‘Tis the season to shop locally.
Across the city, small businesses and organizations are using the season to highlight Central New York vendors and artisans at holiday-themed pop-ups, markets, and events.
Holiday shops will be taking place all over the city for the next month. Check out our round up of holiday market events to see where you can shop locally:
Plowshares Crafts Fair and Peace Festival
Date: Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Dec. 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location: Nottingham High School, 3100 E Genesee St., Syracuse, NY
The annual Plowshares is returning with its two-day event at Nottingham High School.
It features more than 100 vendors and community groups. This marks the 54th Plowshares event. It is hosted every year by the Syracuse Peace Council.
Admission is on a $2 to $5 sliding scale, though the event is free to those younger than 16 years old and older than 65 years old.
Wildflowers Armory holiday pop-ups at Sugar Grove Bakery
Date: Dec. 11 and 18, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Dec. 15 and 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: Sugar Grove Bakery, 401 S. Salina St., Syracuse, NY
As a way to increase buy-in for handcrafted items, Wildflowers Armory will be collaborating with the Sugar Grove Bakery to hold a holiday pop-up series all month long at the bakery.
Good Tidings on Westcott:
Date: Dec. 14, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: University Christian Fellowship, 512 Westcott St, Syracuse, NY
This weekend “Good Tidings on Westcott” is holding its third-annual free holiday market in the Westcott neighborhood. The event will have 15 vendors selling locally made goods created by Central New Yorkers. Items for sale will include fine art, knitwear, candles, soaps, and more. The event will also have food and performances from local musicians.
“I think it’s important to support local vision, but then also returning that – as far as money — back to our own community,” said Madalyn Ledesma. “To be able to support that I think is really important to encourage and cultivate that.”
Ledesma is a full-time artist and began hosting the event three years ago to bring creatives in the community together. She also wanted residents in the neighborhood to have another event to look forward to during the holiday season.
Holiday Party and Bazaar
Date: Dec. 15 at 11 a.m.
Location: Gere Block Lounge, 1970 W. Fayette St., Syracuse, NY
On the West Side, the GereBlock Lounge is collaborating with Plum and Mule and Metal Morphosis to host its first holiday party and bazaar.
The event is expected to feature 12 local vendors. Many of them will be selling items like soaps, candles, collage art, Christmas trees, and other handcrafted products.
Guests can shop at an indoor farmer’s market for fresh produce provided by Plum and Mule, and participate in an interactive gift and jewelry-making class.
“I think it’s really important that we want to support these businesses, keep the economic power within our community to uplift these businesses and to offer something unique and different. it benefits our community in many ways,” said Tim Bryant, communications manager for GereBlock Lounge.
Lunar Art Events: Downtown Winter Market
Date: Dec. 21 at 1 p.m.
Location: City Hall Commons Atrium, 201 E. Washington St., Syracuse, NY
In collaboration with CNY Arts, Lunar Art Events is hosting its first downtown winter market. The free event will have live music, food trucks on-site, and much more.
The downtown winter market will showcase more than 20 vendors selling handcrafted items including soaps, skin care products, multimedia artworks, baked goods, knitwear, and tarot readings.
“So often we have these small businesses, which in the arts and craft world 80% tend to be women and minorities,” Powell said. “This is a place where we could be supporting people who are trying to follow their dreams and make that a big business. It helps put money in the pockets of families. That money goes back into other local businesses and economies, and helps lift up the entire community.”
Powell, who is the curator of the winter market, has been hosting events for five years. Many of which she puts on for local artists and vendors. She also runs a hyperlocal online market called Upstate Handcrafted.
McCarthy Mercantile
Date: Every weekend, 12 – 5 p.m.
Location: McCarthy Mercantile, 217 S. Salina St., Syracuse, NY
During the holiday season, downtown’s largest anti-mall, the McCarthy Mercantile hosts a holiday weekend pop-up series called “Crafted Underground” starting at noon every weekend. The event began in October and runs through the end of December.
It will feature local vendors, indie shops, and services.
“Shopping local isn’t a fad or a trend anymore, it’s a way of life,” Heagerty said. “Those who truly appreciate it know that by spending your dollars at small businesses, you are directly involved in enhancing the local economy.”
McCarthy Mercantile houses more than a dozen indie retailers in its basements and on the ground level, Wildflowers Armory sells handmade items created by Central New York artisans.
If you’re hosting a holiday market or shop, please reach out to ystewart@centralcurrent.org
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