The holiday shopping season is even more special when you shop local. Just outside Washington D.C, Montgomery County, Maryland is home to a festive lineup of holiday markets where you can meet local makers, browse handmade goods, and support the artists and small businesses that make the community special. Throughout November and December, indoor and outdoor markets fill the streets with everything from original artwork to handcrafted holiday gifts.
From Rockville and Silver Spring to communities throughout the rural countryside, these markets offer plenty of opportunities to explore different neighborhoods and find something meaningful for everyone on your list.
Local Makers & Handmade Goods
The holiday season is a chance to experience the local side of Montgomery County through the food, culture, and handmade crafted goods that make up the artisan community. Head over to Darnestown for the Windridge Vineyards Holiday Market. taking place November 7-8 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., where you can shop handmade goods, local artwork, flowers, unique finds, and more from local makers. Discover one-of-a-kind finds while supporting small businesses in the county and checking a few names off your holiday shopping list.
For a festive outdoor afternoon of shopping and entertainment, head to BlackRock Center for the Arts for its Artisan Market, featuring local vendors and handmade goods, taking place December 12 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Shop for holiday finds for that special someone on your list while enjoying performances from children’s choirs singing favorite holiday songs throughout the day. It’s a chance to support local artists and makers while getting into the holiday spirit.
Get into the holiday shopping spirit during the Locally Crafted Fall & Holiday Makers Market, taking place November 7 in Silver Spring and December 13-14 at Rio Lakefront. Browse the work of more than 100 local artisan vendors, with everything from handmade jewelry and artwork to home décor and specialty foods. Take your time exploring the market, meet the makers behind the goods, and support the small businesses that bring their creations to life.
For a different type of artisan experience, stroll over to the Museums & Makers Holiday Market at Strathmore, from November 12-14, where museum shops and local artisans fill three days with holiday finds. Wander from table to table, uncover one-of-a-kind gifts, and explore everything from handmade artwork and jewelry to nature-inspired gifts and textiles. As you shop, your purchases help support nonprofit museums and independent artists in the community.
Sip on a cup of hot chocolate as you browse for holiday treasures at the WCCC Artisan Market in Chevy Chase, taking place on November 15 from 11 a.m-5 p.m. where local artisans fill the day with handcrafted seasonal home decor and unique gifts. Wander through displays of handmade arts, jewelry, crafts, picking out presents with a personal touch while meeting local makers behind the art along the way. Before you leave, enter the raffle for a chance to take home a special handmade item.
Step inside a cozy country barn for a holiday shopping experience with a local twist at the Arts Barn Holiday Pop-Up, taking place November 22 from 10 a.m-4 p.m. Wander among handmade goods, paintings, ceramics, glass, woodwork, handmade jewelry, fiber arts, and photography while chatting with local artisans and taking in the rustic setting. Find a one-of-a-kind gift with a story behind it for someone on your list who appreciates a more personal touch.
With a hot cider in hand, settle in for an evening under the stars at the Takoma Park Gift Market, a curated holiday shopping experience beneath twinkling lights, taking place on December 11 from 5 p.m-9 p.m. Unleash your creativity with a seasonal craft at the Craft Café, see what’s in the cards with a festive tarot reading, then warm up with dinner by the fire with friends and family, featuring local food trucks, cocktails, mocktails, beer and wine, and hot chocolate that’s perfect for the little ones.
Holiday Markets & Seasonal Shopping
Travel to Denmark for the day without a passport at the Annual Danish Christmas Bazaar on November 14 from 11a.m. to 3p.m. in Rockville. Browse traditional Danish Christmas decorations, pastries, cookies, crafts, and other unique finds, then sample an authentic smorrebred, a Danish open-faced sandwich topped with ingredients like smoked salmon, pickled herring, and cheese with fruit or preserves. Watch an Æbleskive cooking demonstration, pick up Danish treats and gifts, and let the little ones explore a play table filled with LEGOs and Danish children’s books.
Sip your favorite glass of mead as you warm up and shop at your own pace at the Clear Skies Meadery Holiday Market on November 21 from 2-6 pm. Browse local vendors for one-of-a-kind gifts, then settle in with a seasonal pour and live music in the tucked-away taproom, where mead is brewed right downstairs in the basement. Discover handcrafted holiday meads like Gingerbread and Salted Chocolate, layered with flavors of honey, warm spices, and rich chocolate, while enjoying a holiday market made for a little more time to relax, sip, and savor the afternoon.
Warm up with a festive hot chocolate topped with crushed candy canes, whipped cream, sprinkles, or marshmallows, with a spiked option for adults, as you wander through Takoma Park’s Market on the Street, taking place November 28, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Discover unique gifts like Handmade soap, locally made art prints, botanical pieces, or vintage finds for someone on your list who wants something with character. Stop in at Takoma Beverage Company to try their Gingerbread Marini while taking in the glow of the neighborhood.
With Silver Spring’s holiday-lit pedestrian mall as your backdrop, browse more than 70 local artisans and shop small at the Christmas Market & Holiday Craft Show on December 6 from 12 p.m-4 p.m. Find a special ornament for your tree, seasonal décor for your home, or a homemade baked good to bring to the family gathering. Support small businesses, and pick out something special for everyone on your list as you soak up the holiday magic in downtown silver spring. More than a market, it’s the kind of experience that invites you to slow down, feel the spirit of the season, and share it with the people who matter most.
Step into a winter spectacle at downtown Bethesda’s Winter Wonderland on Saturday, December 5, from 12–4 p.m. Watch a live ice sculpting demo, let the kids get creative with crafts and face painting, and visit Santa Claus. Browse the Holiday Market for gifts from local artisans while enjoying a student concert and bites from Bethesda favorites Olazzo, The Red Bandana, and Smoke BBQ. In the spirit of giving, make sure to bring a new toy to donate to Toys for Tots.
Keep on your comfiest pair of Pajamas and head down to Carroll Avenue on December 5 from 8-11am during Pajamarama. Score early-morning discounts at participating local businesses, then fuel up with a steaming cup of coffee, a warm breakfast sandwiches with green eggs and ham, and huevos rancheros from local favorite Cielo Rojo before browsing the Pajamarama Holiday Market, where local artists, makers, and collectors offer handmade gifts and one-of-a-kind finds for everyone on your list.
