Shop local and socialize this season at 7 holiday gift markets
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Want to buy local gifts but do it all in one place? These five vendor markets turn everyday venues into one-stop pop-up malls featuring small business owners and their handcrafted goods.
Date: Saturday, November 21
Time: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Location: C3 Lab, 2525 Distribution Street
Details: Local fashion, arts and food vendors will convene at C3 Lab, a creative makerspace in South End. The event is free and open to the public and benefits the Isabella Santos Foundation.
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Small Business Saturday in South End
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Date: Saturday, November 28
Time: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Location: Triple C Brewing, Atherton Mill and Unknown Brewing
Details: Each of the three venues will be packed with small business owners selling handcrafted products. Two trolleys will offer free rides between venues every 15 minutes. Food trucks will be on site at all three venues and Chef Alyssa will do a cooking demo in her kitchen at Atherton Mill.
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7th Street Public Market Holiday Sip and Shop
Date: Wednesday, December 2
Time: 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Location: 224 E. 7th Street
Details: More than 50 local vendors will be selling goods at the market. The first 100 shoppers get a free glass of sparkling wine. They’ll have live music, free beer tastings courtesy of Triple C and Tank’s Tap, free Queen Charlotte pimento cheese samples and chair massages. Remember, the market validates 90 minutes of free parking in the adjacent 7th Street deck.
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Tinselbox: A Holiday Pop-Up Shop
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Date: Wednesday, December 2 through Friday, December 4
Time: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Location: Luski Gallery at Foundation for the Carolinas, 220 N. Tryon St.
Details: This pop-up shop inside the vibrant Foundation for the Carolinas gallery will showcase local retailers and makers, including Kendra Scott jewelry, Straight Stitch & Co and The Frock Shop. There will be coffee, cider and hot cocoa served during the day, and wine and cheese receptions each night from 5 – 7 p.m. Not Just Coffee will present a latte art competition on Thursday, December 3 from 5 – 7 p.m.
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OMB Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market)
Date: December 4 -5 , December 11 – 12, December 18 – 19
Time: Fridays 4 – 9 p.m. and Saturdays 2 – 9 p.m.
Location: 4150 Yancey Road
Details: Olde Mecklenburg Brewery hosts a German-style open air Christmas market featuring 30 local food and gift vendors, and this year they’re expanding it to three weekends. They’ll have their seasonal brews on tap along with traditional homemade glühwein, a warm spiced red wine.
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photo via Facebook
Hops & Shops Holiday Market at Atherton Mill
Date: Wednesday, December 9
Time: 6 – 9 p.m.
Location: 2104 South Boulevard
Details: Shop local gifts from more than 30 local artisans and entrepreneurs. Triple C Brewing will be there and the first 25 shoppers get a free beer. They’re offering gift wrapping services with a donation to Bee Mighty, a local charity that provides financial support to families whose babies spent time in the NICU.
Pink Social Girl Tribe Holiday Market at Sugar Creek Brewing
Date: Saturday, December 12
Time: 12 – 5 p.m. ($5 VIP entry at 11 a.m.)
Location: 215 Southside Drive
Details: This market will feature products from more than 50 women-owned local businesses. Drink beer, eat doughnuts and enjoy old school NYSNC Christmas jams.
Can’t make it out to these events? Or just prefer the ease of online shopping in your sweatpants? No worries. Just don’t take all your business to Amazon. You can shop local small businesses on Etsy, too. Check out 20 of our favorite local Etsy shops.