It’s time again for the 19th annual Handmade Arcade Holiday Market. If you’ve never attended a Holiday Market at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center then you’ve missed a huge opportunity to shop small businesses with over 275 makers, including established artists, youth makers, and members of the new BIPOC maker accelerator. You’ll find everything from sustainable clothing and accessories to one-of-a-kind art, innovative home decor, decadent body products, and much more. There will be hands-on handmade activities which include demos, make-and-takes, and community art projects.
The event starts on the evening of Friday, December 1 with a Happy Hour sponsored by Una Biologicals. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the makers in an intimate setting and browse the market before anyone else.
Then on December 2, there is Early Bird Shopping from 9:00 am to 11:00 am and then the main event is from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. Admission to the main event is free with time ticketing on their website. Other special times are available at a nominal cost.
QBurgh is once again a proud sponsor of the Holiday Market. Each year QBurgh has the privilege of donating our booth to a young queer artist or crafter for the event. This year’s QBurgh artist is Dean Ayres. Dean is a Pittsburgh-based illustrator. He primarily uses ink, watercolor, and acrylic paint to capture daily life and lived-in spaces. Dean creates pieces with a familiar feeling while also invoking an element of curiosity.
Please visit Dean’s booth in the Holiday Market and support your local craft makers, artists, and small businesses.
Browse a full list of the makers here.
Here are a few photos of known LGBTQ participants from last year and some of the new ones for this year. Tell them QBurgh sent you!
Dean Ayres, Fjord and Fable, Electric Cat, 1Fly Chicken Creations, Sleepy Hollow Handmade, Etna Print Circus, Huffalo, Kai’s Creations, PSquare Scents, Nightengale Needles, Ren Butler Design, Stratford Studios, and more.
