Organizers and vendors are voicing serious concerns after Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration began strictly enforcing sharply reduced capacity limits at the market. The change came without warning—officials say they were informed just 12 hours before opening day that attendance would be restricted far more tightly than expected.

The shift is dramatic. While the market was allowed nearly 3,500 visitors on Daley Plaza during the COVID era, current rules permit well under half that number, and upcoming seasons are expected to face caps around 1,000 attendees at a time. That’s a steep drop from the roughly 5,000 people who typically flood the event during peak hours.

The impact has been immediate. Long entrance lines stretch around the block, while vendors inside are watching their sales dwindle.

One business owner reported a staggering 40% decline in revenue, saying that even customers who want to shop are stuck waiting outside for hours. For many vendors—especially those who rely on the holiday season to sustain their operations—the new limits are financially devastating.

Rising costs don’t help. Some stands, particularly international ones, are already struggling with higher prices on imported goods due to President Donald Trump’s tariffs. With both expenses rising and customer volume shrinking, many say they simply cannot break even.

“I travel from Munich every year to sell my honey products and ornaments,” said Sabine Korger of Biene’s Honighaus. “With the tariffs and now these tighter attendance limits, we’re taking losses we can’t recover from. I don’t know if I’ll be able to return next year—or survive this season.”

Organizers share the same anxieties.
They note that the Christkindlmarket has operated safely for 29 years, supported by extensive planning and close coordination with city departments. They warn that the new limits pose an existential threat, not only to the event itself but also to the artisans, performers, seasonal workers, and small businesses who depend on its crowds.

What’s at stake is enormous. Launched in 1996 to foster cultural ties between Germany and the United States, the Christkindlmarket now brings hundreds of thousands of visitors downtown each year. Its total economic impact exceeds $190 million, and nearly 2,000 seasonal jobs rely on its success.

Organizers say discussions with the mayor’s office are ongoing, but the situation remains troubling.

As the holiday season unfolds, Chicagoans and tourists continue to line up outside the gates, hoping to experience a tradition that now finds itself at a crossroads—uncertain whether it can withstand the new restrictions shaping its future.