COLORADO, USA — Hoping to find unique presents this holiday season? A local gift market is a perfect place to start your search.
Artisans sell a selection of locally and often handmade gifts and goodies. It's a place to find something that will surprise and delight even the most difficult-to-shop-for friend, family member or significant other.
It's also a fun way to get into the holiday spirit while crossing a few items off your holiday shopping list.
Here's a guide to some of the biggest markets coming this year:
> The video above aired last year.
Dates: Nov. 16 - Dec. 24
Location: Fillmore Plaza, Cherry Creek North, 105 Fillmore St., Denver, CO 80206
What makes it unique: Fillmore Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues will be blocked to traffic for more than five weeks to host a pop-up holiday market designed to be a one-stop shop for all of your gifting needs. You can see the list of vendors that will be participating here - they include both local creators and small businesses from around the country that will rotate throughout the time the show is open.
Dates: Nov. 17 - Dec. 23
Location: Civic Center Park, 101 14th Ave, Denver, CO 8020
What makes it unique: This park in the heart of Denver is transformed into a German village full of music, food and gifts. Here, you can find handmade jewelry, toys, clothes, ornaments, food and more. Bavarian musicians also provide live entertainment to go along with the fresh, traditional German food and warm spiced Gluhwein, served in adorable keepsake mugs. The Denver Christkindlmarket has regularly been voted as one of the best holiday festivals in the country.
Dates: Nov. 17-19, Dec. 1-3, Dec. 15-17
Location: Belmar Plaza, 439 South Upham Street, Lakewood, CO, 80226
What makes it unique: Join Denver BAZAAR for a holiday shopping experience in Belmar for three weekends this season. There will be more than 80 vendors, fashion trucks and a holiday-themed pop-up bar. There's also an outdoor skating rink for a little more entertainment. Admission is free, but there are shop & sip packages that include unlimited drinks starting at $20. The market is also dog-friendly.
Dates: Nov. 18-19
Location: The Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada, CO 80003
What makes it unique: This market features handmade items from small, independent businesses around the state. It's free to get in, but they do take donations for a selected non-profit.
Dates: Nov. 25-26
Location: Zeppelin Station, 3501 Wazee St, Denver, CO 80216
What makes it unique: More than 80 vendors will be at this festive, outdoor shopping extravaganza taking place over one weekend outside the Zeppelin Station food hall. There will also be fashion trucks, live music, a holiday-themed pop-up bar, and DIY workshops. Admission is free, but there are shop & sip packages that include unlimited drinks starting at $20.
Dates: Nov. 25-26, Dec. 2-3, Dec. 9-10, Dec. 16-17
Location: Dairy Block Alley, 1800 Wazee St, Denver, CO 80202
What makes it unique: Held in the alley located next to the Dairy Block food market, this weekend pop-up market will feature 12 different vendors each weekend. There will also be live carolers, holiday music, photo ops, a screen-printing station, gift wrapping and festive cocktails. The market is free to attend.
Dates: Nov. 25-26
Location: Highlands Masonic Temple, 3550 Federal Blvd, Denver, CO 80211
What makes it unique: The larger of two markets put on by Horseshoe Market this year, this event is part makers market, part flea market. Organizers expect more than 120 vendors selling everything from handmade gifts to antiques. Admission is free, but donations collected at the door will go to Project I See You.
Date: Nov. 25
Location: Aztlan Community Center, 112 E. Willow St, Fort Collins, CO 80524
What makes it unique: This holiday market is designed to connect people in Fort Collins to creative people making unique goods in their community. They focus on bringing shoppers a selection of products that are handmade, high-quality and diverse. Entry into the market is free.
Dates: Dec. 1-29
Location: Foothills Art Center, 809 15th St, Golden, CO 80401
What makes it unique: This historic Gothic Church in Golden, which is now a museum, is taken over for more than a month each year for the Holiday Art Market. It features high-quality local, handmade gifts from more than 100 artists. You can find everything from ceramics to glasswork to painting to photography. Admission to the market is free.
Dates: Dec. 1-2
Location: 1200 – 1900 blocks S. Pearl St, Denver, CO 80210
What makes it unique: The festivities begin Friday evening with carolers and kids' storytime at 6 p.m. But the main event is on Saturday, when South Pearl Street will be overtaken by gift and food vendors, ice sculptures, hayrides and pictures with an Olde World Santa.
Dates: Dec. 2-3
Location: Norris Penrose Event Center, 1045 Lower Gold Camp Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80905
What makes it unique: This is one of the largest holiday markets in the area. Shoppers can find hundreds of booths filled with art, jewelry, Christmas décor, clothing, gourmet food and more. Admission, which is good for all three days, is $7. Children 12 and under are free. A $1 coupon is also available on their website.
Dates: Dec. 2-3, 9-10
Location: 6th Street, Georgetown, CO 80444
What makes it unique: Each holiday season, thousands of people come to this small town in the Colorado mountains to experience Christmas like it would have been 100 years ago. The historic mountain town turns into an old-fashioned Christmas scene with a European marketplace, roasted chestnuts, horse-drawn carriage rides, museum tours, music, visits from a traditionally dressed St. Nicholas, Victorian carolers and a daily procession of the Santa Lucia. You can see the full event line-up and artisan list here.
Dates: Dec. 2-3
Location: Breckenridge Brewery, 2920 Brewery Lane, Littleton, CO 80120
What makes it unique: About 60 vendors will be scattered over the street in front of Breckenridge Brewery's Farmhouse at their Littleton location. They will be selling everything from artisan foods, to vintage goods to crafts. You can also feel food about drinking festive beer, because purchases of Breckenridge's Christmas Ale help provide meals through Food Bank of the Rockies.
Dates: Dec. 2-3
Location: Boulder County Fairgrounds, 9595 Nelson Road, Longmont, CO 80501
What makes it unique: This is the holiday market for foodies. More than 100 local food vendors will be serving specialty products like fresh produce, specialty meats, baked goods, preserves, cheese, sauces, coffee, kombucha, and wine. There will also be local artisans selling handmade gifts.
Dates: Dec. 9
Location: MCA Denver at the Holiday Theater, 2644 W 32nd Ave, Denver, CO 80211
What makes it unique: Join the Denver Museum of Contemporary Art for a day of seasonal cocktails, holiday music and shopping.
Dates: Dec. 9-10
Location: The Golden Hayride Outpost, 17695 South Golden Road, Golden, CO 80401
What makes it unique: This is the first year of this new holiday market in Golden. Vendors will be selling handmade goods and other unique gifts under a heated tent. You can also grab drinks, coffee, pie and other snacks to munch on while sitting around a fire pit.
Dates: Dec. 9-10
Location: Old South Gaylord Street, 1034 S Gaylord St, Denver, CO 80209
What makes it unique: For one weekend, Old South Gaylord Street in Washington Park will be taken over by 80+ artisans selling handmade goods in a festive atmosphere. There will be food, holiday cocktails and live music to add to the shopping experience. It's free and dog-friendly!
Dates: Dec. 9-10
Location: Belleview Station, 6785 East Chenango Ave, Denver, CO 80237
What makes it unique: The market is returning to Belleview Station in the Denver Tech Center this year. It's an outdoor market featuring more than 70 vendors, food trucks, pop-up bars and more. Admission is free, but there are shop & sip packages that include unlimited drinks starting at $20.
Did we miss your favorite market? Let us know! E-mail amanda.kesting@9news.com.
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