December is a time for creatives to truly shine as hundreds of local and regional artists and makers gather together to set up shop and showcase their latest handcrafted creations. Whether it’s a large multi-vendor craft fair or a more intimate open house at a private studio, these events provide opportunities to connect directly with the talented people who help build the backbone of Athens’ arts community. The value of supporting these events goes both ways; shoppers get to take home unique items, while artists receive the financial (and emotional) support they need to sustain their creative pursuits and keep making the town a distinctive place to live. With over 40 different events scheduled across the next few weeks, opportunities abound for finding one-of-a-kind gifts while supporting local artists so they can keep doing what they do best.
In the spirit of tradition, let Flagpole make shopping locally a little simpler this season with our annual Holiday Market Roundup, a list of artist markets and studio sales happening in Athens and nearby.
IN ATHENS
The Woodhill Artists Market will host Ansley Williams of SongBird Soaps, Camren Gober of Star Thread Pottery and Greg Krakow of Big Creek Batik in addition to offering sculptures by Barbara Odil, flowers by Jenny Derevere, watercolor by Leigh Ellis, decorative gourds by Michael Pierce, folk art by Peter Loose, hand-dyed accessories by Wini McQueen and jewelry by Charles Pinckney. An opening reception will be held Dec. 1 from 3–8 p.m., and the sale will run Dec. 2–3 and Dec. 9–10 from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Woodhill is located at 4745 Bob Godfrey Road. Call 706-621-0799.
Maria Dondero’s 15th annual Marmalade Pottery Holiday Sale will be held at 180 Cleveland Ave. on Dec. 1 from 4–9 p.m. and Dec. 2 from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. The ceramic artist will share a new collection of mugs, planters, platters, pots and more, all decorated in her one-of-a-kind illustrations of flowers, animals and faces. Visit mariadondero.com for examples of work.
Support women-owned businesses during the second annual Shop Small Crawl, which has now expanded into three days to include over 35 shops and pop-ups, the majority of which carry lots of handmade and artful items. Barber Street shops will be highlighted on Dec. 1 from 4–8 p.m., with participating locations including Ladybird Jewelry, Piedmont Provisions, R&R Secret Flowers, ReBlossom Parent & Baby, Relay Shop Architecture + Design, Revival Yarns, Southern Star Studio & Marmalade Pottery, STATE the Label, The Studio Athens, tiny ATH gallery, Treehouse Kid & Craft and Willaby. The party moves over to Baxter Street on Dec. 2 from 4–8 p.m. at beem Light Sauna, Foxglove Plantbar, Mother Lode Athens and People’s Pantry/Figment Brewing. Finally, the crawl will conclude downtown on Dec. 3 from 12–4 p.m. at Community, Dynamite Clothing, fab’rik Athens, Sisters of the Moon and K.A. Artist Shop. Check out @womenownedathens on Instagram.
Bear Hollow Zoo, located in Memorial Park at 293 Gran Ellen Drive, will twinkle and glitter under its annual holiday light show, Deck the Hollow. This year, local artist vendors will join the main attractions of animal encounters, concessions and photo opportunities in the illuminated zoo. Deck the Hollow will run nightly Dec. 1–3 and Dec. 8–10 from 5:30–7:30 p.m. Admission is $5 and children ages 2 and under can enter for free. Visit accgov.com/holidayevents for other festive activities.
Ceramicist Rebecca Wood and her team of artists at R. Wood Studio will host two separate events this year, both offering a wide selection of pottery in rich glazes, plus gourmet pantry items, home goods and other stocking stuffers. A Holiday Open House & Aloka Home Popup on Dec. 2 from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. will feature quilts, pillows and coverlets from textile designers Aloka Home. The entire store will be discounted for last-minute shopping during the annual Solstice Sale on Dec. 21, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. R. Wood Studio is located at 450 Georgia Drive. Visit rwoodstudio.com to see examples of items.
The fifth annual Holi-LADDER-day Market at tiny ATH gallery will make the best use of its small square footage by displaying creations vertically on ladders inside the gallery—where a new exhibition by Elizabeth Hanes is on view—and along the front and back patio areas. Check out artwork by Miranda Bellah, Gary Autry, Sadie Padial, Lillibeth Mallory, Will Eskridge, Valley StipeMaas, Louise Platter and more. Located at 174 Cleveland Ave., next door to Southern Star Studio, the market will be held Dec. 2 and Dec. 9 from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Each day will have a different lineup. Visit tinyathgallery.com.
