Photo courtesy of Galleria
Galleria Collective Windows
Galleria's Holidays Reimagined Collective Windows
While 2020 may be the year of fewer brewery craft markets and festive pop-ups in our favorite boutiques, all is not lost! Many Twin Cities brands and shopkeepers are forging ahead and coming up with new ways to create breezy local gifting and shopping experiences for us to continue making local cash registers ring while stocking up on holiday wares. Consider this your pocket guide to where the local craft purveyors and brands are popping up this season—just don’t forget your mask!
We'll continue to update this list throughout the season. Keep checking back, or send us your event to include in our roundup at edit@mspmag.com.
The Galleria Holiday Reimagined Experience, featuring the LAB Collective Market: Edina's luxe shopping center is teaming up with local creative team LAB to host a safe and socially distanced holiday events. Located in the former Gabbert's space, the concept boasts holiday decor inspiration, interactive activities and demos, and a makers market of goods from local brands and shops like Wit + Delight, Winsome Goods, Larissa Loden, and Excelsior's Golden Rule. To visit, guests can reserve a no-charge, ticketed 60-minute time with a charitable donation option at checkout with proceeds going to Cookie Cart. Saturdays and Sundays, Nov. 28–Dec. 20, labmpls.com Update: the shopping center has taken its Holiday Reimagined shopping experience virtual, allowing shoppers to access offers and DIY inspiration directly from their screens, as well as take advantage of contactless shopping for The Collective 2020 through an innovative window that showcases product from over 40 curated local vendors, shoppable via QR code.
Winter Markets in Minneapolis: Five fave farmers markets are teaming up to host winter outdoor markets around the city to continue celebrating local growers and producers. At each market will be a winter clothing drive site—so be sure to come with donations for adults and children—handmade or store-bought hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, boots, socks and coats—in tow. November—April, farmersmarketsofmpls.com.
Fair Trade Holiday Market: Local fair trade jewelry company Fair Anita is partnering with other like-minded brands and organizations—Global Mamas, Elevāt, and Trade Winds—to host the first-ever Fair Trade Holiday Market. The market will be open Wednesdays–Sundays now through the month of December—and filled with ethically and sustainably-made handcrafted gifts from around the world. 2516 Central Ave. NE., Mpls., fairtradeholidaymarket.com
Vintage Vault at Julia Moss Designs: Owner of her namesake Wayzata boutique, Julia Moss is launching a vault her pre-owned (and in excellent condition!) designer handbags and accessories. Open for shopping at the Lake St. shop, the collection features pieces from crème de la crème designers like Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, and more. The perfect opportunity to pre-scout a big-ticket item for your gift list, fashionistas. Peep some of the collections on JMD's Instagram, @juliamossdesigns. 647 Lake St. E., Wayzata, juliamossdesigns.com.
Great Lakes Co. Holiday Pop-up: The local brand has converted its Northeast office into a holiday shopping experience filled with its goods that boast MN-pride. Thurdays–Sundays in November, and December 3–6 and 10-24, 610 9th St. SE, Mpls., greatlakescollection.com
Union Depot European Christmas Market: Put on your coziest holiday jammies and pour yourself a glühwein at home—the iconic European-style market is going virtual this year. Nov. 1-Dec. 24, stpaulchristmasmarket.com
Bachman's Holiday—Ideas and Inspiration for the Home: The local legacy retailer has shifted its annual festive event (formally known as the holiday idea house) from the iconic, historic Lyndale Ave. home to its flagship store (Bachman's Floral, Gift, and Garden) to provide more room for guests to socially distance while gathering inspiration for the holidays. The self-guided tour ($5 entrance fee) will take you through themed rooms and styled vignettes featuring design ideas for season. A perk? 20 percent of proceeds will benefit Spark-Y, a local nonprofit empowering youth through hands-on education rooted in sustainability and entrepreneurship. Nov. 5–Dec. 13, bachmans.com
Open Casket: Virtual Edition: Another one goes virtual! Northeast's Casket Arts Building is taking its annual open studio event, Open Casket, online. This weekend, peruse local art and handmade goods from a variety of artists and makers, plus artist interviews, demos and behind the scenes studio tours. Nov. 6-8, casketarts.com
American Swedish Institute Holiday Exhibition & Story Trail: Head to ASI's new holiday exhibition that showcases an outdoor Nordic story trail and a beautifully decorated historic Turnblad Mansion. Just be sure to reserve your spot ahead of time! Nov. 14–Jan. 10, ASImn.org
Paikka Holiday Bazaar: The fifth annual event is back, with some new safety measures in place. The dreamy space, filled with local vendors like SCARFSHOP, There There Collective, Lulu Organics, and Apricot Floral, will be be set up for one-way shopping. Still opting for curbside? The market is offering pre-orders via individual vendors' websites for distanced shoppers. Nov. 15, instagram.com/paikka.
The Galleria Holiday Reimagined Experience, featuring the LAB Collective Market: Edina's luxe shopping center is teaming up with local creative team LAB to host a safe and socially distanced holiday events. Located in the former Gabbert's space, the concept boasts holiday decor inspiration, interactive activities and demos, and a makers market of goods from local brands and shops like Wit + Delight, Winsome Goods, Larissa Loden, and Excelsior's Golden Rule. To visit, guests can reserve a no-charge, ticketed 60-minute time with a charitable donation option at checkout with proceeds going to Cookie Cart. Saturdays and Sundays, Nov. 28–Dec. 20, labmpls.com Update: the shopping center has taken its Holiday Reimagined shopping experience virtual, allowing shoppers to access offers and DIY inspiration directly from their screens, as well as take advantage of contactless shopping for The Collective 2020 through an innovative window that showcases product from over 40 curated local vendors, shoppable via QR code.
Excelsior Christkindlsmarkt: Downtown Excelsior becomes a German open-air market for this holiday festival. Bundle up and enjoy holiday foods and entertainment and shop decor and gifts for the entire family. Bonus: this year's event now runs six days, and features a Santa in a life-size ornament. Nov. 27-29 and Dec. 4-6, excelsiorchristmas.com
MN Christmas Markets: The annual pop-up is back, this time, with a charitable twist. Shop handmade gifts, sip Emiliani Coffee, while the participating brands donate 7 percent of all proceeds to a local charity that fights for kids in the Twin Cities. Be sure to check location details as the event will be held at three different locations, including Union Depot, Brainerd Exchange, and Quincy Hall. Saturdays, Nov. 7–21, fightforsomething.com
