2026 Holiday Market
Volunteer Portal
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Volunteer Orientation
Please plan to attend a virtual Volunteer Orientation on Zoom on one of the following dates:
Monday, November 30 at 7:00 PM
Tuesday, December 1 at 7:00 PM
You will receive a link to the Volunteer Orientation calls in your email the week before the event.
This session will be recorded, but we encourage you to join live if you are able to so you can meet the Volunteer Coordinator ask any questions you may have.
Contact Information
Primary Contact:
Kim Potenga, 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) 459-9937.
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 Kim, our Volunteer Coordinator, in the Staff & Volunteer Break Room. Kim 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.
Kim 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 Kim, our Volunteer Coordinator, at the end of your shift to turn in your lanyard and apron.
When you check-out, Kim 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 & InformationSmithfield & Liberty Garage
GPS address: 629 Smithfield St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (0.3 mile/8 minute walk to DLCC)
Rates & InformationEleventh and Smallman Outdoor Lot (Strip District)
GPS address: 1101 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (0.2 mile/4 minute walk to DLCC)
Rates & InformationEleventh and Waterfront Lot (Strip District)
GPS address: 1201 Waterfront Pl, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (0.2 mile/6 minute walk to DLCC)
Rates & InformationTheater 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
2026 Full Event Schedule
Please note that the event times listed below are different than the volunteer shift start and end times.
Friday, December 4
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There are over 275 makers participating in the Holiday Market! Each maker has a specific time window to load in. During maker load-in, staff and volunteers will work to set up the event (i.e., signage, lounge areas, raffle booth).
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The Preview Party is a ticketed event where shoppers will get first dibs on the one-of-a-kind items sold at the Holiday Market. Limited tickets are available to provide a more intimate shopping experience.
Saturday, December 5
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The event opens at 9:00am on Saturday. Volunteer shifts begin at 8:15am to give everyone time to check in, be trained, and get to your spots so we are ready for the first shoppers to arrive.
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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.
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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.
Sunday, December 6
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The event opens at 10:00am on Sunday. Volunteer shifts begin at 9:15am to give everyone time to check in, be trained, and get to your spots so we are ready for the first shoppers to arrive.
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This event is a chance for quiet, crowd-free shopping for folks needing a sensory-friendly shopping environment. There will be no DJ or music during this shopping window. The number of attendees will be limited.
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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.
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Once the event ends, makers will pack up their booths and we will tear down the event - putting away signage, packing up raffle items, etc.
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 4 from 3:00 - 8:00pm
Saturday, December 5 from 8:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday, December 6 from 9:00am-6:00pm
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 us know ahead of the Holiday Market.
Accessibility
You can view accessibility information on our Holiday Market FAQs webpage.
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.
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 Ticket Links
The best link to direct folks to is https://www.handmadearcade.org/holiday-market as it has all of the event ticket links, FAQs, maker listings, Hands-On Handmade Arcade listings, and more.