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A Comprehensive Guide to the Best Holiday Craft Markets in Baltimore by Sherry Insley

It’s The Holidays. Again. Just like paying your taxes (for some people), the holiday season can sneak right up on you. But don’t fret, because there are an amazing plethora of opportunities to fulfill your holiday gift list–starting Friday November 25th and continuing right up untill the last weekend before Christmas.

The best part is they don’t include big box stores with questionable “donations,” mall employees required to work overtime, overseas factories with sketchy labor laws, or Amazon drones.

You can shop small and shop local! You can keep your dollars circulating in your city by supporting independent businesses, artists, and crafts people. Buying handmade or locally produced items strengthens your local economy by allowing small businesses to establish roots and grow into self sustaining operations. In turn, these small businesses strengthen partnerships among neighbors, residents, other small business owners, and community leaders. Several of the pop-ups and artist markets listed below are making specific charitable contributions as well, so you will do even more good with your dollars.

This holiday season, skip the mass-produced, the cheaply made, the costly and polluting shipping, and check out your local artists and small businesses.

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A Holiday Shop: Taken at The Strand Theater

A five week holiday themed pop up shop at the Strand Theater in partnership with the Hamilton-Lauraville Main Street Association. DIY workshops, maker “mini-shops” and great holiday shopping. Opening weekend 11/25. http://shoptaken.com/holiday-shop-at-the-strand/

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Bazaart, Holiday Art Market at The Visionary Art Museum

AVAM’s annual holiday art market returns! Hundreds of original creations by over 40 regional artists and craftspeople, including paintings, sculpture, paper crafts, metalwork, jewelry, textiles, mixed media, apparel, and other work that simply defies categorization! Saturday 11/26, 10-5pm. Preview Party Friday, November 25th 5:30-8pm. $20, $10 AVAM Members. http://www.avam.org/news-and-events/events/bazaart.shtml

screen-shot-2016-11-22-at-5-16-04-pm Waverly Main Street Holiday Pop-Up Market, 32nd Street Farmers Market

Celebrate Small Business Saturday while shopping local with Waverly Main Street and kick off the first day of the winter season of the 32nd Street Farmers Market ! Saturday 11/26 9am-2pm. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/waverly-main-street-holiday-pop-up-market-tickets-29415331047

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Rocket Pop Shop, Rocket to Venus, Chestnut Ave in Hampden
Join the talented makers of Baltimore for a show on our patio and upstairs. Browse jewelry, clothing, metal and leather goods and much more! The Miracle on 34th Street lighting will take place at 6pmSaturday 11/26 12-6pm and Saturday 12/17 12-6 pm for some last minute holiday shopping. https://www.facebook.com/events/535475253312668/

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Harford Road Holiday Retail Trail

Shop Local! Featuring independent businesses who will offer special discounts and offers to shoppers the week of November 26th to December 3rd. https://www.facebook.com/events/1219336638124458/

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The Baltimore Jewelry Center’s Holiday Sale

Join the Baltimore Jewelry Center for it’s annual Holiday Sale, featuring contemporary art jewelry by artists and instructors who work at the studio. Opening Friday December 2nd, 6pm  – December 4th, 7pm. https://www.facebook.com/events/283535978708774/

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Made In Baltimore Collective Pop-Up Shop

Made in Baltimore, 1021 36th Street, Hampden. Made in Baltimore is hosting it’s fourth Pop-Up shop featuring over 20 businesses making work in Baltimore. Opening Friday December 2nd and running through the holiday season. (BmoreArt’s Issue 3 will be here!) http://wemakebaltimore.com/news

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Makers Market at Green Spring Station

This special pop-up shop is curated by Taken and (cool) progeny, as well as a schedule of diy events. Also, enjoy live holiday music, hot drinks, lip shade bar, complimentary Bun & Braid Bar and more! Saturday, December 3rd 10am-5pm. http://greenspringstation.com/makersmarket/

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Local Color Flowers presents a Pop-up gift market featuring local craft and food vendors. Saturday, December 3rd 9am-1pm. https://www.facebook.com/events/643689159112108/

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Make Studio A(nother) Holiday Thing

The 2nd Installment of Make Studio’s “artful holiday shopping event.” Saturday, December 3rd 2pm-7pm. http://www.make-studio.org/events_happenings.html

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Merry Mart, Creative Alliance

Annual juried holiday craft market that showcases high-quality handmade arts and crafts including; clothing, handbags, accessories, ceramics, soaps, kids’ toys, mixed media, jewelry and great art! Free drop-in kids arts workshop from noon to 5 pm Sunday, December 4th, 11am-5pm . http://www.creativealliance.org/events/2016/merry-mart

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XXChange December Pop-Up Shop at Open Works

Showcasing over 30 local self-identifying women makers of handmade arts and crafts: ceramics, home goods, apparel, textile, jewelry and more. Saturday December 3rd & Sunday December 4th, 11am – 5pm. http://www.bwmcollective.org/pop-up

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Holistic Holiday Pop-Up Market at Mt. Vernon Market Place

A 15 vendor pop-up at MVMP that focuses on holistic and healthy holiday shopping. Sunday, December 4th, 10am-3pm. https://www.facebook.com/events/295234434209674/

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MICA Art Market

Fine art and handmade objects by approximately 275 MICA students, alumni, faculty and staff. December 7th-10th. https://www.mica.edu/Art_Market.html

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Holiday Heap, Space 2640

Come Join 50+ amazing independent crafters for the 10th annual HOLIDAY HEAP CRAFT FAIR presented by the Charm City Craft Mafia! Shop handmade and local for all your holiday needs on Saturday, December 10th from 10am-5pm. http://www.charmcitycraftmafia.com/

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Waverly Brewing Christmas Bazaar

Browse for that perfect gift by local folks, with a brewery-fresh beer in hand at Waverly’s inaugural Christmas Bazaar! Sunday December 11th, 12pm-4pm. https://www.evensi.us/christmas-bazaar-waverly-brewing-company/192695063

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For The Greater Goods Market at Church and Co.

B.Willow’s second annual holiday market, created to bolster the local economy and support small business. This years market will raise funds for Art With A Heart. Sunday, December 11th, 11am-4pm. https://www.facebook.com/events/1790080221277810/

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Last Stop Hops and Shop, Peabody Heights Brewery

All your last-minute shopping needs will be fulfilled from 20+ local and regional artists and makers in the tasting room. Make this holiday handmade, support local businesses and enjoy delicious local food and beer while you browse and buy. Thursday, December 15th, 5pm-9pm. http://www.charmcitycraftmafia.com/last-stop-hops-n-shop/

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Ideal Arts Holiday Pop-Up, Ideal Arts Space Hamden

Pop-Up gift market is located in Hampden’s old ideal movie theatre and is perfectly timed for last minute shopping – this is the last weekend before Christmas! Saturday, December 17th, 11am-4pm. http://theidealartsspace.com/popupshows/

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Author Sherry Insley is a Baltimore based artist, maker of things and people.  Check out her original creations at her website and follow her on Instagram.

Top photo of Holiday Heap courtesy of The Charm City Craft Mafia.

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