2025 Holiday Market

Volunteer Portal

Scroll to review the contents of the portal or use the buttons below to quickly reference specific information.

Volunteer Orientation
Event Schedule
Accessibility
Contact Information
Restrooms & Water Fountains
Event Ticket Links
Volunteer Roles
Event Map & Key
Arrival & Volunteer Check-In/Check-Out
Food & Breaks
Safety & Security Plan
Parking

Volunteer Orientation

Please plan to attend a virtual Volunteer Orientation on Zoom on one of the following dates:

  • Saturday, November 22 at 12:30 PM

  • Monday, December 1 at 6:30 PM  

During the Volunteer Orientation session, Anneliese Martinez (our Volunteer Coordinator) will cover the various volunteer roles you may be assigned, event logistics, accessibility, etc. and answer any questions you may have.

This session will be recorded, but please try your best to attend live so we can meet you and make sure you have everything you need before volunteering.

Contact Information

Primary Contact:

  • Anneliese Martinez, Volunteer Coordinator

  • Email: volunteers@handmadearcade.org

  • Phone: 304-459-9937

Important Note:

  • For last-minute emergencies the night before or day of or if you are unable to make it to your shift, please do not email. Please text the Volunteer Coordinator cell phone number (304-4259-9937).

  • Please do not call because the venue will be very loud, and we won’t be able to hear our phones. Text only the number above.

Arrival & Volunteer Check-In/Check-Out

Location:

  • The Holiday Market will be held at the David L. Lawrence Convention center (DLCC).

  • The DLCC is at the corner of Penn Ave. and 10th Street in Downtown Pittsburgh.

  • Click here for directions to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

  • The Holiday Market is on the second floor of the DLCC in Halls B & C. To get to Halls B & C:

    • Enter the DLCC through the EAST LOBBY Street entrance off 10th Street

    • Go up the escalator or use the elevator to your right behind the security desk.

    • Once you are on the second floor, Halls B & C are on your left.

Check-In:

  • When you arrive on the second floor, please bypass the lines and go straight to the Staff & Volunteer Break Room. If any volunteers or staff ask, please tell them you are a volunteer who needs to check in.

  • The Staff & Volunteer Break Room is located past the entrance doors to the Holiday Market and on the left. It will be marked with signage.

  • You will check-in with Anneliese, our Volunteer Coordinator, in the Staff & Volunteer Break Room. Anneliese will give you a quick on-site orientation, tell you what your assigned roles are, and give you a volunteer badge and apron to borrow for your shift.

  • Anneliese will then direct you to the location of your role where you will switch places with the volunteer doing that role before you. You will also receive any additional necessary briefing from other Handmade Arcade staff when you begin your role.

Check-Out

  • Please make sure you check-out with Anneliese, our Volunteer Coordinator, at the end of your shift to turn in your lanyard and apron.

  • When you check-out, Anneliese will also give you your complimentary 15 raffle tickets. We appreciate you volunteering!

  • After you’re volunteering, if the Holiday Market is still open, we encourage you to stay and shop. There is no need for you to reserve a ticket.

Parking

Parking Information:

There are plenty of parking options near the David Lawrence Convention Center. You can use the ParkPGH website or app for real-time parking availability & info.

Here are some garages near the DLCC:

  • David L. Lawrence Convention Center Garage
    GPS address: 139 10th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
    Rates & Information
    This lot fills up first and fast.

  • Grant Street Transportation Center
    GPS address: 55 11th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (0.3 mile/6 minute walk to DLCC)
    Rates & Information

  • Smithfield & Liberty Garage
    GPS address: 629 Smithfield St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (0.3 mile/8 minute walk to DLCC)
    Rates & Information

  • Eleventh and Smallman Outdoor Lot (Strip District)
    GPS address: 1101 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (0.2 mile/4 minute walk to DLCC)
    Rates & Information

  • Eleventh and Waterfront Lot (Strip District)
    GPS address: 1201 Waterfront Pl, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (0.2 mile/6 minute walk to DLCC)
    Rates & Information

  • Theater Square Garage
    GPS address: 120 7th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (0.4 mile/10 minute walk to DLCC)
    Rates & Information

Volunteer Roles

You will receive detailed instructions on your volunteer role when you arrive, but here is a brief overview of the various roles.

    • Direct attendees to the correct line depending on whether or not they already have tickets.

    • Check-in attendees who already have tickets by scanning their tickets, checking their printed tickets, or checking their tickets on their phones.

    • For attendees who don’t have tickets, direct them in registering on their phones by scanning a QR code or register them by collecting their name and email.

    • Assist the Box Office Coordinator as needed.

    • This role is mostly stationary and can be done sitting or standing.

    • Welcome attendees to the event and distribute one program book or map per group. You may give groups multiples if they ask, but our quantities are limited.

