Artsy Alternatives to Black Friday

Do you reeeeallly want to stand in line at Best Buy? Here are a few great alternatives that let you get your holiday shop on this weekend without waking up at dawn or fighting anyone for the last talking Olaf. Even better, all offer unique, handmade products to delight your friends and family. 

DC’s Downtown Holiday Market kicks off its 10^th year, opening on Friday at noon and running daily 12-8 until December 23^rd.  Located in front of the National Portrait Gallery, the market features more than 150 regional artisans, crafters and boutique businesses.  A rotating group of 60 exhibitors a day offers hundreds of diverse gift items, such as jewelry, pottery, paintings, and textiles.  Check the exhibitor schedule to see who will be there on the day you plan to visit. 

Glen Echo Park’s Holiday Gift Sale begins Friday at 10am in the Popcorn Gallery and The Stone Tower Gallery. The sale features work from Glen Echo’s resident artists and other invited artists (including me). Among the offerings are glass, ceramics, jewelry, scarves, ornaments, cards and more. The show runs Thursday-Sunday through December 20.  

Bazaart at Baltimore’s American Visionary Art Museum opens Friday at 6pm for a special preview party (tickets required). The event continues Saturday from 10-5  with 50 local and regional artists (including, yes, me again) offering painting, sculpture, paper crafts, metalwork, jewelry, textiles, mixed media, and “other work that simply defies categorization.”

Brentwood Arts Exchange in the Gateway Arts Center is offering a Black Friday Sale from 10-7 with 20% off all fine art and crafts. 

The Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA has a Black Friday Holiday Celebration from 10-7 featuring over 100 open artist studios, Doughnuts with Santa, fine-art projects for children while you shop, an outdoor fire pit for roasting marshmallows, holiday music and theatrical performances throughout the day.