Daytrip to Scenic New Glarus for the  Christkindli   Market

by Lakes Edition Staff

Reading Time:  10 minutes   Last Updated:   11/21/2025

The Christkindl Market in downtown Chicago in the looming shadows of Picasso's untitled iconic sculpture is dead center in the Midwest's most populated city.  The tourist popular holiday affair is very well-attended. But attending the event visitors must suspend belief that they're in a large American city,  keeping their eyes focused on the small wooden structures housing German gifts and food avoiding looking upward at the canyon of skyscrapers soaring all around.

The Christkindli Market in downtown New Glarus, Wisconsin is like a trip to a Swiss canton in the heart of middle America. The quaint, Southern Wisconsin town nestled in the verdant, rolling hills of Green County is more appropriate a setting for the sleigh rides, Swiss Alphorns, and carolers all of which you will see during the town's 5th annual Christkindli Market. Expect to find Swiss made and locally made products from regional and national vendors selling their wares from small wooden kiosks amongst New Glarus' Swiss chalet architecture. Don't forget to stop at the New Glarus bakery as featured in our article on traditional Christmas baked goods.

Vendor Spotlight

The featured small businesses with mini chalets at the Christkindli Market are more varied and locally focused than many area traditional outdoor holiday markets.  One great vendor returning this year is Telsaan Tea.  Tea shops come and go and rely on finding a niche market, Telsaan on Main Street in touristy, downtown Mt. Horeb has found an audience both at the their store and online.  Find a variety of blended teas from herbals, to black teas, and Yerba Mate.  Another great, woman owned success story, Bellbrook Botanicals is also returning to the Christkindli Market.  Bellbrook is a small farm growing its own ingredients which go into their herbal teas, herbal salves, tonics, tinctures, and herbal honeys.  Truly locally sourced and grown and sold exclusively online though Melissa has been at area markets in the past. Trempleau based duo Kyle and Coryn offer are Fat Duck Designs. Fat Duck's focus is wood crafts such as clocks, propagation vases, and earrings. The two sell their handmade wares at events around the area such the Christkindli Market and online.

Don't forget the cheese or hot chocolate and don't forget to visit and patronize the wonderful small shops in downtown New Glarus.

DETAILS

Christkindli Market hours are Friday, December 5th from 3pm-7pm; Saturday, December 6th from 10am-7pm; Sunday, December 7th from 10am-6pm

New Glarus' The Christkindli Market is one of just 10 such markets held across the Badger State during the Christmas holiday season, and certainly with the most culturally authentic setting.

Wisconsin DOT's 511

For up to the minute winter driving conditions in southern Wisconsin visit the Wisconsin DOT's 511 Wisconsin or call 511 or (866) 511-9472.