Kick off this holiday season with the 41st Annual Allied Arts Holiday Festival of the Arts. Featuring the work of over 100 local artisans and craftspeople, you can shop in two convenient ways–both online and in-person with Allied Arts of Whatcom County. You’ll find a broad showcase of holiday goods including one-of-a-kind gifts, specialty foods, jewelry and paintings. The Holiday Arts Market is the perfect way to shop for everyone on your list from one convenient place.
“Due to Washington State Safe Start Guidance for COVID-19, the Holiday Festival will look a little different than past years,” explains Allied Arts Executive Director Kelly Hart. “We are taking the health and safety of our patrons, artists and staff very seriously, and yet also trying to retain the 41 years of tradition of the Holiday Festival of the Arts for our community –especially to optimize holiday shopping opportunities in a safe format.”
That safe format includes both online shopping and socially-distant shopping in the Allied Arts Gallery. You can shop online beginning November 20 through December 23 via our Wired Market with curbside pick up.
Beginning Dec. 4 and through 3 p.m. on Dec. 24, you can stop by our Gallery for the Lite Market–a condensed version of our traditional Holiday Festival event, at 1418 Cornwall Avenue, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. We welcome the community to shop early, often and locally.
This Holiday Festival is also much more than shopping. “On Saturday afternoons, we’ll have Facebook Live performances that include favorite local musicians, artist’s demonstrations and youth art activities,” adds Hart. “So follow us on Facebook now to help you get in the spirit as well.”
When you shop the Allied Arts Holiday Festival, you’re buying local. That means your holiday dollars stay in your community, sustaining artists and their families, right here in Whatcom and Skagit Counties.
Shopping the Holiday Festival also creates opportunities to stay connected with your community. “That connection is more important than ever,” notes Hart. “A handmade gift means so much more when you know that the person who brought it to life lives right here in our community. The pottery, glassware, apparel and other gifts you give will help these artists and craftspeople through a very challenging year. We encourage everyone to use this as a chance to do all your holiday shopping in one safe and convenient place.”
From handcrafted natural soaps to homemade fudge, there will be something for everyone on Santa’s list. Check out the amazing crafts, gifts and arts that local artisans and craftspeople have worked hard on all year long.
In compliance with State Guidelines, masks are required for entry to the Lite Market. “We will also limit the number of families or individuals in the area at one time and sanitize regularly in accordance with current guidelines to ensure the safety of all,” explains Hart. The Lite Market is a Holiday extension of the Allied Arts Gallery that was traditionally open all year long.
Allied Arts invites everyone to include the Holiday Festival of the Arts in their holiday shopping and giving.” You’ll find something for everyone among the hand-made gifts, art and wares of more than 100 artists at the Wired and Lite Markets. “Celebrate your holiday season with the artists and craftspeople of your community with Allied Arts,” says Hart. “Perhaps this holiday season will mean more than ever before because each piece of jewelry, food, art and other gifts were made locally, sustaining the livelihood of our artists and craftspeople during this unprecedented time in our history.”
