Chicago’s Christkindlmarket is facing a crisis this holiday season after dramatic new crowd-capacity restrictions imposed by the city. Organizers and vendors warn that the rules, and the resulting slump in attendance, could jeopardize the market’s future at Daley Plaza.

The changes came just hours before the market opened on November 21. Under the new policy, visitors at any given time were capped at roughly 1,553 people, far fewer than in previous years, including during pandemic-era limits when capacity was substantially higher.

As a result, entry lines quickly wrapped around blocks while inside, the market felt notably empty, a sharp contrast to the typical bustling crowds. Vendors reported sales plunging by as much as 40 percent. Some long-time sellers, including those who travel f

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