SoWa Winter Festival, voted best winter festival in the city by Boston magazine in 2021, opens its doors for the ninth year in a row, with three locations and over 100 vendors. Photo courtesy of the SoWa Winter Festival

Things-to-do

Your Guide to the Best Holiday Markets around Boston

Ring in the holidays and support local artists

The holiday season is sweeping the city and Bostonians are beginning to celebrate. With the deluge of Black Friday and Cyber Monday behind us, there’s no better time to shop local. We’ve put together a list of the best holiday markets in and around the city to shop, eat, and get into the holiday spirit.

Holiday Market at Snowport 

A winter wonderland comes to Boston Seaport yearly as the neighborhood is transformed for the sixth annual Snowport. This year’s festivities range from holiday shops to outdoor games and feature over 120 vendors selling apparel, home decor, jewelry, art, and more. Once you’ve finished your shopping, check out one of the 19 booths offering food and beverages. Head to the Bar at Snowport, where you can take advantage of JetBlue’s heated tent with beer garden-style seating. Sip on a cocktail from one of the many themed bars, like the Dizzy Dreidel and the Blizzard Bar, or take some photos in front of the winter wish wall—a 25-foot interactive chalkboard where guests can share their holiday wishes—the 10-foot-tall mistletoe arch, or the Present Place by Lexus, a backdrop of oversized presents. Take your shot at the sport of curling, a free activity open to the public through February, or stop by The Stage, where local musicians will set the holiday mood with live music every Monday. This year Betty the Yeti, a life-size pink Yeti, will be joining the holiday fun. Snowport will also host holiday events like Light Up Seaport—Seaport’s annual tree lighting—Friday, December 6, and a menorah-lighting ceremony Sunday, December 29.

The Holiday Market at Snowport, 100 Seaport Blvd., Boston, is open daily through December 29. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 3 to 8 pm, Friday and Saturday, 11 am to 9 pm, and Sunday, 11 am to 8 pm.From December 9 to 29, hours are Sunday through Thursday, 11 am to 8 pm, and Friday and Saturday, 11 am to 9 pm.

SoWa Winter Festival 

SoWa Winter Festival, voted best winter festival in the city by Boston magazine, is opening its doors for the ninth year in a row. The festival has three locations:

1. SoWa Power Station
550 Harrison Ave.

Here you will find over 100 local art, makeup, designer, and specialty food vendors. Check out the first floor for some food and drinks before making your way upstairs to floor two for live music, various festivities, and cocktails. Tickets are $10 at the door.

2. Food Truck Bazaar

Fridays through Sundays, exit the Power Station, head to Harrison Avenue, and take a right after Randolph Street. There you can grab a bite from some of Boston’s best food trucks, including student favorite Bon Me, under the heated lamps and patio tables. You can also warm up around a fire pit, making for a snug dining experience. The bar and beer garden will also be open for some holiday refreshments.

3. Thayer Street Studios

Take a stroll down nearby Thayer Street and explore the open artist studios, showrooms, galleries, and shops that line both sides of the street. Browse high-quality creations by local vendors or buy a masterpiece to adorn your living room wall.

The SoWa Vintage Market, 450 Harrison Ave., Boston, is open every Sunday year-round. Find the SoWa Winter Festival hours here.

Christmas Craft Fair at Old South Church

Just outside one of Boston’s oldest churches is a delightful yearly craft fair, being held on December 7. It features more than 25 local vendors, including glassblowers, candlemakers, jewelers, knitters, leather and textile artists, and woodworkers. All items are handmade and several are from women-run artist collectives from around the world. While you shop, enjoy the Boston Conservatory Brass at noon and a singalong at 2 pm. A portion of your purchase will support the Women’s Lunch Place, a daytime shelter and advocacy center for women experiencing homelessness, hunger, and poverty.

Christmas Craft Fair, 645 Boylston St., Boston, is December 7, from 10 am to 4 pm. Admission is free.

Jamaica Plain Crafts Fair

The Jamaica Plain Crafts Fair has enjoyed 14 years of success and draws residents from all parts of the city. Local vendors sell creative handmade crafts—including crocheted hats, stone jewelry, ceramics, soaps, and wood kitchen wares—and there will be live jazz, children’s activities, and food too.

Jamaica Plain Crafts Fair, 6 Eliot St., Jamaica Plain, is December 7, from 11 am to 5 pm.

Somerville Flea Holiday Market

For fans of thrift shops and vintage goods, the Somerville Flea Holiday Market is a dream come true. Local artisans come together at the Center for Arts at the Armory, just outside Davis Square, to sell crafts and repurposed wares in a unique holiday shopping experience. Vendors will offer a variety of vintage finds, including thrifted clothes, vinyl records, art, and accessories. Live music, tasty snacks, and beer and wine make the experience even more enjoyable.

Somerville Flea Holiday Market, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville, will be open December 15, from 10 am to 4 pm.

38th Annual Harvard Square Holiday Fair 

Of all the Boston area holiday markets, the Harvard Square Holiday Fair is undoubtedly the most popular. The bustling two-weekend fair has drawn the Cambridge and nearby communities since 1986. A mix of local artisans and vendors from across the globe bring original and affordable handmade gifts. Check out booths from New England craftspeople and world-traveling importers selling screen-printed clothing, art, pottery, jewelry, and more. The market’s sterling reputation draws large crowds every year, so be sure to visit. Admission is free.

Harvard Square Holiday Fair, One Brattle Square, Cambridge, will be open December 13 to 15 and December 20 to 22. The hours on Fridays are noon to 7 pm, Saturdays 11 am to 7 pm, and Sundays noon to 6 pm.

Boston Women’s Holiday Market

Boston Women’s Market gives over 40 women-founded businesses and artists a platform to promote and sell their work. There are three locations: View Boston on December 7 (tickets to View Boston required), the Charles River Speedway on December 8, the AC Hotel in the South End on December 14 and 15. Vendors vary from market to market, but often sell items like candles, jewelry, soaps, and more. Stop by the holiday market and browse through an array of locally made items that are sure to fill all your gift-giving needs this holiday season. You can also shop online here.

Boston Women’s Holiday Market is open December 7 and 8 and 14 and 15. Find times and locations here.

Downtown Crossing Holiday Market

A curated lineup of artisan vendors are selling handcrafted holiday gems outside Summer Street this holiday season. Expect diverse vendors showcasing unique jewelry, woodcarvings, metal sculptures, food, candles, clothing, and holiday-themed goods. On Saturdays, Inkasisa Farm will bring a trio of live alpacas to the market to pet and will also sell their alpaca wool products. Keep an eye out for carollers too. Find the list of vendors here.

The Downtown Crossing Holiday Market, Summer Street Plaza, 10 Summer St., Boston, will run through December 22, Thursday through Saturday, 11 am to 4 pm.

Rose Kennedy Greenway Winter Pop Up Market

Explore a selection of books, jewelry, body scrubs, children’s clothing, and floral prints at the Greenway’s Winter pop-up market for local artisans. Vendors change every week; check the schedule options here. From December 10 to 13, Krystyn (Wypasek) Sherman (CFA’20), a College of Communication senior lecturer in mass communication, advertising, and public relations, will display and sell work from her Grocery Store Floral project. Sherman’s work preserves flowers and explores how they interact with everyday objects through photography and digital collages. Check out her collection of prints or peruse the calendars, greeting cards, and tote bags that will all be featured at the pop-up.

The Greenway Winter Pop Up Market, Dewey Square, Boston, runs Tuesday through Friday, December 10 to December 20. Hours are Tuesday to Thursday, 11 am to 7 pm, and Friday, 11 am to 6 pm.