The Magical World of Holiday Art Markets: 11 Markets and Shows to Put on Your Calendar

A quick guide to supporting local artisans

By Ross Boissoneau | Nov. 16, 2024

With Halloween in the rearview, it’s officially the holiday season, and stores have already been stocking their shelves with holiday décor and plenty of toys, clothes, electronics, and more.

It’s not just the retailers that are showcasing gift possibilities. The church bazaars, arts centers, and merry maker marketplaces across the region host jewelers, painters, crafters, and artisans of all sorts. Many of these holiday markets are one-day-only affairs, while others last for weeks.

Shop and Sip

Some markets are small, with a handful of vendors taking over the local town hall. Then there’s the sprawling Traverse City Shop and Sip (Nov. 23), which features over 100 merchants in Governors’ Hall at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. Owner and coordinator Belinda Belanger says the event attracts shoppers and artisans from across the area, downstate, the U.P., even out-of-state.

“We really focus on the event,” says Belanger. “It’s not just walk through, shop, then leave. We have live music, bars, food.” Shop and Sip is a ticketed event: $5 for general admission and $15 for VIP tickets. The latter allows shopping for an hour before the event is open to everyone, providing first choice on handmade items and happy hour drink specials. Some vendors will also offer special discounts.

Metalsmith and jeweler Alaina Clarke makes the trip up to the Traverse City Shop and Sip from Ferndale. She says she makes about 80 percent of her income from shows such as this, which dovetails with her love of meeting new friends and greeting old ones during the holidays.

“I get to tell the customers the story of each piece. When they wear it, they get to create their own story,” she says.

Belanger says creating such a show takes a lot of planning. That involves making the layout work by keeping vendors with similar products separated and putting together those that want to be close to one another (“I have three from Kalamazoo who want to all be together,” she says), keeping track of who’s coming and who’s not, and creating a great experience for shoppers. “It’s a big puzzle,” Belanger says.

And a puzzle that both vendors and shoppers enjoy. “I have people come from Grand Rapids, the east side of the state, even out of state. Some make it a girls’ weekend and stay at the Resort and go shopping,” says Belanger.

Extended Markets

The Crooked Tree Arts Centers offer artists exposure for an extended time. The Holiday Bazaar exhibit in Petoskey runs Nov. 15 - Dec. 19, while its Traverse City counterpart, Merry Marketplace, takes place Nov. 9 - Dec. 14. Both include special events: Holiday Swirl at CTAC-Petoskey on Dec. 5 runs 5:30-7pm and features food, drinks and live music. Tickets are $35, $30 for members. CTAC-Traverse City features Pop Up Art Market events Nov. 23 and Dec. 7, highlighting 13 artists at each event, along with local students.

Alissa Seelmann-Rutkofske, gallery coordinator at Crooked Tree Arts Center in Petoskey, says events such as these provide a significant slice of the year’s profits for the vendors.

“Artist markets provide a targeted platform for independent artists to have their work seen by a larger audience than they might reach on their own. Visibility is so critical to the success of artists—the more people who become aware of an artist’s work, the better,” she says.

Sales vary by vendor and shopper interests, though overall Seelmann-Rutkofsk says the month-long event represents about 60 percent of the gallery’s sales.

These events also allow for vendors and buyers to connect on a personal level. “They provide a chance for the artist to showcase and sell their handmade goods while receiving immediate feedback on their work,” says Kristi Wodek, vice president of Crooked Tree Arts Center in Traverse City. “Engaging in these markets also helps artists build relationships with buyers, often leading to repeat sales and word-of-mouth promotion.”

Kim Stern, who sells a variety of inscribed ceramic coasters as NorthCoastern, says she gets more personal responses at such markets than through her website and Etsy. She will be at numerous markets throughout the holiday season. “You get more exposure at markets. I enjoy the in-person shoppers. You make new friends, see people you haven’t seen in a while,” she says.

Pottery maker Clay Maas will be part of the Pop Up show at Crooked Tree Traverse City. He says the marketplace is one of a few places he sells his work. He only does a couple shows each year, relying on income from his ceramics education studio ClaySpace TC, which offers classes, private lessons, and workshops for both children and adults.

