Plan Your Visit: 2025 Holiday Market (Parking, Accessibility, & Ticket Info)
The 2025 Holiday Market is this weekend on December 5-6! To help you prepare for your visit, here are our tips & tricks for a great shopping weekend.
PARKING & TRAFFIC
Avoid driving to the actual Convention Center and on the 10-Street Bypass after 10 AM and before 2 PM. You’ll sit in parking for at least 30 minutes behind folks trying to park at the Convention Center, and the Convention Center parking garage will likely already be full. Trust us - we’ve been there. If you choose to risk it, make sure you have a great playlist for company.
Ride the Light Rail for free within the Free Fare Zones. You can ride the Light Rail for free Downtown once you’re in the Free Fare Zone. This Zone stretches from the North Shore through Downtown to Station Square. Click here to learn more.
Park on the edges of Downtown to avoid traffic. The reality is that traffic near the Convention Center will be busy. We highly recommend parking on the edges of Downtown - or in the Strip District - to avoid the traffic.
Park & Ride from the Suburbs. Did you know that Pittsburgh Regional Transit has more than 50 park & ride locations throughout Allegheny County? We highly recommend taking advantage of easier parking outside of the city and public transport into Downtown. Click here to view Park & Ride routes.
Use your parking resources. ParkPgh.org should be your best friend on Holiday Market day. Use this app or website to get real-time parking garage availability. It’s so helpful!
Shop later in the day. Have a flexible schedule on Saturday? Come shop between 2 - 6 PM. The crowds will be a bit smaller.
Photo Credit: Joey Kennedy
PARKING RECOMMENDATIONS
Near the Byham Theater & Heinz Hall:
6th & Penn Garage (0.5 mile/12-min walk)
Ft. Duquesne & Sixth Garage (0.5 mile/11-min walk)
Theater Square Garage (0.4 mile/10-min walk)
Bonus - you’ll get to walk through the Peoples Gas Holiday Market and can check out some additional makers!
In the Strip District:
Eleventh and Waterfront Outdoor Lot (0.2 mile/5-min walk)
Eleventh and Smallman Outdoor Lot (0.2 mile/6-min walk)
Closest to the Convention Center:
Grant Street Transportation Center (0.3 mile/6-min walk)
Smithfield-Liberty Garage (0.3 mile/8-min walk)
Photo Credit: Kitoko Chargois
FINDING THE MARKET
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 DLCC.
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.
TICKETS
Walk-Up Tickets: Walk-up tickets are available day-of, though we recommend booking tickets in advance for a shorter and easier check-in process. If you need to book tickets day-of, please visit the Box Office.
Timed Admission: Once you enter at the market at your designated time slot, you can stay and shop as long as you want - or at least until we close! If you miss your designated time slot and arrive late, try not to panic. We’ll help you when you arrive.
Accessing Your Tickets: You do NOT need to print your tickets, but please have your ticket QR available and ready for scanning when you arrive. Check your email for a message with the subject line, “[Name], Your Ticket Registration is Complete!”. Please note it might go to your spam folder of your promotions/updates tab. When you see the screen below, click “View Your Tickets” for the QR code. Can’t find your confirmation email? Don’t panic. Just visit the Box Office when you arrive at the market so we can help.
Screenshot of ticket confirmation email
NAVIGATING THE MARKET
Program Books & Maps: There are printed program books & maps for guests to help navigate the market, but you can also access both of these tools digitally so that you can zoom in for convenience and accessibility.
On-Site Help: Handmade Arcade Volunteers will be stationed at the Box Office, Welcome Table, and roaming the market. They will be wearing badges that say “Volunteer” and will be wearing black aprons with the Handmade Arcade logo on them. Feel free to stop and ask them for assistance.
Virtual Catalog & Personal Shopper Resources: If you feel overwhelmed by the number of makers, we recommend a couple of resources. First, explore the Virtual Catalog before you go to the Holiday Market. You can browse through hundreds of maker profiles, learn more about their businesses, check our their websites or social media profiles, and map out where you want to go at the market in advance. Second, visit the Personal Shopper Booth at the Holiday Market. For a donation to Handmade Arcade, our team will provide some personal booth recommendations based on your shopping needs so you can have a purposeful shopping plan - great for folks who hate the idea of aimlessly wandering the market!
Photo Credit: Kitoko Chargois
ACCESSIBILITY
Restrooms: All Convention Center restrooms are equipped for standard wheelchair accessibility. All restrooms are gender neutral for the Holiday Market. There are also family restrooms located throughout the building with changing tables.
Mobility Devices: The Convention Center has complimentary, non-motorized wheelchairs available for guests to use while on-site. Wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are located at the East Lobby and West Lobby security desks.
Guests with Sensory Needs: The Convention Center is a KultureCity® Certified Sensory Inclusive Building. Sensory bags containing noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools, feeling thermometer, sunglass, and verbal cue cards are available to borrow at the security desks. A Quiet room is available on Level 2, Concourse A. Click here to access the David L. Lawrence Convention Center Social Story to help you prepare for your visit. For folks needing a Sensory-Friendly shopping window, please book pay-what-you-can tickets for our shopping event on Friday, December 5 from 4 - 6 PM.
Food & Drink: Food & drink will be available on-site for purchase at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in their Concessions area. Please note that their Concessions are cash only. You can bring your own water bottle to the event, and a water bubbler is available to refill it.
Lactation Room: Breastfeeding is welcome anywhere, anytime, and any place at Handmade Arcade markets. If you prefer a dedicated private space, one is located near the glass elevator. Call the number posted on the door, and a Convention Center staff member will open the door for you. The door is kept locked for privacy reasons.
Seating Areas: There is seating in the lobby, in front of concessions in the main hall, and in various Holiday Market Lounge in booths throughout the hall. Feel free to rest in any space. We also recommend visiting the Hands-On Handmade Arcade area on Saturday from 11 AM - 5:30 PM where you can take a seat and participate in a hands-on art-making activity for all ages.
Service Animals: Service animals are always welcome. Pets are not. Service animals are not pets. They are trained to assist people with disabilities. Proof of training as a service animal is not required, nor are special jackets.
Accessible Elevators: All David L. Lawrence Convention Center elevators are accessible, are equipped with Braille signage, and lead to all levels of the Convention Center.
Accessibility Survey: While at the market, please stop by the Gift Wrapping Table in the lobby to take a quick survey about our accessibility. Your feedback will contribute to an Accessibility Audit that is being conducted for Handmade Arcade by an external consultant. If you complete the survey, you’ll be entered to win some great prizes!
Have questions or need help with accessibility before the event? Please email us at info@handmadearcade.org.