Shop Local: A Guide to Utah Holiday Gift Markets
It’s that magical time of year, when festive music fills the air and neighborhoods transform with twinkling lights and holiday displays. It’s also a chance to do something special—to show the people around us how much we care and invest in what makes Utah a great place to live.
By choosing to shop local, you can help support community artists, makers, and business owners while giving thoughtful gifts to your loved ones. It’s building the community you want to live in with every dollar you spend.
Why Shopping Local Matters
When you shop locally this season, you’re doing more than checking items off your list. The holidays are often a make-or-break time for small businesses, which means your purchases directly impact whether shop owners can make payroll, expand their operations, or hire additional staff. These dollars also fund local tax revenue that supports schools, roads, and community services throughout Utah.
Quality, Handcrafted, Meaningful Gifts
Supporting small, neighborhood shops gives faces and stories to the gifts you buy, whether it’s a small business owner who remembers you every time you come in or an artist with a story behind every piece. These interactions create the kind of human connection that fosters a growing community. And because local makers stake their personal reputation on every item, quality control means something deeper—they stand behind their work in ways that big chain corporations never can.
Environmental Sustainability and Community Resilience
A product made and sold at a nearby market takes up a fraction of the carbon footprint of something that’s been manufactured overseas, shipped to a distribution center, then delivered to your door in excessive packaging. When you spend your money at community-owned shops, you’re putting your dollars behind regional employment opportunities, active downtown storefronts, and giving neighborhoods distinct character and charm.
10 Holiday Markets and Local Maker Events in Utah
From Salt Lake City to St. George, makers and artisans are showcasing their work at festive pop-ups throughout the season—making it easy and fun to shop small. These events aren’t just wonderful opportunities to source handmade gifts; they also make for a great excuse to get together with friends and family to enjoy some holiday cheer.
1. Downtown Farmers Market
When: Every Saturday (November 14 through April 17), 10am to 2pm
Where: The Civic Center/Main Floor, 209 E 500 S, Salt Lake City, Utah
There’s no better place to regularly find local artisans and makers than the Downtown Farmers Market. It features over 75 local vendors—making it the largest winter market in the program’s history. Find local produce, grass-fed meats, eggs, cheese, baked goods, artisan sauces, chocolate, and handcrafted items.
2. Christkindlmarkt SLC
View this post on Instagram
When: December 2-5, from 11am to 8pm
Where: This Is The Place Heritage Park, 2601 E. Sunnyside Avenue, Salt Lake City
Experience authentic German traditions and over 90 vendor booths at Christkindlmarkt. Along with local vendors, this market features traditional German food, live performances, and festive entertainment for the whole family. Kids can visit St. Nikolaus Haus, explore a petting zoo, participate in a scavenger hunt, and meet a German Father Christmas.
3. Holiday Utah Art Market
When: December 2-5 & 7-11, 10am to 8pm; December 12, 10am to 5pm
Where: Four Lemons, 4850 S Highland Dr, Holladay
Since 1994, the Utah Art Market has connected the community with talented local artists through seasonal curated events. Running in early December, this market features one-of-a-kind handmade art and crafts that are unique, funky, and a little bit whimsical.
4. Beehive Bazaar
When: December 1-5, 8-12, 10am to 8pm
Where: The Beehive, 1595 N. Freedom Blvd, Provo, Utah
To find some of the most trend-setting gifts this holiday season, visit this curated pop-up shop with over 100 independent artists. Different vendors appear each week, making it worthwhile to visit more than once. You’ll find everything from handmade jewelry to crafts and couture cupcakes.
5. Gardner Village Christmas in the Village
When: November 21-December 31, 10am to 6pm
Where: 1100 West 7800 South, West Jordan
Throughout the holiday season, Gardner Village transforms into a festive wonderland with shops, restaurants, and an elf scavenger hunt unlike anything you’ve seen before. Visit for special community events like Breakfast with Santa, Paint Nights, Santa Half Marathon, or Snowball Express train rides.
6. Holiday Shoppes at Millcreek Common
When: November 1-December 24, 11am to 9pm
Where: Millcreek Common, 3205 South Chambers Ave, Millcreek
Featuring 40+ local vendors offering handmade wares, holiday gifts, and vintage collections, Millcreek Common is full of unique gifting opportunities and fun activities. Beyond shopping, you’ll also find an ice skating rink, restaurants, coffee shops, and a welcoming community atmosphere.
7. Red Butte Garden Holiday Open House and Art Fair
When: December 5-6, from 10am to 5pm
Where: Red Butte Garden, 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, Utah
Held the first weekend of December, Red Butte Garden hosts a festive art show with 17 local Utah artists. The Garden Gift Shop also sells locally made goods during its annual Holiday Sale, and there is a spectacular Glass Art Show running alongside the Open House.