“I get to sell and show,” Maas says. “What makes this enjoyable is it’s well done. The people in the show are exceptional at what they do.” Given the duration of the CTAC markets, the artists are able to change and replenish the work they have on display throughout the time it is open.

The various handmade articles vary from show to show. “This year, we have a lot of ceramics and jewelry represented, which are always popular gift items, but we also have things like lamps, winter knits, craft kits, bath and body products,” says Seelmann-Rutkofske.

But wait, there’s more: You may find books by local authors, clothing and textiles, dolls, signs, even tasty treats. Andria Bufka of Red Gate Farm will be selling her pies, pastries, and jams at the Glen Arbor Holiday Marketplace Nov. 29 and 30 at the Glen Arbor Town Hall.

While she sells her baked goods along with produce from her garden at her roadside stand in the summer, she says the holiday market provides an outlet at a time when that business is not as steady. It also provides an opportunity to enjoy the season. “I’ve got a lot of cute holiday décor. I make it festive,” she says.

A Holiday Market Sampler

While we don’t have room to feature all the holiday markets, and some such as the Dennos Museum’s Holiday Artist Market and Long Lake Elementary School Craft Show have passed, here is a sampling. Keep an eye on the Northern Express calendar for a more complete list.

1. Crooked Tree Merry Marketplace
Nov. 9 - Dec. 14, Tuesday-Friday 11am-5pm, Saturday 10am-4pm. 322 Sixth Street, Traverse City. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-traverse-city/merry-marketplace-2024

2. Crooked Tree Holiday Bazaar (and Holiday Swirl)
Nov. 15-Dec. 19, Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm. 461 E. Mitchell St., Petoskey. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/holiday-swirl-2024

3. Charlevoix Circle mARkeT
Nov. 15 - Dec. 28, 11am-4pm daily, 109 Clinton Street, Charlevoix. More than 30 local artists, crafters and makers. charlevoixcircle.org/circle-market

4. Jordan River Arts Council Holiday Market
Nov. 17 - Dec. 21, 12:30-4:30pm daily. Shop early Nov. 16, with gifts, refreshments, and beverages, admittance via monetary donation. Jordan River Arts Council, 301 Main St., East Jordan. jordanriverarts.com/2024-events/holiday-market

5. Traverse City Shop and Sip
Nov. 23, 2-7pm. (VIP 1-2pm), Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. traversecityshopandsip.com

6. Brother Dan’s Handmade Holiday Craft Show
Nov. 23, 9am-4pm, Emmet County Fairgrounds, 1129 Charlevoix Avenue, Petoskey. Numerous local vendors featuring handmade items. Admission ($2 or a non-perishable food item) and concession sales benefit Brother Dan’s Food Pantry. tinyurl.com/3knfkwhc

7. Glen Arbor Holiday Marketplace
Nov. 29, 6:30-8pm, Nov. 30, 10am-4pm. Glen Arbor Town Hall. Dozens of artisans and crafters. glenarbortownship.com/glen-arbor-holiday-marketplace

8. Empire Artisan Marketplace
Nov. 30, 10am-4pm, Empire Town Hall. Artisans and crafters plus book sale and vintage jewelry across the street at the Glen Lake Library. visitglenarbor.com/event/empire-artisan-marketplace-24

9. The Christmas Shop Vendor & Craft Show
Dec. 1, 10am-4pm, Ellison Place, Gaylord. Over 100 unique vendors and crafters, plus sip & shop mimosa bar. gaylordmichigan.net/event/christmas-shopping-extravaganza-the-ellison-place

10. Sip & Shop, Boyne City
Dec. 6, 5-8pm at the pavilion downtown. Food trucks, vendors with wine or cocktails, arts and crafts night, and decorating the pavilion. Part of the Boyne City Farmers Market. boynecitymainstreet.com/event/sip-shop-holiday-bazaar-2/

11. Holiday Craft Show and Bazaar
Dec. 8, 9am-3pm, Manistee. Part of the annual Victorian Sleighbell Parade and Old Christmas Weekend. Crafts and gifts from local artisans at Wagoner Senior Center, 260 St. Mary’s Parkway. manisteesleighbellparade.com/event-schedule