Check out Treehouse Kid and Craft’s brand new location at 585 Barber St. during its 13th annual Handmade Hollyday on Dec. 2–3 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. The market will feature around 40 regional artists and vintage vendors as well as several aspiring youth artists. Keep an eye out for fused glass ornaments by Annette Paskiewicz of Studio Mod Glass, textile work by Charles Nicolosi of Geek in Stitches, charm jewelry by Jessie Lamay of Prettiest Lobster and illustrations by Kati Maxwell of Pretty Peach Press. Other popular vendors include Joey Weiser, Jacob Wenzka, Very Good Puzzle, Little Light Co., Sweet Olive Farm and Love.Craft Athens. Find details at treehousekidandcraft.com.
For a totally new experience, head to Shawn Ireland’s Open Studio & Sale, the first he will host since moving to Athens in 2021 after spending nearly 30 years in the Penland community in North Carolina. In addition to rustic functional ware, Ireland specializes in “animalware,” or sculptural pots inspired by animals. Located at the previous home of legendary artist Ron Meyers, Ireland’s pottery and painting studio can be found at 180 Hidden Hills Lane. This sale will be held Dec. 2 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m., and in the future, Ireland plans to open his studio to visitors on the weekends. Visit shawnirelandpottery.com for samples of work.
Mother Lode will host a Fall Market at Washington Square Studio’s new space, located at 253 W. Washington St. on the ground floor right next door to its previous entrance, on Dec. 2 from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Featuring lots of vintage clothing, gifts, accessories and handmade items, the pop-up is designed to introduce all of the vendors and makers who help make Mother Lode, the new vintage mall at 1005 Baxter St., so fun and funky. Visit instagram.com/motherlodeathens.com.
Southern Brewing Company will host a two-day Holiday Market with local creatives, artists and makers on Dec. 2–3 from 2–7 p.m. 3 Ravens Tattoo will additionally set up on Saturday to host portraits with Tattooed Santa. The brewery is located at 231 Collins Industrial Blvd. Visit sobrewco.com.
The new event venue El Carretonero, located at 124 Rowe Road, will host its first Christmas Market on Dec. 3 from 11 a.m.–4 p.m., with Santa joining the party to take portraits at 12 p.m. Both craft and food vendors will be on site. Be on the lookout for wreaths by Kelly Cross, bows by Silvia’s Creations, clothing by Jamila Zvonkovic, candles by Sage the Scent Company and soaps by Leaping Goat Soap. A lineup of tasty treats includes charcoal tacos from Mr. Temí Taquizas, elote from Celito Lindo, pupusas from Yansi, chimichurri from Moas Sauces and more. Find El Carretonero on Facebook.
Offering an alternative to the traditional gift-exchange experience, the Holiday Benevolence Market presents a way to give back to the local community. Attendees are invited to select items off a shopping list of “symbolic gifts,” which breaks down how monetary donations can be used to assist 30 local nonprofits in their missions. Representatives from the organizations will be on site to discuss their efforts. An interfaith tradition established in 1994, this market is a community partnership supported by 12 different congregations. The Covenant Presbyterian Church, at 1065 Gaines School Road, hosts the market on Sunday, Dec. 3 from 12–3 p.m. Those not able to attend in person can donate online through Dec. 31. Visit facebook.com/athensholidaybenevolencemarket.
The UGA Ceramic Student Organization’s annual sale will happen on the first floor of UGA’s Lamar Dodd School of Art, 270 River Road, Dec. 4–5 from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Works range from decorative pieces and hand-built sculptures to functional pottery like mugs, plates, vases and bowls, all made by undergraduate and graduate students as well as faculty members such as Sunkoo Yuh and Ted Saupe. Parking is available in the Performing Arts Center deck. Visit art.uga.edu.
While not a craft market itself, the Georgia Museum of Art’s annual Book and Frame Sale may be of interest to art lovers and art shoppers alike. Held Dec. 5–Dec. 10 during regular museum hours, the sale features all sorts of new and used publications in all genres as well as fine gallery frames in a variety of sizes. Visit georgiamuseum.org.
The Normaltown Pottery Holiday Sale, slated for Dec. 8 from 4–8 p.m. and Dec. 9 from 9 a.m.–4 p.m., will feature handmade, functional pottery by Juana Gnecco, Nancy Green and Cathy Jackson, paintings by Greg Benson and local honey by 3 Kings Honey. Normaltown Pottery is located at 465 Belvoir Heights. For more information, call 762-728-0575.
