Tiffany Payton of Round Lake (left) and Tameika Sims of Chicago open the Christkindlmarket Chicago at Daley Plaza in Chicago on Nov. 18. (Photo by Karie Angell Luc /for Chronicle Media)

The 12 days of Christmas officially became the 37 days of Christmas on Nov. 18 when Christkindlmarket Chicago opened at Daley Plaza in Chicago.

Through Christmas Eve, the market, at 37 days with approximately 60 vendors, is expected to attract more than an estimated 1 million visitors. The traditional holiday market channels German traditions inspired by the markets of Nuremberg and elsewhere in Germany.

Naperville this year also launches its version of “Christkindlmarket Naperville” starting on Nov. 25, the day after Thanksgiving.

For the Chicago Christkindlmarket, since 1996, German American Services, Inc., a subsidiary of the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest, has produced what it calls one of the largest traditional Christmas markets outside of Europe.

Tiffany Payton of Round Lake rings the bell at the Christkindlmarket Chicago opened at Daley Plaza in Chicago.
“I like to ring the bell to welcome everyone to market,” she said. (Photo by Karie Angell Luc / for Chronicle Media)

Since its inception in 1996, Christkindlmarket Chicago has become a holiday must for many.

More than half of the vendors travel from Germany to Chicago each year to showcase their wares. With free admission, Christkindlmarket Chicago features wooden huts where patrons can purchase specialty fare such as sausages, candied warm nuts, potato pancakes, schnitzel, traditional stollen cake loaves and pretzels.

People waiting at Daley Plaze for the opening of the 2016 Christkindlmarket Chicago on Nov. 18. (Photo by Karie Angell Luc / for Chronicle Media)

Guests can purchase German beer or warm up with a cup of Glühwein (hot spiced wine), that latter of which is served in a souvenir mug. The mug’s design and color changes yearly and people collect them.

This year’s mug is WHAT COLOR and WHAT DESIGN.

Holiday gift possibilities include crafted ornaments, nutcrackers, cuckoo clocks, beer steins, wooden toys, jewelry, woodcarvings, and European sweets and treats.

Shoppers begin browsing on opening day of the Christkindlmarket Chicago at Daley Plaza in Chicago on Nov. 18. (Photo by Karie Angell Luc / for Chronicle Media)

Live entertainment and opportunities for children are included. Check the calendar at www.christkindlmarket.com.

Chicago Christkindlmarket takes place on Daley Plaza in the Chicago Loop (on Washington Street, between Dearborn and Clark Streets).

Dates and times are Friday, Nov. 18 through Dec. 24.

Sundays through Thursdays 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Special Hours on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Eve are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In Naperville at Naper Settlement, the market includes many of the same offerings and in a family friendly outdoor history museum on 12 acres.

The Piscasso sculpture looms over the 2016 Christkindlmarket Chicago that opened at Daley Plaza in Chicago on Nov. 18. (Photo by Karie Angell Luc / for Chronicle Media)

Admission is also free. Christkindlmarket Naperville is located at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St. in Naperville.

Dates of Christkindlmarket Naperville are Friday, Nov. 25 through Saturday, Dec. 24. Regular times are Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Special dates for Christkindlmarket Naperville are Dec. 19-23 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Christmas Eve is 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

This year’s Christkindlmarket mug design. (Photo by Karie Angell Luc / for Chronicle Media)

— Chicago’s Christkindlmarket signals start of Christmas season —