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There’s nothing like a Christmas market to get you in the festive spirit. The delicious food, live music and handmade gifts all scream ‘Tis the Season!’
Christmas markets originated in Germany in the late Middle Ages and have been a European staple of the season ever since.
Want to experience all the fun of a European-style Christmas market without leaving the US? I’ve got you covered!
According to USA TodayThese are the 6 most affordable European-style Christmas markets in America this winter.
6. Cincinnati, Ohio
There is a huge Christmas market in Cincinnati, which is the highlight here during the holidays. This market is based on those in Germany with the same abundance of stalls selling food and drinks.
Cincinnati also goes all out when it comes to Christmas decorations. You will find lights and trees on every corner and the famous city zoo puts on a nightly light show.
The Cincinnati Zoo Festival of Lights runs from November 21 through January 5 and is included in general zoo admission.
This costs $17-25 per persondepending on your start date.
5, Philadelphia, Pa
Love Park and City Hall are home to Philadelphia’s Christmas Village.
This is a huge traditional Christmas market with over 120 unique vendors. The entire village also comes alive with thousands of twinkling Christmas lights.
If you are really looking for that traditional European feeling, you can also enjoy European dishes, sweets and hot drinks.
There are also live music performances and family-friendly entertainment for you to enjoy while you eat.
There is no admission fee for this event and no ticket is required.
Be sure to visit the LOVE Park Welcome Center where you can enjoy the festival of Christmas trees. Here you can meet Santa Claus, admire all the Christmas trees and vote for your favorites.
4. Frankenmuth, Mich
Frankenmuth is often referred to as the Little Bavaria of Michigan, so what better place to host a traditional German-style Christmas market?
This market is iconic. You can enjoy traditional stalls, dancing lights, a singing Christmas tree and then burn those extra calories on the ice rink.
In addition to the fun at the market, the city’s traditional Bavarian architecture is decorated with garlands and Christmas lights are everywhere.
This year the city is organizing a ‘stop and snap challenge‘ with decorated selfie spots that you can find and enjoy all over the city.
3. Seattle, Washington
Seattle is a city that really comes alive during the Christmas season.
You’ll find authentic Christmas markets with an abundance of delicious food and sweet treats taking center stage.
You can also enjoy daily live performances and traditional fairground rides, such as a double-decker carousel.
General admission tickets cost $15.99 per person.
What makes Seattle stand out from the crowd at Christmas is the Christmas Ship Festival. This includes a parade of boats covered in Christmas lights sailing along the river, and the lead ship hosts an onboard choir singing Christmas carols.
You can watch this spectacle from the coastline completely free.
2. Saint Paul, Minnesota
The Saint Paul Christmas Market is called the European Christmas Market and the tagline is that it is the most authentic traditional holiday market of its kind in Minnesota.
You can enjoy the festive atmosphere as you explore more than 70 vendors and enjoy live entertainment. And if you’re traveling with kids, the centerpiece of this market is the unique holiday-themed train and holiday-themed carousel.
This event is free to attend so no ticket is needed, ideal for budget travelers.
It is worth noting that this Christmas market is only open on weekends from November 29 to December 22.
1. Bethlehem, PA
The most affordable Christmas market in the US can be found in the aptly named town of Bethlehem, the second entry on the list for the state of Pennsylvania.
The city organizes an annual Christkindlmarkt, which this year takes place from November 15 to December 22.
More than 100 artisans will have stalls here, making it a great place for Christmas shopping.
Every day you can explore Main Street Bethlehem’s Christmas Town Village and Christmas Cabin. Admission to these fun, festive events is completely free.
As an added bonus, spending the weekend here won’t break the bank. In December you can find a hotel room in the heart of the city for an average of €175 per night.
No wonder this charming city is officially nicknamed ‘Christmas City USA!’
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
