With the holiday season approaching, it’s time to think about how to get that holiday shopping done! It may be tempting to simply browse through Amazon to get satisfying deals and free shipping, but I’m here to offer an alternative. In the spirit of supporting small businesses, here are a list of upcoming events in Baltimore that will feature local vendors and artists! Each market features vastly different vendors, which should cover most gift-giving needs as well as make for a great opportunity to get out and meet new members of the community. Please visit the links below for more specific details about what to expect for each event!
Holiday Shopping and Pop-Up Markets
2640 Saint Paul St
12/4, 10AM-5PM
The Holiday Heap Craft Fair, hosted by Charm City Craft Mafia, will feature local, handmade goods, and will showcase the work of over 40 different artists and businesses. COVID restrictions, including mandatory masking and proof of vaccination, will be in place.
Checkerspot Brewing
1399 S. Sharp St
12/4, 12PM-4PM
From vintage clothing to custom-made cards, Checkerspot Brewing’s annual holiday market will feature a wide variety of local vendors. The brewery will also highlight its newly released holiday beers and hold several raffles for customers.
Cross Street Market
12/4 and 12/11, 12PM-5PM
The Cross Street Holiday Market will give you the chance to buy locally produced goods such as handmade earrings and skincare products. They will also have live music, a photobooth, and drinks from local distilleries.
4 W North Ave
12/11, 1PM-6PM
The Station North Holiday Market will highlight the products and services of local businesses and other organizations, including the Station North Tool Library and Open Works. They will also be selling food and will have music performances throughout the event.
UNION Craft Brewing
12/11, 12PM-5PM
At this pop-up market run by UNION Craft Brewing, you’ll be able to mingle with local authors, photographers, and other Baltimore-based folks who will be selling holiday handcrafted goods.
What about shopping local after the holiday season? Following small businesses on Instagram or Facebook is a wonderful way of staying up to date with everything that’s going on in Baltimore. And to learn more about upcoming events or featured stores, checking out things that are featured on Made in Baltimore is a good place to get started!
For those who are interested in more general ways to celebrate the winter holidays, here is another list of upcoming events. From Christmas light displays to community gatherings, these are just five of many ways to experience the beauty of all that Baltimore has to offer, made even more special by the fact that most of these events have not been held since the start of the pandemic.
Holiday Events
700 W 34th St, Baltimore MD 21211
11/27 – 12/31
Every year, people from all over Baltimore come to visit the lovely neighborhood of Hampden in order to witness the Christmas lights and holiday decorations put up by the families living on 34th St. This is a Baltimore tradition that has been in place for decades, and it is one of the best ways to engage with community members for the holiday season.
Christmas Village in Baltimore
501 Light St, Baltimore MD, 21202
11/20 – 12/24
Stop by the Inner Harbor anytime next month to experience the Christmas Village’s traditional German Christmas celebrations, featuring a food court and market with over 50 small businesses and vendors.
Variations on Holidays – Baltimore’s 17th Annual Ten-Minute Play Festival
Motor House
12/3 – 12/19, 8PM-10PM
Baltimore’s The Variation Project will be premiering 10 winter holiday-themed plays, written by local authors, at the Motor House for the next two weeks. The ticketed event will take place in-person but will also be streamed online.
48th Annual Mayor’s Christmas Parade
W 36th St
12/5, 1PM-4PM
The Mayor’s Christmas Parade is a chance to soak in the spirit of Baltimore, as you march alongside “tens of thousands” of Baltimore residents, as well as local elected officials, along a route that takes you through the entirety of Hampden.
O’Donnell Square Park
12/11, 10AM-2PM
For those who would like to find a way to give back to the community, the Canton Community Association is organizing a toy and food drive for members of the community. Stop by their location anytime if you have something you’d like to drop off.
For additional events and descriptions of how to enjoy the holiday season in Baltimore, this website provides a great overview. And for things happening outside of Baltimore, check out this list of events across Maryland.
For those of you who decide to go to any of these events, keep me posted! I would love to hear about any cool discoveries or purchases – and any recommendations of your own!
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