There is something special about the tradition of a German Christmas market and we look forward to visiting Urbana’s very own again this year
Last year’s German Christmas Market at Riggs in Urbana was a highlight of the season and we can’t wait to visit again. This tradition has quickly turned into a Champaign-Urbana area favorite.
For the first time in 2019, Matt Riggs and his wife Caroline, part of the ownership family of Riggs Beer Company, constructed and opened a German Christmas market at the Urbana store.
The traditional huts that are characteristic of German Christmas markets truly make the experience. Not only do they provide a beautiful backdrop for the experience but, by being stacked closely together, they block the wind to help keep visitors warmer than if the winter winds were blowing right across the open fields.
This year’s food lineup includes “sweet and savory crepes” along with bratwurst, candied roasted nuts, hot spiced wine and more. This is “very much what you would find at a German Christmas market in Germany,” according to Riggs.
The market gets bigger and better every year! The vendor list has not yet been announced for 2026, but last year, food vendors included Watson’s Shack & Rail, The German Food Truck, CK Almonds and The Macaron Palace. Some of the vendors we have seen have been Mack Glass, The Wright Soapery and Earth Bounty Farms.
*Vendors vary from day to day and specific time slots. Find Riggs Taproom on Facebook for regular updates before heading out.
Must Know Info
When: Four weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas
- Opening Friday, Nov. 27
- Fridays, 5-8 p.m.
- Saturdays and Sundays, noon-7 p.m.
Where: Riggs Beer Company, 1901 S. High Cross Road, Urbana
How much: There is no fee to get in – “just come and be merry,” they say.
Follow Riggs Taproom on Facebook for more announcements about the German Christmas Market.
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