When shopping for someone for the holidays, you could always just check their Amazon wish list. But where’s the fun in that?
Many holiday markets — like the 10 we have compiled here — will give you the opportunity to give something special, meaningful, and made by someone right here in Utah.
Shopping local means your dollars go to local pockets instead of big corporations, after a pandemic that saw many small businesses suffer.
“This year, we know that small businesses need our support now more than ever,” the U.S. Small Business Administration states on its website, “as they navigate, retool and pivot from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.”
Usually, the artists themselves will be on the other side of the table, so you can meet people like Megan Hindman, Jazmin Gallegos and Lexi Dowdell — who all shared their approaches to art with The Salt Lake Tribune. (Click here to read about them.)
So enjoy the hunt this Christmas season, and let this list of Utah holiday markets be your guide.
Wheeler Holiday Market
The Wheeler Holiday Market at Wheeler Historic Farm has gotten so popular that this year it has been expanded to two buildings, and will also include food trucks and a visit from Santa on Friday, Nov. 25. Local makers, foodies and artists will be selling their goods Friday through Sunday, Nov. 25-27.
After browsing the market, walk or snowshoe (weather permitting) through the Wheeler Farm grounds, greeting the animals or enjoying the deep winter stillness of the woods.
Nov. 25 is also one of the farm’s Festive Fridays, when visitors can take a magical lighted wagon ride for $3 per person. Festive Fridays continue Dec. 2, 9 and 16.
Wheeler Historic Farm, 6351 S. 900 East, Murray, Nov. 25, 5-8 p.m.; Nov. 26-27, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Santa hours: Nov. 25, 5-8 p.m. Free admission.
Small Business Bash at Copperhive Vintage
South Salt Lake vintage store Copperhive Vintage will be holding a Small Business Bash on Saturday, Nov. 26, in celebration of Small Business Saturday, a day to support small businesses and the impact they have on their communities.
About 15 artists, vintage sellers and food vendors will be attending, including The Thrill of the Thrift, The Vintage Crow, Locust of the Sea, Green Lion Eclectic, Richie2Retro, Queerations, Oh Hey Paper Co., Between Dreams Pottery, Taco Daddy Food Truck and Caffeinated Otter. Owner Jacqueline Whitmore said she’ll also be holding a flash sale on everything in the store that day.
Copperhive Vintage, 2709 S. State St., Salt Lake City, Nov. 26, noon-5 p.m. Free admission.
Craft Lake City Holiday Market
The fourth annual Craft Lake City Holiday Market on Dec. 2 and 3 will have over 125 Utah-based makers, craft food creators, food vendors and vintage vendors at the historic Ogden Union Station. Santa will be taking free photos with families (bring your own camera). New World Distillery, based in Eden, will be serving artisan cocktails, and nonalcoholic options will also be available. Tickets to the holiday market include free admission to the on-site Browning Firearms Museum, Kimball Car Museum, Utah State Railroad Museums and the Eccles Rail Yard.
To get to the Holiday Market from Salt Lake City, take the FrontRunner train to the Ogden Station, and walk 10 minutes south to the market. If you decide to drive, on-site free parking is available, and directions can be found at CraftLakeCity.com under “Getting There.”
Ogden Union Station, 2245 Wall Ave., Ogden, Dec. 2, 5-10 p.m.; Dec. 3, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.. Admission is $5 in advance, $7 day of market, and kids 12 and under are free.
Peteetneet Christmas Boutique
The Peteetneet Museum (pronounced “peh-TEET-NEET”) in small-town Payson in Utah County is the backdrop of this holiday boutique on Dec. 2 and 3, with vendors set up in every room of the festively decorated historic building. Kids will get a kick out of the miniature train display in the auditorium, and afterwards they can sled down the perfect sledding hill outside. Santa will also be available to hear wish lists and take photos with families. Once it gets dark, take a walk around the grounds to see Christmas light displays glowing in the snow.
