’ll make your taste buds do a little Dutch jig.

Holland’s Kerstmarkt: A Quarter-Century of Dutch Delight

Holland’s Kerstmarkt is like that friend who started a “fun little tradition” that somehow became an annual extravaganza.

This market kicked off in 1997, making it a sprightly 26 years old. It was born out of a desire to celebrate the town’s Dutch heritage and give locals a taste of a European Christmas market.

Fun fact: Holland, Michigan, has been leaning into its Dutch roots since, well, forever.

They’ve been hosting a Tulip Time festival every May since 1929. So when they decided to add a Christmas market to the mix, it was basically like, “Hey, we’re already doing the Dutch thing, why not go all in?”

Arlington, Texas: Where Bavaria Meets BBQ

Texas Christkindl Market (through December 23)

Hold onto your cowboy hats, folks, because Arlington, Texas, is serving up a slice of Bavaria with a side of Southern hospitality.

This market is all about international friendship—it’s inspired by Arlington’s 72-year “sister city” relationship with Bad Königshofen, Germany. (Fun fact: They sent each other care packages back in the ’50s. How cute is that?)

Now in its 13th year, the Texas Christkindl Market brings a touch of German charm to the Lone Star State. The star of the show? Käthe Wohlfahrt, Germany’s biggest Christmas goods company, setting up shop with enough nutcrackers and glass ornaments to make your head spin.

And if you thought you couldn’t get more German than that, just wait until you hear the Swiss Longhorns. These guys play 12-foot alphorns, which I’m pretty sure is the most epic way to perform “Jingle Bells” ever invented.

Arlington’s Texas Christkindl Market: A Texan-German Love Story

This market is the new kid on the block, relatively speaking. It started in 2011, making it a tween at 12 years old. But don’t let its youth fool you – this market has some serious backstory.

The whole shebang is rooted in Arlington’s sister city relationship with Bad Königshofen, Germany, which dates back to 1951.

Imagine being pen pals with an entire town for over 70 years! The market itself was inspired by the traditional Christkindlmarkts of Germany, particularly those in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. It’s like Arlington said, “If we can’t go to Germany, we’ll bring Germany to Texas!”

Carmel, Indiana: Germany’s Mini-Me in the Midwest

Christkindlmarkt (through December 24)

If there was an Olympic event for “Most Authentic German Christmas Market Outside of Germany,” Carmel, Indiana, would be gunning for gold.

These folks are so committed to the bit that they’ve got a 33-foot-tall, 10-ton Glühwein Pyramid as their centerpiece. This bad boy is decked out with 3,000 lights, making it visible from space. (Okay, maybe not, but it’s definitely visible from anywhere in the market.)

Maria Murphy, the market’s CEO, isn’t messing around when it comes to authenticity. She’s got German woodworkers and glassblowers showing off their skills, and one vendor even flew to Germany just to taste-test bread for their döner kebabs. That’s dedication, people.

And for all you history buffs out there, the Kulturecke exhibit dives into Indiana’s German-American roots. Did you know Kurt Vonnegut was a German-American Hoosier? So it goes.

Carmel’s Christkindlmarkt: The New Kid with Old-World Charm

Carmel’s market is practically a newborn in Christmas market years. It started in 2017, making it just 6 years old. But what it lacks in age, it makes up for in enthusiasm and attention to detail.

The brainchild of Mayor Jim Brainard (yes, that’s his real name), this market was born after he visited German Christmas markets and thought, “Hey, why can’t we have one of these?”

Spoiler alert: They could, and they did. They even imported that massive Glühwein Pyramid directly from Germany. Talk about commitment to the bit!

Baltimore, Maryland: Charm City Gets Its Deutsch On

Christmas Village (through December 24)

Baltimore might be famous for crab cakes and “The Wire,” but did you know it’s got some serious German cred too? Back in the day, this city was the Ellis Island of the South, with a quarter of its population rocking German roots by the late 19th century.

