Holiday Season Market Completist

I’m working on making a long list of the all the occasional / pop-up markets happening during the holiday season in Southern Arizona!

I’ve seen lists of top holiday markets in Tucson to shop, but there are so many more that don’t get mentioned. So I want to search out as many as Southern Arizona markets as possible, so you can peruse all your options in one list!

Because maybe you didn’t know there’s a market at Whiskey del Bac on Small Business Saturday. Or one in Las Cienegas National Conservation Area. Or one at Casino del Sol.

And maybe you don’t live around Sonoita, but you’d enjoy taking a day trip to sip cider and listen to live music while you shop the Old World Holiday market at The Meading Room.

There around 50 markets on my list so far, and it’s not done yet!

 

In the Market for Markets

Do you have a favorite one I should add? One that might not already be on my radar?

Despite the decorations in some of the photos, it doesn’t have to be a specifically Christmas market. A craft-heavy monthly farmer’s market counts. So does the fall or winter edition of an artist market that happens a few times a year. It just has to have dates in November and/or December for consideration.

Here’s what I’m looking for:

• Pop-up markets, craft fairs, and holiday boutiques, as well as festivals and other public events that include a market (like Vailfest or the Marana Holiday Festival + Tree Lighting).
• Featuring work by independent creators and/or locally made goods.
• Must take place in Southern Arizona (south of Picacho Peak, more or less).
• At least part of the market must happen between November 1st and December 31st.

Know of a market like this? Help make this list as complete as possible by submitting it through our Google form!

 

Artist + Crafter Spotlights

Are you a crafter or artist participating in Southern Arizona market(s) this season? Would you like a little extra attention?

We’re offering independent artisan spotlights throughout the list. It’s pay-what-you-wish ad space where you can show off a signature product or share the markets where people can find you this season!

You go to the same form link. Under “What would you like to do?” select the Submit an Artist Spotlight option, fill in your information, and I’ll get back to you with details.

The pay-what-you-wish part was inspired, in part, by the “sliding scale” earring section at Arizona Poppy Shop.

Al Otro Lado

A portion of the proceeds will go to Al Otro Lado, an organization that provides direct humanitarian aid to migrants on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. “People in open-air detention centers. Deportees dropped in Tijuana without money or food. Asylum seekers who need someone to help them through a border crossing. Parents who’ve been torn away from their children…” (summary by Jesse Thorn, who set up the fundraising campaign I’m linking to).

Al Otro Lado’s work feels especially relevant here in the borderlands and absolutely crucial in this moment.

In fact, if you just want to donate directly to them, here’s an Al Otro Lado fundraising page that will allow you to take advantage of matching funds to double your gift amount.

 

Don’t Miss the List!

The list will be online in late October. Subscribe to our newsletter to make sure you don’t miss it!

I’m excited to put together this list to give you more maker-focused options to shop and spread the word about artisans who pour their hearts into what they create!

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Submitting a market or requesting an artist spotlight doesn’t automatically mean it will be included. (It probably will be, though.)