Last week we started the new holiday season quietly with a visit to the GRLS Studio Holiday Market. It was Small Business Saturday and you can't really get smaller (in a good way!) than a downtown Tacoma studio supporting women in the arts hosting a mini market featuring local women and the things they create by hand! We loved it and we think you would too. Although that one-day market at the GRLS Studio is over, you can get out and experience so many different community events in the coming week. Take a look at our list of 7 local holiday events this week. Enjoy some slow shopping, and in-person, in-the-moment festive experiences around Tacoma.
P.S. Read on to find out where Santa will be visiting, where to have a custom silhouette created, where to get your face painted, where to make your own wreath, and how your shopping can give to great causes!
1. Holiday Candle Making Workshop at the GRLS Studio, hosted by GIRL TRIP- 728 Pacific Ave
Thursday, November 30th, 6-8 pm
Tickets $60
Purchase a ticket to save yourself a space at this event. Then just show up at the lovely GRLS Studio ready to snack, laugh, and learn to make candles. Make an 8 oz and 4 oz candle using soy wax and therapeutic grade essential oils; gift wrap's included whether your candles are a gift for you or a loved one.
2. Fair Trade Market at Urban Grace - 902 Market St
Friday, December 1st: 2-6 pm
Saturday December 2nd - Sunday, December 3: 10-2 pm
Promote justice at home and abroad by shopping for fair trade goods! Holiday gifts, ornaments, food, baskets, and wreaths from L'Arche Tahoma Hope (you might know them from the Proctor Farmers' Market)!
3. Wonderful Wreath Workshop at L'Arche Farm - 11716 Vickery Ave E
Saturday, December 2nd: 10 am-4 pm
Fun all day long at L'Arche Tahoma Hope's Farm & Gardens. Visit the farm to make your own wreath, make paper, play games, get festive at the photo booth, sing carols, and warm-up with a bonfire. You'll also find wreaths, crafts, honey, and swags for sale. L'Arche is a vital community of people with and without developmental disabilities with a wonderful mission of revealing each person's gifts.
image from @larchefarm
4. Makers in Proctor at Compass Rose - 3815 N 26th St
Saturday, December 2nd & Sunday, December 3rd: 10 am-3 pm
Each day this weekend Compass Rose is hosting different local artists and vendors. Clothing, wreaths, chocolates, jewelry, candles, soap, and ceramics in a beautiful Proctor business.
image from @compassroseshop
5. Holiday Market at the YWCA - 405 Broadway
Saturday, December 2nd: 10 am-4 pm
The YWCA invites you meet over a dozen local vendors offering textiles, ornaments, soaps, ceramics, jewelry, and more. Support the YWCA while you shop with 15% of proceeds benefiting YWCA Pierce County, a vital service for women in our community.
6. Tacoma Flea Market Gift Fair - N 31st & Pine St N
Saturday, December 2nd: 10 am-3 pm
The Tacoma Flea Market features a selection of creative Tacoma businesses (like Valhalla Coffee Co.) alongside hot cider, face painting, local baked goods, and (of course) more! Bring an unwrapped toy for the toy drive, and purchase a wreath to benefit the Tacoma Rescue Mission.
image from @tacomafleamarket
7. A 19th Century Christmas at Fort Nisqually Living History Museum -
5400 N Pearl St in Point Defiance Park
Saturday, December 2nd: 11 am-4 pm, Yule Log with Toasts & Carols at 1 pm
Admission: $8-$10, children 3 and under are free
Celebrate old-fashioned style at the Fort Nisqually Living History Museum. This back-in-time event features a 19th Century style Father Christmas (this is a beautiful chance for a photo with Santa), a yule log, carols, a chance to make ornaments and a pomander, parlor games, and a special opportunity to have your custom silhouette created by Lauren of Silhouettes by Hand. There's no cost for the silhouette, but if you'd like to take one home, be sure to arrive early to receive a timed ticket for your portrait session.
image from @fortnisquallymuseum
MORE TO COME: The fest continues all over Tacoma next week too. We'll be back with a list of more opportunities to engage in our community, celebrate the season, shop in person from local artists, and get about town! (Hint: a visit with Santa at 7Seas, a pop-up with Two Hands Full, a guide to the Pacific Ave Holiday Haul Crawl, and much, much more...)