    • Encourage attendees to scan the QR code on our welcome sign to view our digital program book.

    • This role is mostly stationary and can be done sitting or standing.

    • Welcome attendees to the event and answer simple questions, such as helping with wayfinding.

    • Sell raffle tickets by cash and credit cards.

    • Monitor items on display for raffle.

    • Monitor Handmade Arcade’s donation jar.

    • Collect names and emails for our email list.

    • This role is mostly stationary and can be done sitting or standing.

    • Ripping bundles of 25 raffle tickets to give to ticketholders to our Friday Night Preview Party and Early Bird Shopping events

    • This role is mostly stationary and can be done sitting or standing.

    • In exchange for a donation of any amount, shoppers can get a five-minute Personal Shopper experience.

    • Shoppers will share who or what they are shopping for, and the Handmade Arcade staff and volunteers will circle the map to recommend at 3-5 booths where they can find a great gift or purchase that aligns with their personal needs.

    • We ask makers ahead of time if they are going to be alone on Saturday so we can watch their booths for a bit while they take short breaks.

    • You will be given a schedule of requested breaks, and we will let you know which makers to check-in on throughout your shift.

    • If you are watching a maker’s table, establish with them how long they plan to be gone. You should not be required to watch a table longer than 30 minutes or past your shift time (please monitor how much time you have left in your shift). 

    • You are not permitted to sell on behalf of the maker. You will only watch their table and let shoppers know that the maker will return shortly.

2025 Full Event Schedule

Please note that the event times listed below are different than the volunteer shift start and end times.

Friday, December 5

  • Makers will be assigned a 30-minute arrival window between 10 AM - 2 PM for load-in arrival. Assigned load-in times will be provided in November.

  • This will be a more quiet shopping session with no music playing. It will include the following shoppers:

    • Sensory-Friendly Shoppers

    • Retail Partners

    This shopping time will be for pay-what-you-can ticketing with limited attendees to allow for a more quiet shopping experience.

    Retail Partners will be indicated by a button provided by Handmade Arcade. These partners will receive a special map of the Holiday Market indicating which makers are open to wholesale opportunities.

  • This will be an upbeat shopping session that serves as a fundraising opportunity for Handmade Arcade. There will be special food and drink options for sale as well as special entertainment.

Saturday, December 6

  • Makers must return to the Convention Center by 8:30 AM at the latest.

  • This will be an upbeat, fast-paced shopping session that serves as a fundraising opportunity for Handmade Arcade. It will be filled with fans of Handmade Arcade who come ready to shop quickly before the rest of the crowds come in.

  • This is the window for general shopping. Tickets are pay-what-you-can, and free tickets are available for those who need them. We stagger the shopper arrival times throughout the day in an effort to spread out the crowds and reduce parking and traffic around the Convention Center.

  • Makers must keep their products up at their booths until 6:00 PM. Detailed load-out instructions will be provided closer to the market. This year, we will have an extra 30 minutes for finish load-out (we know many makers have been requesting this!).

Safety & Security Plan

Volunteers will have a high-level safety and security plan on the back of their lanyards.

Please click here to review our full safety & security plan.

Food & Breaks

DLCC Concessions will have breakfast and lunch items, beverages, and snacks available for purchase during the following times:

  • Friday, December 5 from 3 - 8 PM

  • Saturday, December 6 from 8 AM - 6 PM

During busy times, the line can get long. Please plan your meals accordingly.

The Staff & Volunteer Break Room, where you will check-in, is right outside of the main entrance doors and labeled “Staff and Volunteers” only. It is stocked with bottles of water and snacks.

If you have any severe allergies please let Anneliese know ahead of the Holiday Market.

Accessibility

  • If you have accessibility needs, please let the Volunteer Coordinator or any Handmade Arcade staff know so we can best support you.

  • The Convention Center floor is concrete and can be unforgiving. Please wear comfortable shoes.

  • The temperature in the halls can fluctuate, so we recommend wearing layers.

  • Handmade Arcade has hired a consultant to do an on-site Accessibility Audit at our 2025 Holiday Market. The consultant may approach you to ask you about your accessibility experience as volunteers. We encourage you to answer freely and honestly as this will help us improve our volunteer opportunities in the future!

Restrooms & Water Fountains

  • Restrooms are located in the concourse outside of Halls B & C and against the back walls of Halls B & C.

  • There is a water fountain against the back wall.

Event Map & Key

This will be uploaded to the Volunteer Portal in November. It will also be available on-site for your volunteer shift.

Event Ticket Links

The best link to direct folks to is https://www.handmadearcade.org/2025-holiday-market as it has all of the event ticket links, FAQs, maker listings, Hands-On Handmade Arcade listings, and more.

Specific Event Ticketing Links: