Christmas Village sneak peek this weekend in Love Park

Christmas Village sneak peek this weekend in Love Park
Russ Brown Photography

Get a jump start on your holiday shopping — and pretend it actually feels like winter —at a sneak peek of Christmas Villagein Love Park this weekend. The annual outdoor German market will be back Thanksgiving day, for a post-parade place to shop and feel festive, and then hold its official opening November 28, with a choir-led holiday sing-a-long and a visit from the toy-bearing Christkind. But stop by Saturday or Sunday to be among the first of the 700,000 organizers expect to visit Christmas Village this year.

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The tree is up, the lights are strung, and 60 wooden booths, plus a dressed-up tent, are set up to sell ornaments, toys, jewelry and other crafts, along with sweet treats like waffles and gingerbread, German traditions including bratwurst and schnitzel, and warming spiced mulled wine and hot chocolate.

Throughout the season, the Village will have live music, a kids’ play area, and Santa photo ops. This is the last year the market will be at Love Park (15th and JFK); renovations are scheduled for next year.