During the holiday season, shopping locally provides shoppers a great convenience by allowing them to avoid larger, crowded retail stores while connecting personally with entrepreneurs at local arts and crafts sales and finding truly unique Christmas gifts and decor. Aside from checking off the Christmas gift list, local holiday activities help bring about the festive spirit in our community, offering joyous activities for families to celebrate the Christmas season.
Local art markets and other vending events contribute significantly to the local economy during the holiday season. Studies across the state have shown local resident spending directly circulates funds back into the community. According to studies by Civic Economics, for every $100 spent at a local business approximately $50 recirculates in the local economy, compared to around $15 when spent at retail and outlet stores.
With this in mind, check out the local arts and craft markets and shows and other holiday activies happening over the next couple weeks.
DEC. 13
- Pop Up Craft Fair – 9 am to 4 pm at 3702 Maya Dr. in Gallup
- ZHS Winter Art Show – 10 am to 3 pm at Zuni High School\
- Holiday Art Market – 10 am to 6 pm at Ancestral Rich Treasures of Zuni Cooperative Gallery (also on Dec.14)
- The Vinyl Frontier Collectables Show: Holiday Edition – 11 am to 8 pm at Rio West Mall
- Second Annual Kids Christmas Craft Fair – 10 am to 4 pm at McKinley County Community Center
- Toys for Tots Distribution – 10 am to 1 pm at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Gallup
- gallupARTS Pop-up Holiday Art Market – 12 pm to 6 pm at ART123 Gallery
- Home for the Holidays Toy Giveaway – 6 pm to 9 pm at Fort Defiance Chapter House, Fort Defiance, Ariz.
- Meet the Grinch and Dance – 9 pm to 1 am at Wowie’s Gym
DEC. 15
- Holiday Bazaar – 9 am to 5 pm at Baahaali Chapter House, Bread Springs, N.M.
- MHS Gift Wrapping Service – 4 pm to 6 pm at Miyamura High School (runs every day until Dec. 19)
DEC. 18
- Christmas Light Parade – starting 6 pm at Tohatchi LPC, Tohatchi, NM
DEC. 19
- gallupARTS Pop-up Holiday Art Market – 2 pm to 6 pm at ART123 Gallery
- Santa’s Workshop – 5 pm to 7 pm at Rio West Mall\
DEC. 20
- Craft Fair/Flea Market – 9 am to 4 pm at Gallup Community Center Bingo Hall
- gallupARTS Pop-up Holiday Art Market – 12 pm to 6 pm at ART123 Gallery
- Christmas Cookie Eating Contest – 9 pm to 1 am at Wowie’s Gym
DEC. 22
- Christmas Crafts and other activities – starting 10 am at Dine Youth, Fort Defiance
- Christmas Caroling – 6 pm to 8 pm at First Baptist ChurcH
DEC. 23
- Christmas Arts and Crafts Sale by Zuni Veterans Program – 3 pm to 7 pm at Zuni Wellness Center