Southern Star Studio will present its eighth annual holiday sale of members and friends Dec. 8 from 4–9 p.m. and Dec. 9 from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Offering an array of pots, ornaments and other gifts, participating potters include Maria Dondero, Sophie Shannon, Kate Couch, Abby Deschenes, Kerry Steinberg, Esther Mech, Brandon Bishop and Mathew Meunier. Check out southernstarstudioathens.com to learn more about the collective work space and gallery, which is located at 180 Cleveland Ave. in the Newtown neighborhood.
Local painter Jim StipeMaas will open the doors of his home studio, located at 100 Three Oaks Drive, for a special sale held Dec. 9 from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. StipeMaas works in a variety of media including oil, oil paste, watercolor, acrylic, stained glass, printmaking and drawing. Focusing on nature, weather, seasons and light, many of his landscapes were painted nearby. Visit jimstipemaas.com for examples of work.
The Good Dirt Holiday Sale, at 485 Macon Highway, will feature works by 28 potters, reflecting the wide variety of styles and backgrounds that make up the studio. Participating artists include Lisa Campagna, Jackie Foley, Sue Lawrence, Summer Blanco, Jordan Argrett, Lucy Inscoe, Bethany Hamilton-Jones, Lea Purvis and Caroline Montague, among others. In addition to mugs, bowls, tableware, jewelry and lots of pots, the event will offer giveaways and free treats and coffee. The sale is Dec. 9 from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Visit facebook.com/gooddirtathens for daily profiles on potters leading up to the big day.
With over 150 vendors spread across the park, Indie South’s 17th annual Holiday Hooray is one of the largest markets of its type in the region and covers virtually everything handmade, from original art in every medium, bath and beauty products, vintage and sustainable fashion to artisanal food and home goods. If you’ve only got time for one market this season, let this be the one. Keep an eye out for illustrations by Sam Watson, pottery by Shannon Cargill, craft sauces by Tastenini, charcuterie boards by Grands Designs Woodworks and screen printed ceramics by City in Bloom Ceramics. Food vendors and vinyl DJs will be on site to create a festive vibe. The two-day open-air market takes place Dec. 9–10 from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. in the athletic field at Bishop Park. To explore the full list of vendors, head to theindiesouth.com.
Michele Dross Ceramics will host an outdoor Holiday Studio Sale at her new studio in Normal Town this year. Dross’ distinctive handmade porcelain pottery is characterized by mystical narrative drawings full of celestial women, botanicals, mushrooms, rainbows, snakes and other creatures. Designs intricately illustrated in deep cobalt blue will also be available. The event takes place Dec. 9 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at 197 Normal Ave. Keep up with the artist at micheledross.com.
Artists will come together during the 11th annual Artists Holiday Market to benefit the local nonprofit Campus Cats/Cat Zip Alliance Dec. 9 from 5–9 p.m. at Little Kings Shuffle Club, at 223 W. Hancock Ave. Items will range from soaps, paintings, pottery, woodwork, candles, clothing, jewelry, baked goods and handmade catnip toys. The nonprofit works to promote humane community cat management through a trap, neuter, return approach. To learn more, visit catzip.org.
An outdoor patio under twinkling lights makes for a festive setting at the juried Athens Holiday Market at Big City Bread Cafe Dec. 14–15 from 5–9 p.m. Peruse the works of over 55 local and regional artists—including Polly the Potter, yellow Emily, Me Plus Tea, Little Light Candles and Piedmont Provisions—while the Red Oak String Band performs around the bonfire. Artists will sell everything from painting, pottery and jewelry to textiles, birdhouses and stained glass. Big City Bread is located at 393 N. Finley St. and can be reached at 706-353-0029.
Hosted by Indie South, the Abnormal Bazaar offers a last-minute opportunity to pick up everything from vintage and collectibles to fine art and crafts. Held the third Saturday of every month, the outdoor pop-up flea market is scheduled for Dec. 16 from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. at 470 Hawthorne Ave. Be sure to venture inside Indie South’s brick and mortar as well for a tastefully curated selection of handcrafted items, crystals, rare house plants, tarot decks and adornments for the body and home. Visit theindiesouth.com for details.