Peteetneet Museum, 10 North 600 East, Payson, Dec. 2, 4-9 p.m.; Dec. 3, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Santa hours: Dec. 2, 5-7 p.m.; Dec. 3, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free admission.
Grid Zine Fest Holiday Market
This holiday market put on by Grid Zine Fest serves two purposes: to give people the opportunity to buy the “weird wares” of zine makers for holiday gifts, and to raise money for Grid Zine Fest 2023. Attendees will get to build their own cookie tin by buying festive cookies and other treats (vegan options available), with all proceeds benefiting the annual Salt Lake City zine and comics festival. After browsing zines, enjoy the record store itself, with its extensive collection of local music. Update: This event has been canceled.
Diabolical Records, 238 S. Edison St., Salt Lake City, Dec. 3, noon-4 p.m. Free admission
Red Butte Garden Holiday Open House & Art Fair and Glass Art Guild of Utah Glass Show
After entering the Red Butte Garden main building, go up the stairs and browse the Glass Art Guild’s 20th anniversary Glass Show, featuring glass Christmas ornaments and jewelry, through Dec. 20. At the top of the stairs take a left and find the Red Butte Holiday Open House & Art Fair in the bright Orangerie space, which will be filled with Utah artists selling such items as fiber art, soap, lotions, pottery and more on Dec. 3 and 4. Once you’ve selected your treasures, step outside and take a stroll through the sleeping winter garden — admission is free for all marketgoers.
Red Butte Holiday Open House & Art Fair, 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, Dec. 3-4, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Glass Art Guild 20th Anniversary Show, through Dec. 20. Free admission.
UMFA Holiday Market
After your stop at the Red Butte Garden holiday market, swing by the Utah Museum of Fine Arts to browse locally made gifts in the Great Hall and art-inspired items in The Museum Store. Makers will be selling prints, jewelry, candles, chocolates and more on Dec. 3 and 4, and The Museum Store is open year-round. Afterward, stop by the Museum Cafe for a snack or beverage, and then take in the museum’s many exhibits (entrance fee required).
Utah Museum of Fine Arts, 410 Campus Center Drive, University of Utah, Dec. 3-4, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission to the market is free; exhibitions require an entrance fee.
Hanukkah Market
You don’t have to be Jewish to celebrate the winter holidays by attending the Hanukkah Market, which has been running for more than 25 years. This market at the IJ & Jeanné Wagner Jewish Community Center, just north of Primary Children’s Hospital, will feature more than 20 vendors selling Native American jewelry, soy candles, handmade menorahs, homemade chocolates and more. Potato latkes, New York-style bagels and jelly doughnuts will be available to purchase, to enjoy at the event or take home to munch on later.
IJ & Jeanné Wagner Jewish Community Center, 2 Medical Drive, Salt Lake City, Dec. 4, noon-5 p.m. in the JCC Social Hall. Free admission.
SLC Punk Rock Flea Holiday Market
If you have someone on your list who loves metal or punk music, horror movies or zines, the SLC Punk Rock Flea Holiday Market is the place to buy them a gift.
At this festive rendition of the SLC Punk Rock Flea Market, the list of more than 30 artists and vendors will include John-Ross Boyce, Graveyard Witch Accessories, Space Babes Art, Grave Shift Press, Blooming Smoke Art, Moss Bone, Britta Baker and more. DJ Nixbeat and DJ Retrograde will be spinning hand-picked tunes. Coffee and snacks will also be available for purchase.
Sugar Space Arts Warehouse, 132 S. 800 West, Salt Lake City, Dec. 4, 3-8 p.m. Free admission.
T.F. Brewing Christkindlmarkt
Templin Family Brewing will be holding a market inspired by German Christmas markets, complete with glühwein (aka mulled wine). But don’t worry if you’re more of a beer person — T.F. Brewing has plenty of that, too. This event will be one of the last before Christmas, giving you a chance to browse for last-minute gifts made by a variety of local vendors.
T.F. Brewing, 936 S. 300 West, Salt Lake City, Dec. 17-18, 4-8 p.m. Free admission, 21+.
