Merry Market

More than just shopping, the German Christmas Village is an immersive Holiday experience with something for everyone. 

There’s nothing like the city this time of year — the lights, the people, the energy. Also the traffic, the walking, the lines. No worries! Philadelphia’s authentic German Christmas Village provides all the seasonal fun and vibes in one easy location with on-site parking and robust SEPTA service.

Philadelphia’s authentic German Christmas Village has returned to Love Park and the City Hall Courtyard for it’s 14th exciting season. The Village attracts over 60 vendors and thousands of visitors each year to the iconic wooden stands to shop for gifts, jewelry, decorations, holiday ornaments, and more.

So many food and drink options too: wine, cheese, chocolate, beverages, and authentic German and Eastern European treats. As a food blogger, you know I had to try all this great local cuisine with an Old World spin. Here are some of my favorite new and returning options at this year’s Christmas Village (open until December 24th).

Start off with a warm up! In those cold winter months, it’s good to have a hot beverage in your hands. Booths 35 and 68, located in the food court areas in Love Park, will have hot and spiked beverages for purchase, including hot chocolate and drinks infused with Boardroom Spirits.

For authentic European cuisine, you can get schnitzel sandwiches at Schnitzel Haus, German cheese noodles at German Spatzle Booth, homemade fries at Belgian Fries. There’s also delicious apple strudel and Nutella puffs at Helmut’s Austrian Strudel. Speaking of sweets, one of my favorite returning snack vendors is French Toast Bites, which will be located at booth 39. This local hot food stand makes mini french toast sticks topped with your choice of various drizzles and flavors. They even offer vegan options. If the cold weather doesn’t scare you away from the frozen treats, Bassett’s Ice Cream & Famous 4th Cookies from Reading Terminal Market will be available at booth 34.

For those over 21 years of age, there are various vendors selling wines and spirits to gift, bring to a holiday party, or enjoy yourself. Chaddsford Winery, located in Chadds Ford, PA, will have two stands selling mulled wine. New Liberty Distillery will be selling distilled spirits by the bottle. Raclette Stube will be serving Raclette & PA Cider.

Other food vendors scattered around the park and City Hall will be selling honeys, pickles and kimchi, bao buns, hot sauces, and bacon jams. These offerings are usually homemade and can serve as unique, thoughtful gifts for those in your life.

In addition to great food & shopping, Christmas Village also offers lots of other ways to soak in the holiday spirit.  Take in the Philadelphia Christmas Tree at City Hall, and enjoy some skating at the Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink nearby. The City Hall Courtyard features classic rides for kids (and kids at heart): a Ferris wheel, choo choo, and a double-decker merry-go-round with horses, carriages and reindeer to ride on. There’s also a whole calendar of special events, tastings and other activities to add to your yuletide fun.

If you want to extend your adventure a little longer, Macy’s on Market Street has their decades-old light show narrated by Julie Andrews playing inside the multi-story building (showtimes Mon – Thurs 4pm & 6pm; Fri – Sun 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm & 6pm; Christmas Eve 10am, 12pm & 2pm). Upstairs you can walk through Dicken’s Village and immerse yourself in the story of Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. Santa meet and greets are also available in the store. I have been coming with my family to Macy’s at Christmas for years, and it still brings me joy coming with my parents as an adult! Make your free reservation online five days in advance (BOOK HERE).

Christmas in Philadelphia is an amazing time, and has a lot to offer in the holiday department. If you’re looking for something to do (and something to eat) to get yourself in the holiday mood, look no further than Center City!

🙌🎄🎁🎠 Visit the authentic German Christmas Market in Philadelphia 🥨🍺⛄🌟
Love Park & City Hall (1500 JFK Blvd) 
NOV 19 – DEC 24 (11am – 7pm daily, Market open thru Jan 1 2023)  
philachristmas.com
Follow @PhilaChristmas on Facebook & Instagram 

LOVE Park Garage is conveniently located below LOVE Park with an elevator that takes you right up to the market.

SEPTA also services the Christmas Village via the Market-Frankford Line or the Broad Street Line (City Hall), and also Regional Rail to Jefferson Station (lots of trolley & bus routes too).

LEASHED DOGS WELCOME — Crowds can be a little overwhelming for many dogs, though, so the Village recommends coming on weekdays when there’s much less hustle and bustle.

About Eleni Finkelstein 21 Articles
Eleni Finkelstein (aka @gingersliketoeat on Instagram) is a South Jersey and Philadelphia-based food blogger and journalist. She loves traveling, trying new foods, and cheering on Philly sports teams. You can check out her book, "Eat Like a Local: South Jersey" on Amazon.

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