02The market · SteelStacks
Today belongs to Christkindlmarkt — the German-inspired Christmas market held at PNC Plaza on the SteelStacks campus. In 2026 it runs November 13–15, 20–22, 27–29 and December 3–6, 10–13, 17–20: Thursdays and Sundays 10 AM–6 PM, Fridays and Saturdays 10 AM–8 PM. Plan the whole day around it; this is the trip's anchor.
Morning — beat the crowds
Buy tickets online before you go: $14 all-in Thursdays and Fridays, $16.50 Saturdays and Sundays, and kids 5 and under are free. Arrive by 10:30 AM — the free campus lots fill and Saturday lines build by noon. Enter through the Wilkommen Haus and grab a market map; the tents have German names (Essen Haus for food, Handwerk Haus for crafts, Glas Haus for the glass-blowers) and the map saves aimless laps.
Midday — demos and lunch
The two shows kids remember longest are the live craft demonstrations: chainsaw ice carving and molten-glass blowing (Keller Glass Blowing has worked the market for 28 years). Catch the first demo set — the viewing areas fill. Lunch is the Essen Haus tents: bratwurst, sauerkraut, and giant German pretzels (~$10–$15 per person, standing up, happily). Grown-ups get Glühwein at the Wärmen Haus; kids get hot chocolate in a souvenir mug.
Afternoon — the stalls
Work the artisan rows: Käthe Wohlfahrt — Germany's famous ornament maker — returns each year, joined by 100+ artisan stalls of handmade gifts. Bring a sturdy tote; ornaments are the trip souvenir that actually gets used. Then visit St. Nicholas in his own Haus — the traditional St. Nick does photos and stories, and it's the market's best kid photo op. Bathrooms and warming breaks are in the ArtsQuest Center.
Evening option
If your market day is a Friday, come back 5–8 PM — admission is free courtesy of ArtsQuest, and the market after dark (stacks lit, tents glowing) is a different, better place. Otherwise, end the day at the Winter Wonderland igloos on the Levitt lawn with hot chocolate.
Where to stay
Same base as last night — no repacking. If you're at Wind Creek, the walk back from the market is an easy, lit 13 minutes. From Hotel Bethlehem, the free Christmas trolley runs the South Side–Main Street loop.
Market: PNC Plaza, 645 E. First St. · $14 Thu/Fri, $16.50 Sat/Sun · Kids ≤5 free · Free Fri 5–8 PM · Flat, stroller-friendly paths
Kid strategy: The market is all outdoors — dress for it (see packing). Eat lunch at 11 AM to beat the noon–2 PM food lines, do the demos first while energy is high, and save St. Nicholas for the afternoon lull when his line is shortest.