8. Craft Lake City Holiday Market
View this post on Instagram
When: December 12-13, Sat. 10am to 8pm, Sun. 10am to 6pm
Where: Expo Center, 9575 State St, Sandy, Utah
Be sure to mark your calendar for the annual Craft Lake City Holiday Market, now moving to the Expo Center with over 300 local artisans, vintage vendors, craft food producers, performers, indie game developers, and young entrepreneurs. With such a diverse vendor lineup, you’ll find something for everyone on your list.
9. Wheeler Farm Holiday Market
View this post on Instagram
When: November 27, 2pm to 8pm, November 28, 10am to 6pm, November 29, 10am to 3pm
Where: Wheeler Historic Farm, 6351 South 900 East, Murray
This 3-day market at Wheeler Historic Farm takes place over Thanksgiving weekend, showcasing handmade crafts and artwork perfect for gift-giving. The historic 75-acre working farm offers a special holiday atmosphere where you can browse local makers’ wares while enjoying this beloved Salt Lake County landmark.
10. St. George Dickens Christmas Festival
View this post on Instagram
When: December 2-5, 10am to 9pm
Where: Dixie Convention Center, 1835 Convention Center Dr., St. George, Utah
A time-honored tradition, this delightful Victorian-themed festival combines crafts, vendors, and unforgettable Charles Dickens-era charm. Along with seasonal shopping, this event transports visitors to another time and place with theatrical performances and decorated booths. Whether you’re a Southern Utah resident or planning a getaway to the warmer side of the state, the St. George Dickens Christmas Festival is worth the drive.
11. Washington City Arts Council’s Artisan Holiday Market
When: November 27-28, Fri. 12pm to 5pm, Sat. 10am to 3pm
Location: Heritage Hall, 50 N Main, Washington, Utah
During Thanksgiving weekend, the Washington City Arts Council hosts an annual artisan holiday market, complete with talented artists, crafters, and makers from the area. It’s a wonderful, festive atmosphere celebrating southern Utah’s creativity and local craftsmanship.
12. Alta Community Holiday Art Market
View this post on Instagram
When: December 10-12, 2pm to 7pm
Where: Our Lady of the Snows, 10185 East Highway 210, Alta, Utah
Shop for handmade gifts in a beautiful mountain setting at the Alta Community Holiday Art Market—located in Little Cottonwood Canyon at Our Lady of the Snows. Enjoy the scenic views and a day of skiing while you’re there, along with supporting a wide variety of local Utah artists.
13. Around the World Holiday Market
View this post on Instagram
When: November 19, 2026, 6pm to 8pm
Where: Historic Scott School, 3280 S 540 E, South Salt Lake, Utah
Support local artisans and experience cultures from around the world with this global celebration of diversity. For one night only, the Historic Scott School becomes a portal to international culinary and artistic traditions, where you can shop for that perfect gift along with music, drinks, curated small bites, and festive dance performances.
14. Salt & Honey Outdoor Holiday Makers Market
View this post on Instagram
When: November 20, 2026 – January 2, 2027 (Hours vary daily)
Where: Downtown Daybreak, 11111 South Ballpark Drive, South Jordan, Utah
Downtown Daybreak’s Winter Village becomes a hub of cheerful, wooden holiday chalets with local makers, ice skating, workshops, holiday lights, and adorable photo ops, from Nov 20 through Jan 2. The line-up of vendors rotates out on a weekly basis, so there are always new and exciting things to discover.
15. UMFA Holiday Market
View this post on Instagram
When: December 5-6, 2026 (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM)
Where: Utah Museum of Fine Arts, 410 Campus Center Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah
Make sure to pencil in a few hours, or even a whole day for the Annual UMFA Holiday Market—where you can explore locally made jewelry, textiles, candles, paintings, ceramics, and more, while surrounded by incredible art and live music. Stop at the Museum Café for lunch and explore the exhibitions, while supporting local artists and the Museum’s work.
16. Wasatch Community Gardens’ Love Local Winter Market
View this post on Instagram
When: December 5, 12pm to 6pm
Where: Wasatch Community Gardens Campus, 629 E 800 S, Salt Lake City Utah
This outdoor market is a delightful way to spend an afternoon, with local food and makers in a celebration of gardening, nature, and locally sourced materials. For cozy holiday shopping under twinkle lights and healthy, delicious organic food, visit the Love Local Winter Market and discover over 30 small, local businesses. Admission is $5, and kids under the age of 5 are free.