The West Broad Farmers Market at 300 Rocksprings St. will round off its season with a Holiday Market and Craft Fair on Dec. 16, 11 a.m–2 p.m. In addition to the market’s fresh produce, seasonal baked goods and other fare from local artisans, the lineup will include a handful of crafters. This year also features a gingerbread house contest. Visit facebook.com/WestBroadMarketGarden.
Returning this year with over 65 artists and vendors, Creature Comforts’ Holiday Artist Market will take over the block outside of its downtown location, 271 W. Hancock Ave., from Pulaski Street to North Hull Street. Confirmed vendors include Absynia, Scribble Warlock, EM Metals, Bombe Resin, The Black Thistle, Clayton Street Clay, Bee Natural, Pop’s Socks, Wormwood & Honey and Gaby’s Atomic Cupcakes. Food trucks include Cafe Racer and Official Street Eats. The event also promises a full day of live music by Tracy & Jeff, Mary & The Hot Hotty-Hots, Hibbs Family Band, The Original Splitz Band and DJ Mahogany. The market will be held Dec. 16 from 12–8 p.m. Head to creaturecomfortsbeer.com for details.
ACE/FRANCISCO Gallery, a space operated by Jason Thrasher and Beth Hall Thrasher, will open in conjunction with Third Thursday on Dec. 21 from 6–9 p.m. Limited-edition signed prints of works by artists who have previously exhibited in the gallery, such as Ouida Williams, Vernon Thornsberry, Karen Graffeo and Frances Thrasher, will be available to purchase at half price. The evening also serves as an opportunity to catch the exhibition “J. Grant Brittain: 80s Skate Photography” before it packs up later this month. ACE/FRANCISCO is located in Suite 1500 of the Leathers Building at 675 Pulaski St. Check out acefranciscogallery.com.
Procrastinators can breathe a sigh of relief at Athentic Brewing Company’s Last Minute Gift Market, held Dec. 23 from 1–7 p.m. at 108 Park Ave. Over 40 local vendors will be sprawled throughout the taproom, patio and parking lot, offering original art in every medium, bath and beauty products, vintage and sustainable fashion, artisanal food and home goods. Vendors include Beloved Apothecary, CatBite Crochet, Hannah Jones, BYV_Trubb Rockstar Jackets, Oscar Bites Dog Treats, Patchworked Provisions Vintage and Miller & Me Design Studio, among many others. Live music by Mary & the Hot Hotty Hots will set the mood for Christmas Eve-Eve. Visit athenticbrewing.com for details.
OUTSIDE ATHENS
The family-run studio Bendzunas Glass, at 89 W. South Ave. in Comer, will host holiday hours through December from 10 a.m.–5 p.m., with live glass-blowing demos held every weekend or by appointment during the week. Operating primarily as a wholesale business that distributes to galleries countrywide, a public gallery displays some of the family’s best functional and decorative glass works, including cups, paperweights, bowls, ornaments and vases. For examples of work, check out bendzunasglass.net.
Now running through Dec. 23, the Madison Artists Guild’s fifth annual MAGallery Holiday Market includes special handcrafted items like textiles, turned wood, handblown glass, pottery and jewelry. While at the market, make sure to take a look around at “MAG SQUARED,” an annual exhibition of small square-shaped original art by over 20 artists. MAGallery is located at 125 W. Jefferson St. in Madison, and open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Visit themadisonartistsguild.org.
The Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation’s 29th annual juried Holiday Market presents the works of roughly 50 regional artists and crafters, including paintings, pottery, stained and fused glass, jewelry, photography, woodwork, sculpture, fiber art and more. Highlights include dyed silk by Margaret Agner, leather goods from Irvin Alhadeff, wrapped stones by Sheila Collins, woven textiles by Mary Rugg and jewelry by Sylvia Dawe. The market is open Dec. 1 from 4–9 p.m. and Dec. 2 from 9 a.m.–7 p.m., with $5 admission covering both days. The market will not be held on Sunday this year due to the Watkinsville Holiday Parade. OCAF’s Artists Shoppe, which features handmade items created by the gallery’s members, opens in conjunction with the Holiday Market and will remain open Tuesdays through Saturdays Dec. 1–22 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. OCAF is located at 34 School St. in Watkinsville. For more details, visit ocaf.com.
Fall into a Hallmark movie at Christmas in Jefferson, where visitors can shop by candlelight at pop-up vendors and brick-and-mortar shops. The event, held across downtown Jefferson on Dec. 1 from 5–9 p.m., will also feature music, horse-drawn carriage rides and photo ops. Go to cityofjeffersonga.com.