Today, Baltimore’s Christmas Village keeps that heritage alive with a Glühwein Pyramid that would make any German grandma proud. With nearly 60 vendors, you can shop ’til you drop, then refuel with a smorgasbord of sausages at the Best of Wurst stall.

And if you’re feeling adventurous (or just need to walk off all that bratwurst), hop on the 65-foot Ferris wheel for a bird’s-eye view of Charm City’s holiday glow-up.

Baltimore’s Christmas Village: Charm City’s German Renaissance

Baltimore’s Christmas Village is another relative newcomer, having started in 2013. But it’s tapping into a much older history.

Remember how I mentioned Baltimore was a major hub for German immigrants? Well, this market is like a revival of that heritage.

It’s actually run by the same folks who organize Philadelphia’s Christmas Village (which started in 2008).

They saw how much Philly was loving the German Christmas vibes and thought, “Hey, Baltimore could use some of this action too!” And voila, a new tradition was born.

Natchez, Mississippi: Southern Charm Meets Santa Claus

Christmas in Natchez (through December 27)

Y’all ready for some Southern-style holiday cheer? Natchez, Mississippi, the oldest continuous settlement on the Big Muddy, transforms into the “Christmas Capital of the South” faster than you can say “bless your heart.”

This month-long celebration is like a festive gumbo, mixing European traditions with down-home Southern hospitality. They’ve got a 34-foot Christmas tree that would make Rockefeller Center jealous, plus displays for Kwanzaa and Hanukkah because inclusivity is always in season.

Every Thursday, you can belt out carols in Memorial Park, surrounded by giant oak trees dripping with Spanish moss and holiday lights. It’s like stepping into a real-life version of “Gone with the Wind”—if Scarlett O’Hara was really into Christmas, that is.

Christmas in Natchez: Southern Tradition with a Festive Twist

Natchez has been doing Christmas celebrations for… well, as long as there’s been a Natchez, probably. But the organized “Christmas in Natchez” event as we know it today has been evolving over the past few decades.

The European Christmas Village part of the celebration is a more recent addition, aimed at giving this Southern celebration a bit of continental flair.

It’s like Natchez looked at its historic antebellum homes and thought, “You know what would make these even prettier? A bunch of twinkling lights and some glühwein!”

Solvang, California: Denmark’s West Coast Outpost

Solvang Julefest (through January 6, 2025)

Last but not least, we’ve got Solvang, California—a little slice of Denmark just a stone’s throw from Santa Barbara.

Founded in 1911 by Danish settlers who apparently missed home something fierce, this town looks like it was airlifted straight out of a Hans Christian Andersen tale.

During Julefest, Solvang cranks the Danish charm up to 11.

You can take a candlelight tour of the half-timbered buildings (because nothing says “Christmas” like fire hazards and medieval architecture), catch a light and music show in the park, or hunt for nisser—those mischievous Danish gnomes ( not to be confused with Kabouters, who claim Dutch heritage )—hidden around town.

And here’s a pro tip: If you find all the nisser, you get a special Solvang keepsake. It’s like a scavenger hunt, but with more hygge and probably fewer arguments about who’s reading the map wrong.

Solvang’s Julefest: Danish-American Holiday Cheer Since the ’60s

Solvang’s Julefest has been spreading hygge since 1967, making it a respectable 56 years old. But the town’s Danish Christmas celebrations go back even further, to its founding in 1911.

The festival as we know it today started when local businesses decided to formalize their holiday celebrations into a proper event. It’s grown from a small local celebration to a month-long extravaganza that draws visitors from all over.

Interestingly, Solvang itself was founded by a group of Danes who were looking for a warmer place to live. They basically created a slice of Denmark in California, complete with windmills and pastry shops.

Adding Julefest was just the cherry on top of their Danish-American sundae.

So there you have it, folks—six U.S. Christmas markets that’ll give you all the European holiday feels without the jet lag.

Whether you’re into Dutch treats, German crafts, or just want to see a giant light-up pyramid in the middle of Indiana, there’s a market here for you. Now go forth and get festive!