Shop Local at D.C.’s Holiday Markets

Thanksgiving weekend marks the start of holiday shopping season, and what better way to find gifts for friends and family than supporting a local small business? Even with Covid-19, holiday markets across the DMV have found ways to adapt to keep everybody involved safe. Between in-person and virtual shopping options, there are markets for people of all shopping styles to enjoy during this holiday season.

Through December 4

GRUMP at HOME
Two words: yeti delivery. GRUMP is usually held at the National Zoo’s Zoolights festival, but this year the switch to an online market has opened the door for a new opportunity. Patrons in the DMV have the option for GRUMP’s own yeti to deliver locally sourced goods right to their doors. For those farther away, mail delivery is also an option. Find products from local makers and artisans like Potomac Chocolate, Pearl Fine Teas and Georgetown Soaps. Orders must be placed by December 4. USPS orders will ship on December 9 and yeti delivery will take place December 11-20. Order at www.grumpdelivers.com. www.grumpathome.com //  @ilovegrump

Through December 6

Carlyle Holiday Market
The Carlyle in Alexandria is taking a hybrid approach to their annual holiday market. Items from a large selection of food, drinks and handmade gifts can be preordered from November 27 to December 4. The market will be open onsite with socially distant vendors and musical entertainment on December 5-6 from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. While the market is free, you can get a cookie tin for the Carlyle Cookie Crunch for $10. Participating vendors will have signature cookies, which participants can put in their tin and decide which is their favorite. Preorder products online at www.woso.co/carlyleholidaymarket. 300 John Carlyle St. Alexandria, VA // www.thecarlylecommunity.com // @carlylecouncil

Through December 11

Hoptimist Holiday Market
Usually, the Heurich House Museum and DC Brau hold their own holiday markets, but this year, they combined forces for a virtual holiday market. Hoping to amplify each other’s voices and merge their audiences, Kim Bender of the Heurich House and Mari Rodela of DC Brau created this “HOP-timistic” online shopping experience. “What we are learning through the pandemic is we are stronger when we work together,” Rodela says. When planning this year’s market, Bender and Rodela decided a virtual market would be the best way to support small vendors who rely on holiday markets for their revenue, while keeping vendors and patrons safe. “It is our responsibility as community leaders to set the tone on how to keep people safe and best support our community,” Bender adds. Hoptimist Holiday Market is open online from November 27 to December 11. All products have free shipping and will be delivered by December 23. www.hoptimist.shop // @hoptimistmkt

Weekends through December 20

Del Ray Artisans’ 25th Annual Fine Art & Fine Craft Market
Del Ray Artisans’ Holiday Market takes place over the first three weekends in December: December 4-6, 11-13 and 18-20. Each weekend, different local artists are featured to sell their handmade artwork including ceramics, paintings, jewelry and photography. A portion of every sale goes back to Del Ray Artisans to help them continue to promote art, and benefit artists and the community. The market will be held in the Del Ray Artisans gallery and is open from 6-9 p.m. on Fridays and 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. 2704 Mount Vernon Ave. Alexandria, VA // www.delrayartisans.org // @delrayartisans

Friday through Sunday until December 20

Victura Park Winter Holiday Market at the REACH
This year is Victura Park’s first holiday market, which will feature products from local makers. It will also feature a menu of light snacks, like charcuterie boards, sandwiches, hot drinks and grilled food curated by Chef Erik Bruner-Yang. The market will also feature a local chainsaw artist who will be doing live portraits onsite. “This is a chance for people to get outside with plenty of space and see people face to face, and experience the holiday spirit in-person,” says Victura Park’s communication manager, Mykl Wu. Victura Park Winter Holiday Market is open on Fridays from 4-8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 12-6 p.m. between November 27 and December 20. 2700 F St. NW, DC. www.victuraparkdc.com // @victuraparkdc

Through December 23

Downtown Holiday Market
For its 16th year, the Downtown Holiday Market is continuing in-person on two closed off blocks of F Street Northwest. With more than 70 food and gift vendors over the span of four weeks, this is one of D.C.’s largest holiday markets. In the past, this market has featured live performances from local artists, but this year is projecting prerecorded performances on a large screen at the market. These performances will also be available on YouTube after they premiere. “It’s bringing not only some joy downtown, but [also] a little bit of normalcy [so] people can get out and do something safely,” explains Michael Berman, president of Diverse Market Management, one of the producers of the market. This D.C. holiday staple runs from November 20 to December 23, from 12-8 p.m. daily. F Street NW between 7th and 9th Streets in NW, DC // www.downtownholidaymarket.com // @downtownholidaymarket

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