Handmade Arcade’s Holiday Market is the Pittsburgh region’s largest holiday shopping event.

About the Holiday Market

This year’s Holiday Market is scheduled for December 5-6, 2025 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Downtown Pittsburgh. Handmade Arcade’s Holiday Market is Pittsburgh’s premier handmade holiday shopping event, highly-anticipated by both shoppers and makers. The Holiday Market features 275+ makers and welcomes more than 10,000 highly-motivated shoppers each year. Vendors and shoppers come from all over Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and beyond. 

Application Details

Application Deadline: Wednesday, July 23, 2025 at 11:59 PM (EST)

Application Fee: $25

Applicant Notifications: Late August

Booth Fee Due: Friday, September 12, 2025 at 11:59 PM (EST)

Maker Pictured: Emmanuelle Ceramics, LLC (Photo Credit: Kitoko Chargois)

Event Details

All accepted makers are required to:

  • Participate in BOTH Friday and Saturday. No exceptions.

  • Provide their own tables & chairs OR pay Handmade Arcade $30 per table and $8 per chair to rent these items from the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

  • Provide crafters liability insurance, such as ACT Insurance.

  • Adhere to our Maker Terms & Conditions.

Friday, December 5

10 AM - 2 PM: Maker Load-In 

4 - 6 PM: Sensory-Friendly & Retailer Shopping (pay-what-you-can general admission tickets)

6 - 8 PM: Friday Night Preview Party (ticketed, limited attendees) 

Saturday, December 6

9 - 11 AM: Early Birdie Shopping Hours (ticketed, limited attendees)

11 AM - 6 PM: General Shopping (pay-what-you-can general admission tickets)

6 - 8 PM: Maker Load-Out 

Maker Pictured: Karen Coston Jewelry (Photo Credit: Kitoko Chargois)

    • $175

    • 8 ft x 8 ft space

    • Reserved for new & emerging makers who have not participated in a previous Handmade Arcade Holiday Market

    • If you are a seasoned maker who is simply new to Handmade Arcade, you should apply for the Standard Booth. Preference will be given to emerging makers for the Craft Corridor Booth spaces.

    • Craft Corridor Booths are limited. To give yourself the best shot at being accepted into the market, we recommend selecting both the Craft Corridor Booth AND the Standard Booth on your Holiday Market Application if you are willing to pay a Standard Booth fee. 

    • $365

    • 10 ft x 10 ft

    • Available to both new and established makers, though new & emerging makers are encouraged to also apply for a Craft Corridor Booth if appropriate for their business.

    • If you are a maker with a brick-and-mortar store, you are strongly encouraged to become a Small Business Sponsor if your annual budget allows. Preference for Standard Booths may be given to makers with fewer opportunities to interact with in-person shoppers.

    • $725

    • 10 ft x 20 ft

    • Expanded Booths are not guaranteed, and makers cannot select “Expanded Booth” on the application.

    • There will be a random lottery for Standard Booth makers who request to upgrade to an Expanded Booth.

    • To be entered into the Expanded Booth lottery, accepted makers must select "I would like to be entered into the Expanded Booth Lottery" on the Accepted Maker Confirmation Form and pay the Standard Booth fee within one week of receiving their acceptance email. If selected for the Expanded Booth lottery, makers will then receive a payment link to upgrade from a Standard Booth to an Expanded Booth.

  • Electricity is $75. This fee is accurate as of May 2025. Please note that the amount may change depending on venue requirements, though we anticipate it will stay approximately the same. 

  • Endcap Booths are available for an additional $50. Endcap Booths are limited. There will be a random lottery for makers who request and endcap booth. Those who want to be entered into the lottery will need to select "Endcap Booth Upgrade Request" on the Accepted Maker Confirmation Form if they are accepted into the market. 

Booth Types & Fees

Before you apply, please read these FAQs!

Application Support

We strongly encourage applicants to attend our virtual Application Info Session to better understand this year's application rubric. You can also receive personalized support by attending a drop-in Office Hour session hosted by the Handmade Arcade Team.

May 29 (6:30 - 8 PM): Application Info Session (will be recorded)

May 30 (4 - 6 PM): Office Hours

June 12 (11:30 AM - 1:30 PM): Office Hours

July 16 (2 - 4 PM): Office Hours

July 21 (6 - 8 PM): Office Hours

All Info Sessions and Office Hours can be accessed via this Zoom link. Feel free to reach out to makers@handmadearcade.org if you have questions that aren’t answered in our Maker FAQs or at the Application Info Session.

Makers Pictured: Bugaboo Friends (Photo Credit: Kitoko Chargois)