An annual holiday tradition on its own, hundreds of regional artists and makers gather every December to showcase and sell their diverse, one-of-a-kind creations. Whether it’s a multi-vendor fair at a local business or an intimate open house at a private studio, these events provide opportunities to connect directly with the talented entrepreneurs who provide the backbone of Athens’ arts community. With over 40 different events scheduled over the next three weeks, finding handcrafted and locally sourced gifts is more accessible and affordable than ever.

In the spirit of tradition, let Flagpole make shopping locally a little simpler this year with our annual Holiday Market Roundup, a list of artist markets, studio open houses and craft sales happening in Athens and nearby. 

In Athens

Deck the Walls, a holiday market presented by the Visual Arts Guild of Athens and held at the Lyndon House Arts Center, at 211 Hoyt St., will be open Tuesdays through Saturdays in December from 12–5 p.m. More than 70 artists will offer jewelry, photography, paintings, soaps, scarves, hats, mittens, glass, pottery, accessories and folk art, plus seasonal cards, ornaments and wreaths. A Holiday Open House on Dec. 14 from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. will feature live entertainment, photos with Santa and craft activities like letterpress printing, bead weaving and holiday card making. A special Third Thursday event with gingersnaps and cider will follow on Dec. 19 from 6–8 p.m. Per tradition, the historic Ware-Lyndon House is decorated in live greenery courtesy of the Ladies Garden Club. For more details, visit athensclarkecounty.com/lyndonhouse.

The UGA Ceramic Student Organization’s annual Holiday Pottery Sale will occur in the Lamar Dodd School of Art’s first-floor lobby Dec. 3–4 from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Created by students and faculty, the works range from decorative pieces and hand-built sculptures to functional pottery like mugs, plates, vases, lidded boxes and bowls. Proceeds support educational field trips to ceramic conferences and also bring in visiting artists to campus. Parking is available in the Performing Arts Center deck. Visit art.uga.edu.

During the 940 Prince Ave. Holiday Open House, businesses Shakti, CJ&L Real Estate and Tribe Hair Company will co-host an afternoon of holiday cheer on Dec. 5 from 11 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Shakti will offer a free power hour yoga class at noon, and several artists will share their wares, including Maggie Scruggs, Flourish Fibers and jeweler Absynia. Find the event on Facebook. 

For specialty items straight from the garden, visit the UGArden Holiday Market on Dec. 5 from 4–7 p.m. Herbs grown using organic practices have been incorporated into a variety of teas, soaps, salves, lip balms and seasoning blends. Gift wrapping will be available, as will a bonfire for keeping warm. UGArden is located at 2510 S. Milledge Ave.

Operating primarily as a wholesale business, Mbare, Ltd. will open its warehouse to the public for the annual Africa in Athens Warehouse Sale Dec. 6 from 4–8 p.m. and Dec. 7 from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. The fair-trade company works directly with artisans and craftspeople in Zimbabwe, Senegal, Swaziland, South Africa, Tanzania, Mali and Ghana to collect wall decor, textiles, baskets, glassware, stone sculptures, wood carvings, tin art, masks and more. Mbare is located at 118 Commerce Blvd., behind the Athens Habitat ReStore West, and more details can be found at mbare.com.

Maria Dondero’s 11th annual Marmalade Pottery Holiday Sale will be held at Southern Star Studio, at 180 Cleveland Ave., Dec. 7–8 from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. The ceramic artist will share a new collection of mugs, hanging planters, large coil jars, big platters and ornaments, and the event also includes food by Tim Dondero, sweets by Jane Yates and live music. Visit mariadondero.com for samples of work.

Rebecca Wood and her team of potters will host their Holiday Sale Dec. 7 from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. R. Wood Studio, at 450 Georgia Dr., will have many of the brightly colored pieces the studio is known for, in addition to several one-of-a-kind pieces, seconds and discounted works. Photographer Kristin Karch will offer digital portraits until 2 p.m., and shoppers can sample the studio’s Share the Love coffee blend from Jittery Joe’s. To view the potters’ work, check out rwoodstudio.com.

Tina McCullough of Blue Bell Pottery Studio, at 105 Doe Run, will host her first Saturday Open House Dec. 7 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. In addition to a variety of vessels, McCullough specializes in carved works. Visit facebook.com/bluebellpotterystudio.

Heirloom Café and Fresh Market, at 815 N. Chase St., will host an opportunity for seasonal shopping at the Heirloom Holiday Market Dec. 7 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Handmade wares include jewelry, gourmet foods, woodwork, ceramics, soaps and bath products, textiles and more. Vendors include Bear Hug Honey, Little Light Co., Norman & Norma Vintage, Normal Soap Company, Oscar Bites Dog Treats, Viva Wild, Lakeshore Pottery, Piedmont Provisions and a dozen others. Visit heirloomathens.com.

Hip Vintage & Handmade, at 215 Commerce Blvd., will host its Hip Holiday Market Dec. 7 from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Dozens of craft vendors will set up in the forest garden behind the shop, which carries collections from antiques and vintage dealers alongside handmade items by local crafters and artists year-round. The afternoon also includes live music, food trucks and drinks from Hip Coffee Shop. More information can be found at hipvintagehandmade.com.

Michele Dross will host a Sip & Shop with Regina Mandell of Forged & Found Pottery at The Old Pal on Dec. 7. Dross will also host a Holiday Pottery Sale at her home studio on Dec. 14.

Check out the newest art destination in town, tiny ATH gallery, at 174 Cleveland Ave., during its first annual Holi-LADDER-day Market on Dec. 7 from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Unlike typical markets, the gallery will make the best of its small square footage by displaying artworks vertically on ladders. Participating vendors include Athulhu, Sarah Flinn, Peter Loose, Katie Porterfield, Sheila Beckham, Julie Jarema, Grant and Rachel Evans, Lois Songster and Cricket Bancroft. Visit tinyathgallery.com.

The Zuzka and Kyle Pottery Sale will showcase works by ceramicists Zuzka Vaclavik and Kyle Jones, who outside of their independent practices, are the business partners behind Tile Juice, which specializes in custom artisanal tiles for fireplaces, kitchens, outdoor areas and other decorated spaces. Located at the Chase Park warehouses at 160 Tracy St., the event will be held Dec. 7–8 and Dec. 14–15 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Visit tilejuice.com.

Indie South, at 470 Hawthorne Ave.,  will host a rare evening with one of Athens’ most well-known artists at the David Hale Holiday Pop-Up Dec. 7 from 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Items include original woodcuts, limited edition screen prints and a selection of sterling silver rings created in collaboration with artist Coyote. Additionally, copies of Hale’s new illustrated children’s book, Autumn’s Arrival, will be available.

Regina Mandell of Forged & Found Pottery and ceramicist Michele Dross will host a Sip & Shop holiday pop-up at The Old Pal, at 1320 Prince Ave., Dec. 7 from 3–6 p.m. Mandell’s works are characterized by a rustic minimalism and bohemian flair, whereas Dross’ are illustrated with alluring narratives.

Treehouse Kid and Craft presents its 10th annual Hollyday Handmade Artist Market across the street at Starlite Showroom, at 750 W. Broad St., Dec. 8 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Swing by to peruse the creations of 20 or so vendors, like Textile + Twine, Little Rabbit’s Arts and Crafts, Rainy Day Color, Foster Rose Creations, Stitches Getting Things Done, Reciprotee, Sweet Olive Farm and MEplusTEA. A handful of budding kid entrepreneurs will try their hands at selling their masterpieces, too, like Maypop Wren, Arrow Schwartz and Leah Templin. If you miss this one, the Decatur location of Treehouse will host its second annual Hollyday on Dec. 15. Find details at treehousekidandcraft.com.

Thirty or so local vendors will join half as many children’s classes to sell products during the South Jackson Holiday Market Dec. 9 from 5:30–7:30 p.m. at South Jackson Elementary School, at 1630 New Kings Bridge Road. Anticipated items range from aromatherapy body care products and cosmetics to crocheted winter hats, ornaments and jewelry. Vendor registrations benefited the school’s leadership program, while class sales will support various other projects. Visit sites.google.com/jcss.us/south-jackson-holiday-market/home for a list of vendors.

Creature Comforts' Get Artistic Holiday Market, on Dec. 11 from 5–9 p.m., will feature local art and artisanal goods from 20 vendors. In addition to artists like Will Eskridge, Lisa Freeman, Jared Brown, Abby Kacen and Katherine Schuber, keep an eye out for unique gifts like puzzles from Very Good Puzzle Co., small-batch cheeses by Hobo Cheese Co., watercolor paints by Pinto Art Supplies and macramé wall hangings by Spindle & Cone. Visit getcurious.com/get-artistic for information on Get Artistic, an initiative that supports the local arts.

An outdoor patio under twinkling lights makes for a festive setting at the juried Athens Holiday Market at Big City Bread Cafe Dec. 12–13 from 5–9 p.m. Peruse the works of over 50 local and regional artists while a live band performs around the bonfire. Annual favorites include Dan Smith, Jim Norton, Susan Staley, Lou Kregel, Barbara Odil, Leonard Piha and Frank Saggus. Big City Bread is located at 393 N. Finley St. and can be reached at 706-353-0029.

Celebrating women-owned businesses across town, several creative shops will co-host the first Holidate Night Dec. 12 from 6–8 p.m. Participating locations include Avid Bookshop in Five Points, Community, Dynamite, Indie South, K.A. Artist Shop and ReBlossom. An additional handful of entrepreneurs will be featured at pop-ups: Rebecca Wood of R. Wood Studio at Southern Star Studio, Love.Craft at STATE the Label, Revibe at Steel and Plank and Hable Construction at Treehouse Kid and Craft. Find the event on Facebook.

The Normaltown Pottery Holiday Sale, slated for Dec. 13 from 4–9 p.m. and Dec. 14 from 9 a.m.–4 p.m., will feature handmade, functional pottery by studio owner Juana Gnecco, along with ceramics by Nancy Green and Carter Gillies. Additional items include local honey by 3 Kings Honey, natural soap by Farmington Herbs and hand-printed textiles and cards by Sara Parker. Normaltown Pottery is located at 465 Belvoir Heights. For more information, call 762-728-0575.

Indie South will host the David Hale Holiday Pop-Up on Dec. 7.

More of Michele Dross’ creations can be scooped up during her first-ever Holiday Pottery Sale at her cozy backyard studio in Normaltown. Her distinctive handmade porcelain pottery is characterized by mystical narrative drawings full of women, plants, rainbows, snakes, goats and roosters. The event takes place Dec. 14 from 8 a.m.–4 p.m. at 515 King Ave. Visit micheledross.com for examples of work.

The Boulevard Pottery Sale will offer a variety of high-fired stoneware and porcelain functional pieces by Lori Demosthenes, Kyle Jones, Ester Lee Mech, Alex Newman, Geoff Pickett and Zuzka Vaclavik. The two-day sale will be held Dec. 14–15 from 9 a.m.–5 pm. at 190 Cohen St. 

Southern Star Studio will present its fourth annual group sale of members and friends Dec. 14–15 from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Participating potters include Brandon Bishop, Maria Dondero, Leyla Genculu, Carter Gillies, Chona Leathers, Allya Maerz, Regina Mandell, Alex Prince and Kerry Steinberg. Call 706-248-6899.

The vendors of the West Broad Farmers Market will offer a special Holiday Market and Craft Fair Dec. 14 from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. In addition to fresh produce and baked goods, you can expect items like artisan soaps, handmade wreaths, jewelry, sewn goods, woodworking and flower bouquets. Activities also include cooking demos, sustainable gardening workshops, health screenings, live music and yoga in the garden. Located at 1573 W. Broad St., the market aims to develop new food-based entrepreneurs, build a neighborhood-centered economy and increase access to healthy, affordable foods. Visit athenslandtrust.org.

More artists will share their creations during the Athens Institute for Contemporary Art’s Holiday Market. Highlights include folk art by Cap Man, paper goods by Ahndhi Sticha, paintings by Camille Hayes and jewelry by Appaloosa Designs, Darlene Blink, Gemnglass and Aurora Jewelry. The market will be held Dec. 14 from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. at the gallery’s new location, at 675 Pulaski St., Ste. 1200 in the Leathers Building. Visit athica.org.

Held concurrently with ATHICA’s Holiday Market on Dec. 14 from 10 a.m.–5 p.m., the Leathers Building Open House offers an opportunity to check out a few of the local businesses who occupy the building’s historic walls. In addition to snacks at Shiraz Fine Food and Gourmet, visitors can see handcrafted furnishings and home goods at Steel + Plank and scope out the studio of local textile artist Shirley Chambliss. Visit facebook.com/theleathersbuilding.

The Good Dirt Holiday Pottery Sale, at 485 Macon Hwy., will feature works by 26 instructors and students, reflecting the wide variety of styles and backgrounds that make up the studio. In addition to mugs, jewelry, tableware and lots and lots of pots, the event will offer giveaways and free food and coffee. The sale is Dec. 14 from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Visit gooddirt.net for details on how to participate in a new 12 Days of Pottery scavenger hunt leading up to the big day.