Venture over to Farmington Pottery’s December Open House Pottery Sale on Dec. 2–3 from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. to view the latest creations of Geoff and Lisa Pickett. A wide variety of Geoff’s wood- and gas-fired dinnerware, kitchen and tableware, and various pots for the home and garden will be spaciously displayed outdoors. Lisa, meanwhile, will offer a variety of handmade soaps and botanical skincare products incorporating fresh herbs grown in the garden. Farmington Pottery is located at 1171 Freeman Creek Road in Farmington, but punch in Bishop for GPS. For more information, visit pickettpottery.com and farmingtonherbals.com.
Farmview Market, at 2610 Eatonton Highway in Madison, will host its Holiday Market Dec. 2 from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. In addition to locally sourced meat, pickles, honey, baked goods and preserves, you’ll find handcrafted items like cutting boards, pottery, soaps, knitted accessories and jewelry. The family-friendly event also includes holiday crafts, a petting zoo, DIY hot chocolate station and photos with Santa. Check out farmviewmarket.com for what’s in store.
Meet a new face at Mathew Meunier’s Ceramics Open Studio & Holiday Sale on Dec. 2–3, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Still fairly new to the area, Meunier comes from a long line of craftspeople and was originally trained as a carpenter before falling in love with clay. His functional works are soda-fired and feature interesting surface textures and geometric forms. His studio is located at 440 Laurel Ave. in Comer. Email [email protected] with any questions or to say hello.
This year’s lineup at the Nancy Green Group Holiday Ceramic Studio Sale promises a diverse array of traditional and contemporary ceramic pieces, with participating potters including Kyle Carpenter, Juana Gnecco, Nancy Green, Ron Meyers, Minsoo Yuh and Sunkoo Yuh. Located at 1500 Tappan Spur Road in Watkinsville, the studio’s annual event is Dec. 2–3 from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. For more details, call 706-410-5200.
See a new collection of work by Lori Breedlove at the Rose Creek Pottery Holiday Sale Dec. 2–3 from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. An assortment of wood-fired functional ware like pots, cups, vases, bowls and other vessels will be available. Rose Creek Pottery is located on a grass-fed cattle farm at 1051 Rose Creek Drive in Watkinsville. Visit rosecreekpottery.com.
Friends of Oglethorpe Co. Library will host a Christmas Bazaar and Book Sale at No. 3 Railroad Street on Dec. 2 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. In addition to a selection of books, the event offers themed gift baskets and handmade ornaments, greenery wreaths, potpourri, health care products, dog treats and other fun stocking stuffers. Shoppers can also fill up a bag with books for only $5. Proceeds are used by the Friends of the Library to support literacy in Oglethorpe County. No. 3 Railroad is located at 3 Railroad St. in Arnoldsville. Go to oglethorpeFOL.org.
In conjunction with the Watkinsville Christmas Parade on Dec. 3, the Oconee Farmers Market will present the fifth annual Christmas Market downtown with over three dozen vendors. Booths will range from crafts, food items and home goods from the likes of Seedbead Therapy, Front Range Cannery, Humble Holler Homestead, Pawtery, Golden Buttercup Candle Co., Six Noble Oaks Farms and more. The Christmas Market will run 1–6 p.m. in the parking lot of First Christian Church of Watkinsville at 4 N. Main St. Other festivities include the parade (4 p.m.), tree lighting (6 p.m.) and pictures with Santa (6:15–7 p.m.). Go to cityofwatkinsville.com for a full schedule.
For richly glazed pieces of pottery that draw inspiration from nature, check out the works of David Morgan, a regional potter who specializes in durable, utilitarian works in an earthy palette of blue, cranberry, brown and green. First experimenting with clay in 1981, Morgan has over 40 years of experience. His 2023 Holiday Sale will be held Dec. 9 from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Dec. 10 from 12–5 p.m. at 3747 Old Wildcat Bridge Rd. in Danielsville. Check for updates on the David Morgan Pottery page on Facebook.
The weekly Marigold Market in Winterville will close out its season with a Holiday Hoorah on Dec. 16 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. In addition to locally grown produce, coffee, pickles and baked goods, the market will offer handcrafted items like baskets, pottery, soaps, clothing and wooden items. The market takes place at Pittard Park, 115 Parkview Road. Go to marigoldmarketwinterville.com.
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