Office of the City Clerk - Record #: R2021-1131

• Record #: R2021-1131
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Adopted
• Intro date: 10/25/2021
• Final action: 10/25/2021
• Title: Congratulations extended to Christkindlmarket on 25th anniversary and recognition of December 1 as Christkindlmarket Day in Chicago
• Sponsors: Reilly, Brendan

Date	Journal Page Number	Action By	Action	Result
10/25/2021	39491	City Council	Adopted	Pass
10/25/2021		City Council	Introduced (Agreed Calendar)

Resolution Honoring Christkindlmarket's 25^th Anniversary

WHEREAS, Christkindlmarket Chicago celebrates its 25^th Anniversary as the most beloved holiday tradition in the City of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Christkindlmarket Chicago, the largest authentic German outdoor Holiday festival in the United States, is an annual celebration presented by German American Events, LLC, a subsidiary of the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest, Inc., underthe direction of Maren Biester Priebe; and

WHEREAS, Christkindlmarket Chicago began in 1996 as a two-week long festival held on Pioneer Court on North Michigan Avenue's Magnificent Mile; the event attracted more than 300,000 visitors; and

WHEREAS, Christkindlmarket Chicago was relocated to Daley Plaza in 1997 and extended to four weeks drawing in excess of 750,000 visitors; and

WHEREAS, Christkindlmarket Chicago now attracts more than 1.5 million visitors from around the Chicagoland area, country and world, and the majority of attendees reporting Christkindlmarket Chicago as their primary reason for visiting the downtown area; and

WHEREAS, Christkindlmarket Chicago is a culturally significant event which provides positive impact on the City of Chicago's tourism and economy; and

WHEREAS, Christkindlmarket Chicago was inspired by the famous German Christmas Market in Nurnberg, Germany, dating back to 1545; the festival is modeled like a European village in winter with the look and feel of the original and unique timber cabins with signature red and white striped roofs; and

WHEREAS, Christkindlmarket Chicago displays a vast array of sessional products and exquisite gifts ranging from hand-blown glass ornaments and German inspired holiday decor, homemade wooden toys, cuckoo clocks, nutcrackers, delicate lace, soaps and candles, scarves, hats and sweaters, jewelry and much more; and

WHEREAS, Christkindlmarket Chicago visitors can enjoy foods and beverages of German and European inspiration like brats, sauerkraut, potato pancakes,, leberkase, goulash, Gluhwein (served in special Christkindlmarket annual signature mugs), gingerbread, stollen, holiday cookies, roasted nuts, candies and more; and

WHEREAS, Christkindlmarket Chicago 2021 will be welcoming guests from November 19^th through December 24^th; and therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled in meeting this 25 day of October, 2021, do hereby congratulate Christkindlmarket Chicago on 25 years of successful holiday festivals and wish them much more success in the future; and

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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we, do hereby proclaim December 1^st as Christkindlmarket Day in the City of Chicago; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to the organizers ofthe Christkindlmarket Chicago.

BRENDAN REILLY Alderman, 42^nd Ward

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