Gift-giving season is once again in full swing! If you’re stuck on what to get, these craft fairs can help you cross every name off your list while supporting the work of local makers. These artisan fairs are happening from now until mid-December, so whether you like to shop early, or want to wait a little bit longer, we’ve got you covered. With products ranging from craft spirits to barnwood signs, even soaps and artistic prints, there’s sure to be something for everyone–even your furry friends can enjoy some handmade toys! Many of the events have food vendors, live music, and visits with Santa Claus, so the whole family can join in on the festivities.
Christkindlmarkt | November 18-19
Welcome the holiday season with Christkindlmarkt, the annual Christmas festival designed to transport visitors to a traditional German holiday marketplace. Shop for gifts and snack on some classic German fare. Bratwurst, goulash soup, herring salad, and German potato salad will be available, along with apple strudel, butter cookies, plain and marzipan stollen, and other baked goods. The event is hosted by Germania of Poughkeepsie, a historical society which has been organizing year-round events to preserve and teach people about German culture for over 170 years. Christkindlmarkt runs on Friday, November 18 from 4-8pm and Saturday, November 19 from 10am-6pm.
Basilica Farm & Flea Open Air Holiday Market | November 26-27
Positioned as an grassroots, anti-corporate response to Black Friday, Basilica Farm & Flea Holiday Market has become a Thanksgiving weekend staple in Hudson since 2013. After a year off in 2020 for COVID, the festival celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with a roster of over 80 vendors. Local farmers, artisans, and makers will be spread throughout the historic Basilica Hudson's 10,000-square-foot factory building selling vintage and handmade gifts along with farm-fresh goods. This year, the event is presented in collaboration with the Hudson-based interior furnishings company LikeMindedObjects. Admission for the weekend-long event is $5, and children under 12 get in for free. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door, and entry times will be spaced apart. The market will be open on November 26 and 27 from 10am-6pm.
Hudson Valley Art Market | November 25-27
Forget the Best Buy Black Market crowds, and spend Thanksgiving weekend shopping at the seventh annual Hudson Valley Art Market at the scenic Locust Grove Estate. The fair offers a range of fine art, handmade, and small-batch items from makers throughout the Hudson Valley. There’s potato vodka from 1857 Spirits, naturally dyed yarn from Forage & Sow Dye Works, handmade baskets made by Mary Ann Williams, ceramics from Quiet Cove Pottery, and more. The market will be open November 25 and 26 from 10am-5pm, and on November 27 from 10am-4pm.
Holiday Market at Bethel Woods Center | November 26-December 17
Happening in tandem with Peace, Love & Lights, Bethel Woods Center’s drive-through light show, the Holiday Market gives visitors a chance to get some holiday shopping done while enjoying the season’s festivities. This market, which runs from afternoon through nightfall, every Saturday and Sunday from November 26 through December 17, will feature more than 70 vendors every weekend. Shop everything from cutting and charcuterie boards made from reclaimed wood to handcrafted to potter. In search of edible gift ideas? The market’s got you covered, with The Holiday Market is open on November 26 and 27, and December 2-3, 9-10, 16-17 from 12-8pm.
St. Nicholas Bazaar | December 10
Get some holiday shopping done and satisfy your sweet tooth at Grace Episcopal Church’s St. Nicholas Bazaar: Fine Crafts & Holiday Cookie Sale. Head over to Millbrook and shop for a variety of handmade goods. There’s silver jewelry, knitted wares, and even hand-painted step stools that are sure to please the youngest people on your list. There’s also handmade skin care, crafting materials like yarn and knitting implements, and even some goods for the pets (or their owners). Holiday cookies, baked fresh at the church, will be sold by the pound. There’s an assortment of flavors, from sugar and gingerbread cutout cookies to more decadent varieties. Cookies can be purchased at the fair or ordered in advance for pickup. The St. Nicholas Bazaar runs on Saturday, December 10 from 10am-2pm.
River Valley Guild Holiday Markets | November 25, November 26, December 3, December 10-11
The River Valley Guild, the Hudson Valley’s collective of artisans and other creatives, will host four pop-up holiday markets this year throughout the region. The Friday after Thanksgiving, November 25, head to Rose Hill Farm in Red Hook between 11am and 6pm for farm-made naturally fermented ciders and fruit wines, pizza, live music and a makers' market. If you can't make it, fret not. On Saturday, November 26 River Valley Guild will pop up at The Parcel Flower Co. in Cold Spring, where over 20 artisans will be onsite for the River Valley Guild's Celebrate Small market alongside musicians, food, and custom wreath-making. The show moves to Majestic Hudson in Katonah on December 3 for a day of healing, shopping, food, and fun with Santa from 10am-4pm. River Valley Guild will close out their 2022 season with a two-day stint at Reason+Ruckus in Poughkeepsie. The event will feature food and drinks, artisanal vendor, and a live DJ and dancing.
Made in Kingston Pop-Up Makers Market | December 8
Made in Kingston will host Kingston-based vendors for its 10th annual event on December 8 at the YMCA in Midtown. After two years of socially distanced, outdoor pop-up markets, this year marks the return to indoor shopping with close to 50 locally based artists, makers, and food vendor. Choose from gifts like wearable and decorative prints from Aurora Brush and Marissa Perez of Binnewater Prints; abstract and geometric ceramics from Strange Joy Studio; one-of-a-kind paintings, vessels, and jewelry from artist Neville Bean; and beeswax-based skin care and home products from Urban Apis. The market runs on Thursday, December 8 from 3-8pm.
Hudson Valley Holistic Holiday Market | December 4
The seventh annual Holistic Holiday Market is back, bringing some of the area’s favorite wellness-focused vendors together again. Head over to Locust Grove Estate and shop for an array of products designed to improve overall wellness, including bracelets and earrings from Janice Jewelry Boutique; crystals and healing stones from Two Eagles Healing, and CBD products from Passion Field Farm. Hoping for a peek into the future? Michelle Lorenzo and others will be onsite performing psychic tarot card readings, reiki, and other esoteric spirituality modalities. A.R. Massage Therapy will also be offering massages, as well as gift cards for those looking to give their loved ones the gift of relaxation. Be sure to arrive early–the first 25 attendees get a free swag bag full of products. The market runs on December 4 from 10am-5pm.
Mid-Hudson Civic Center Holiday Craft Fair | December 3
The nonprofit organization Mid-Hudson Civic Center is hosting its annual Winter Craft Fair, featuring goods made by Hudson Valley makers. Over 60 vendors will be selling their goods. Browse handmade fleece blankets, hair accessories, ceramic jewelry, and scented candles. There are even some options, like dog treats and rope toys, for the furry friends on your list. Admission to the fair is free to the public, and the event is on December 3 from 10am-4pm.
