We know we’ve been talking about the holidays at lot here at AVLtoday, but we want you to be in-the-know about the local shopping opportunities kicking off this December. With celebrations only a few weeks away, it’s time to figure out what to gift that special someone… and by special someone, we mean your entire family, friends, significant other, co-workers, dog, cat...you get the idea. 🎁 But don’t worry – we have a plan to help you source local gifts this year that will make everyone on your list happy, and will keep you from experiencing total holiday burnout – the pop-up market.

There are nine pop-up markets + shopping experiences scheduled in Asheville and WNC over this holiday season. And unlike shopping on Black Friday or Cyber Monday, which is alll about the national deals, shopping at pop-up markets means that you’re picking up gifts that are locally made and one-of-a-kind. So whatever gifts you pick out are automatically that much more special. DYK: Asheville was just named the #2 city in the country to shop local by Yelp?

Pop-up shop ‘til you drop

🛍️ Pop-up shops are limited-time markets that could run for as little as a few hours or as long as several months.

🛍️ Shopping happens face to face, and the artists + creators themselves are often on site – or are actually selling you the product.

🛍️ The pop-up shop industry brings in an estimated $50 billion a year.

🛍️ Running a pop-up shop is 80% cheaper than opening and operating a retail store.

🛍️ The OG pop-up shops were at the Vienna December market in the year 1298. So it’s been a tradition associated with holiday shopping literally since the Middle Ages.

🛍️ But the term “pop-up shop” became well-known in 2002, when Target opened one in the Hudson River.

🛍️ Pop-up shopping has been around the longest, but other pop-up experiences, like restaurants, have come on the scene since around 2009.

And in honor of giving local this season, we’re gifting a box of local + regional goodies from NC MADE to one lucky winner. The Pine State Sweets Box includes a bag of Poppy Popcorn and Postre Caramels from Asheville, Brasstown Chocolate from Winston-Salem, Griff’s Coffee Toffee from Chapel Hill, and Escazu Chocolate from Raleigh. 🍫 Enter over on our Instagram beginning this morning at 8:30 a.m. and tag a friend you’d want to gift it to on our post – we’ll pick a winner Friday.

Ready to get your shop on? Here are nine unique markets where you can find something fun + different for everyone on your shopping list.

Show and Tell Pop-Up

⏰ November 30–December 19, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.

📍 The Asheville Masonic Temple | 80 Broadway St.

Shop 125+ handmade, vintage + craft vendors. Check out the opening reception on December 1 from 6–9 p.m. for live music, complimentary beer + bites and fairy hair.

Asheville Holiday Flea For Y’all

⏰Saturday, December 1, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

⏰Sunday December 2, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

📍 WNC Agricultural Center | 1301 Fanning Bridge Rd.

Shop vintage treasures, one-of-a-kind handmade crafts, art + more. $3 entry, kids free.

The Big Crafty

⏰ December 1 + 2, noon–6 p.m.

📍 The U.S. Cellular Center | 87 Haywood St.

Celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Big Crafty and find all your holiday goodies over multiple floors of the Cellular Center.

Holiday Maker’s Sale

⏰ December 1, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

⏰ December 8, 10 am.–4 p.m.

📍 The Folk Art Center | 382 Blue Ridge Parkway

Ceramics, jewelry, clothing, paper, glass, wood crafts + more from members of the Southern Highlands Craft Guild.

West Asheville Tailgate Holiday Market

⏰ December 4, 11, 18, 2:30–6 p.m.

📍 The Mothlight | 701 Haywood Rd.

Knock out your grocery list and pick up locally-made gifts from your favorite tailgate market vendors.

Haywood Community College Professional Crafts Program Holiday Sale

⏰ December 7, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

📍185 Freedlander Drive, Clyde

From craft professionals + students working in fiber, jewelry, pottery + woodworking

Penland Holiday Pop-Up

⏰ December 7, 5–8 p.m.

⏰ December 8, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

📍 Center for Craft | 67 Broadway St.

Penland School of Design teams up with the Center for Craft for a two-day pop-up featuring work in clay, metals, textiles, glass, print, wood + jewelry by WNC artists affiliated with Penland.

Second Saturdays in the River Arts District

⏰ December 8

📍 River Arts District

Local art, straight from the studios of the artists. Bonus: The Wedge (129 Roberts St.) hosts their Artisan Holiday Pop-up Marketplace from 10 a.m.–6 p.m. as one of the day’s events.

Holiday Vendor Show

⏰ December 8, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

⏰ December 9, noon–6 p.m.

📍Asheville Mall | 3 S. Tunnel Rd.

Local + regional vendors set up shop in the corridors of the mall. FYI: Santa will be at the mall through Christmas Eve.

Pop-up markets are my absolute favorite way to shop for the holidays. In the past few years, I’ve picked up Elder & Co. candles and handcrafted cutting boards at the Show & Tell Pop-Up Shop, oil blends + magical teas at the Center for Craft’s pop-ups, and prints + painted flower pots at The Big Crafty. I always manage to get a little something for myself, too.

What’s your favorite holiday pop-up shop, and what vendor do you always look for while you’re there? Let us know by replying to this email, or tell us on Facebook or Instagram.

Happy shopping,

– Ali + Stephanie