Who is a crash-rated steel bollard on Sheffield Avenue meant to protect? The City Council ordinance that pays for the work describes the project as public-safety improvements for events at both Wrigley Field and Gallagher Way. That makes the plaza's winter season part of what the project is for. On November 20, Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville opens on that plaza, while the bollards are still going in around it.
For anyone who lives within a few blocks of the ballpark, the market itself won't change much this year. The route to it will, and so will the edge of the plaza.
A security project that also protects the plaza
Bleed Cubbie Blue reported that Major League Baseball required security bollards on all four streets around Wrigley Field before it awarded the Cubs the 2027 All-Star Game. The Cubs' construction timeline sets completion for Opening Day 2027, but the ordinance looks past any single game. It says the measures may reduce how many city police officers have to be mobilized for traffic management at events. This season, that plaza will host six weeks of spiced cider and pierogi.
The scope also goes beyond posts in the ground. The ordinance lists demolition, earthwork, bollard installation, a wider sidewalk on Addison, relocated light poles and utility work, at an estimated cost of about $32.1 million before design fees. Three parties share the bill:
- City of Chicago: one-third of the guaranteed maximum price or $10 million, whichever is less
- State of Illinois: $12 million
- Chicago Cubs: a minimum of $8 million, including any overruns
Once the work is done, the Cubs are responsible for long-term maintenance and repair. Public money builds it and the team keeps it up, so the perimeter becomes a permanent part of the ballpark's edge rather than something rolled out for game days.
The closure calendar and the market calendar overlap
Work started October 12 and is being done in phases, with completion set for Opening Day 2027. The 44th Ward's October 8 newsletter set out the schedule. Here it is next to the market's dates:
| Area | Restriction | Scheduled window | Overlap with Nov. 20 to Dec. 31 market |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheffield Ave., Addison to Waveland | Closed to vehicles; west sidewalk closed | Oct. 12 to early December | First two weeks or so |
| Waveland Ave., Clark to Sheffield | Closed westbound; south sidewalk closed | Oct. 12 to early March | Entire run |
| Addison St. | North sidewalk closed | Oct. 22 to mid-January | Entire run |
| Clark St. | East sidewalk closed | Mid-November to mid-December | Most of the run |
The Clark Street line affects the market most directly. Gallagher Way's address is 3635 N. Clark St., and the east sidewalk of Clark is scheduled to be closed for most of the market's run.
The Cubs' email to neighbors, quoted by Bleed Cubbie Blue, said Gallagher Way and the surrounding businesses will stay open throughout construction. As of photos taken October 30, the outlet's October 31 update showed Waveland open eastbound only and Sheffield fully closed between Waveland and Addison. The sidewalks across the street from the ballpark were still open on both. In practice, walking to the market means using the far side of the street.
Bus riders have one more change to plan around. The 44th Ward's October 29 update says the #152 Addison/Clark stop has been inaccessible since October 23. The Ward points riders to the Addison/Racine stop or the Addison Red Line station. For many Lakeview residents, the Red Line is the simpler way to reach a night at the market.
The bricks along Waveland and Sheffield
The bollards have already changed the ground itself. By late October, the commemorative brick pavers along Waveland and Sheffield had been pulled up to make room for construction. According to the Cubs' ballpark guide, the engraved pavers carry fans' names and messages and were bought and installed before the 2022 regular season.
The Cubs told Bleed Cubbie Blue that some pavers will go back where they were. Others will have to move because of the bollards, and the owners of relocated bricks will get an email with the new location once the brick is placed.
Inside the gate, the season runs as usual
Once you're inside, the market looks familiar. Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville runs November 20 through December 31 on these hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 3 to 9 p.m.
- Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Sunday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Thanksgiving, November 26, and Christmas Eve: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Christmas Day: closed
- December 21 to 23 and December 28 to 30: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- New Year's Eve: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The weekday 3 p.m. opening and the extended late-December hours are when the market fits most easily into a neighborhood evening. Admission is free, as Block Club Chicago reported when the season was announced in August.
The Wrigleyville vendor list includes Prince of Pierogi, which serves pierogi, bigos, kielbasa sandwiches and hot barszcz. It also lists Baked Cheese Haus for raclette, Biró Lángos for lángos and currywurst, Bob's Belgian Hot Chocolate, Milwaukee Pretzel Co., Jour Des Crepes, Nuts To Go, and La Boulangerie & Co. with croissants and macarons. Rotating pop-ups mean the market changes week to week:
- Lola's Handcrafted Churros, November 23 to 25
- The Wright Soapery, November 29 to December 2
- Kamala's Own Perfumery, December 3 to 5
- Vicinity, December 6 to 12
- Cocoa Giggles, December 13 to 16
- Love U Candle, December 20 to 24
- Sweet Crunch Tanghulu, across three stretches: November 26 to 28, December 17 to 19, and December 26 to 31
This is also the market's 30th-anniversary season. As Chicago Star Media describes it, the collectible mug is a 200-ml, pearl-white, flute-inspired design with anniversary fireworks, priced at $10 empty. A green, tree-shaped mug for nonalcoholic drinks is also $10, and a new mini stein shot cup is $7.
The market is part of Gallagher Way's Winterland programming. Winterland's ticket page lists ice skating, ice bumper cars, a carousel, the Wintertube and the Infield Express train. Rink access is listed at $20 with skate rental and $12 without, ice bumper cars at $16, and other attractions at $4 a ticket or $36 for ten.
The season continues up and down Clark
The bars on the blocks around the construction are running their own holiday season. The Wrigleyville Wonderland listing counts more than 25 holiday-themed bar pop-ups, with opening dates staggered from early November into December. Here's a sample:
| Pop-up | Host | Listed opening |
|---|---|---|
| Elf'd Up | Stretch, 3485 N. Clark St. | November 7 |
| Home Run Holidays | Brickhouse Tavern | November 11 |
| Almost Home Alone | Almost Home Tavern & Grill | November 13 |
| The Polar Bear | The Cubby Bear | November 16 |
| Holly Dolly Honky Tonk | Big Star Wrigleyville | November 20 |
| Santa Baby Bar | Stolen Saddle, 3505 N. Clark St. | November 20 |
| The Nutcracker | Merkle's | November 20 |
| 8 Crazy Nights | The Graystone Tavern | November 23 |
| Santa's Reingoats | Billy Goat Tavern | November 27 |
| Santa's Place | Dad's Place | December 1 |
Several of these openings fall on November 20, the same day the market opens. On that night, the market and several bar openings share the same stretch of Clark, alongside the sidewalk work. In September we wrote about how Lakeview quietly built the event infrastructure to close Clark Street for a festival. The bollards are the permanent version of that same infrastructure, and they're scheduled to be finished by Opening Day 2027.
I follow how projects like this one change the blocks around them, from the street level up, and I'm always glad to talk through what the new perimeter around Wrigley means for your corner of Lakeview. Cadey O'Leary Collection is here when you're ready. Work with Cadey and start the conversation.
