In April this year, the Naperville Heritage Society announced that Christkindlmarket will not be returning to Naper Settlement in 2019.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the event was relatively well attended and well liked by Naperville residents. Although the exact reason for the end of Christkindlmarket in Naperville is unknown, the Chicago Tribune says there was speculation about issues with funding, as German American Events — the group in charge of Christkindlmarket — requested some funding from the city but did not receive it because the city believed the success of the festival indicated that it should be able to sustain itself.

German American Events, however, told the Chicago Tribune that funding was not the primary reason for this decision — “it [was] just time for the market to move on.” There have been other concerns about security and parking during the festival’s few years in Naperville, but these do not seem to play a defining role in the change.

Christkindlmarket is based on German traditions. The festival has had multiple local locations, such as Chicago, for years. Although Naperville will no longer have its own Christkindlmarket, the festival is not ending. The confirmed locations for Christkindlmarket in 2019 will be released later in the year.