City eases capacity rule for Daley Plaza, Chicago Christkindlmarket 2025, but vendors remain concerned about sagging sales
CHICAGO (WLS) — Organizers of Christkindlmarket just got word on Monday that they can raise their capacity by 1,000 people. But vendors are concerned it will not be enough to make up for sagging sales.
There was plenty of room to walk around the Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza midday Monday. That is why Stephanie Schultz and Sandra Nettmin made a point of coming during the week.
“I take off of work. I specifically take a vacation day because it’s less crowds and a great way to spend the day,” said Schultz, who is visiting from Mundelein.
Maggie Berousek and her friends are also hoping to avoid the crowds. Many have been concerned that lines of people waiting to get into the popular holiday destination would be even longer this year with new capacity restrictions.
“I was really happy we were planning on coming on a weekday because I didn’t want to have to stand in a line outside,” Berousek said.
Lines, like on Black Friday, can go for blocks. This year, the city imposed a cap of 1,500 people at a time, around half the limit in 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While organizers say crowds, especially during peak hours of evenings and weekend, can swell to shoulder to shoulder, this attendance restriction is too drastic. They appealed to the city, which raised the cap to 2,500 people.
“It’s progress, and we’re working with the mayor’s office, working with the city to make sure we keep this safe and find a way forward so people can come out and enjoy the market,” said Mark Tomkins with the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest.
Still, Tomkins says vendors are impacted most. Pia Schulenberg has helped run her family’s Gift and Candle Palace stand for nine years and says if things do not improve, they may not be back next year.
“It was a really, really great market all the years. And now, we’re a little bit worried if we can continue that,” Schulenberg said.
In a statement, the city says, in part, “The enormous success of Christkindlmarket has pushed the limits of the capacity thresholds for Daley Plaza. The City’s top priority will remain ensuring that the event is held safely and successfully for all involved. To address the concerns raised by the organizers, the City is continuing to work with them to increase capacity in a safe and organized manner.”
Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
