Contributed by James Embree
This year you will once again be able to kick off your Christmas shopping at The Alaska Vintage Holiday Market at the Alaska State Fairgrounds. After being forced to move last year’s markets outdoors due to covid concerns, and therefore moving it to September to avoid freezing, the Market will be back indoors this year and back to a proper Holiday time of the year (Nov. 19-21 and 26-28).
For the first time Alaska’s trendiest market will cover two weekends this year, including Thanksgiving weekend. That means you can do your Black Friday shopping and your Small Business Saturday shopping at the Market. We will have over 100 small businesses all gathered in one place for you to enjoy. From handcrafted woodwork, to hand made jewelry, to up-cycled furniture, to original works of art, most of our vendors design and make the products that they sell, so this is truly the apex of shopping small and shopping local! There are so many of these great local businesses that they can’t all fit at once into the two buildings at the Fairgrounds, so those who come both weekends will find a new mix of great vendors each weekend.
The Holiday fun will also include live music, sleigh rides, reindeer petting, and pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Some of your favorite food trucks will also be at the Market serving up freshly made goodies. The Vintage Holiday Market will also be a collection point for Alaska Airlines “Pack the Plane” canned food drive supporting the Food Bank of Alaska. Cost is $5 at the gate on Fridays and Saturdays, free on Sundays. Hours are Fridays 2-8; Saturdays 10-6; and Sundays 10-4.