Indie South's 13th annual Holiday Hooray offers a lineup of over 100 vendors covering virtually everything handmade, from original art in every medium, bath and beauty products, toys and sustainable fashion to artisanal food, home goods and furniture. Indie South is unique in that it also incorporates a wide selection of collectors who focus primarily on vintage clothing and accessories. Keep an eye out for Flora Embroidery, Root + Kettle Herbals, Rockbelly Minerals, Oriskany Glass Studio, Othús Perfumery, Jellykoe, Cherokee Moon Mixology, Dana Bour Pyrography and Bohemian Spirit Glass. The two-day open-air market, which also promises food trucks, live music, art demos, Santa photo booth and kids activities, takes place Dec. 14 from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Dec. 15 from 12–5 p.m. at the Foundry Pavilion, 440 Foundry St. Admission to the market is $5 cash, with proceeds benefiting Project Safe. For more details, visit theindiesouth.com.

Artists will come together during the seventh annual Holiday Artists Market to benefit the local nonprofit Campus Cats/Cat Zip Alliance Dec. 14 from 11:30 a.m.–5 p.m. at Hi-Lo Lounge, at 1354 Prince Ave. Highlights include soaps by Songbird Soaps, clothing by Hippocampus Designs, books by Aimee Cribbs, ornaments by Rita Marks, woodwork by Mike Sellers and princess dresses and jewelry by Mimi Williams. Information on Campus Cats can be found at catzip.org

Hosted by Indie South, the Abnormal Bazaar offers a last-minute opportunity to pick up everything from vintage and collectibles to vinyl and crafts. Held the third Sunday of every month, the outdoor market is Dec. 22 from 12–4 p.m. at 470 Hawthorne Ave. Visit indiesouthfair.com for details.

Juana Gnecco will host the Normaltown Pottery Holiday Sale on Dec. 13–14.

Outside Athens

The family-run Bendzunas Glass Studio and Gallery, at 89 W. South Ave. in Comer, will keep extended weekend hours from 10 a.m.–6 p.m. until Christmas, with live glass-blowing demonstrations until 3 p.m. With over 40 years of experience, artist Paul Bendzunas has passed his craft down to his three children, who also work in the studio. Operating primarily as a wholesale business that distributes to galleries countrywide, a public gallery displays some of the family’s best functional and decorative glass works, including cups, paperweights, bowls, ornaments and vases. The studio is also open by appointment. For more information, check out bendzunasglass.net.

The Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation's 25th annual juried Holiday Market includes the works of 70 regional artists and crafters, ranging from paintings to pottery, stained and fused glass, jewelry, photography, woodwork, sculpture, fiber art and more. The market is open Dec. 6 from 5–8 p.m. and Dec. 7–8 from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Admission for all three days is $3. OCAF’s Artists Shoppe, which features handmade items created by more than 50 of the gallery's members, opens in conjunction with the Holiday Market and will remain open from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays until Dec. 21. OCAF is located at 34 School St. in Watkinsville. For more details, visit ocaf.com.

For vibrant, richly glazed pieces of pottery that draw inspiration from nature, check out the works of David Morgan, a regional potter who has been creating functional stoneware for over 30 years. The David Morgan Pottery studio, located at 3747 Old Wildcat Bridge Road in Danielsville, opens for a Holiday Sale Dec. 7 from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Dec. 8 from 12–5 p.m. The studio can also be visited by appointment through Dec. 24. Find David Morgan Pottery on Facebook.

Venture over to Farmington Pottery’s December Open House Pottery Sale Dec. 7–8 from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. to view the latest creations of Geoff and Lisa Pickett. A wide variety of Geoff’s wood and gas-fired dinnerware, kitchen and tableware for the home and garden will be available, as well as a selection of soaps, hydrosols and botanical skin-care products made with fresh herbs grown by Lisa. Farmington Pottery is located at 1171 Freeman Creek Road in Farmington. For more information, visit pickettpottery.com and farmingtonherbals.com.

Farmview Market, at 2610 Eatonton Hwy. in Madison, will host a Holiday Market as its last open-air farmers market of the season Dec. 7 from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. In addition to locally sourced veggies, meat, soaps, baked goods and preserves, you’ll find a few vendors offering handcrafted items like knitted accessories and jewelry. The family-friendly event also includes kids crafts, free food samples and live music. Check out farmviewmarket.com for what’s in store.

This year’s lineup at the Nancy Green Ceramics Group Studio Sale promises a diverse array of traditional and contemporary ceramic pieces, with participating potters including Jorie Berman, Juana Gnecco, Jen Graff, Nancy Green, Ron Meyers, Ted Saupe, Minsoo Yuh and Sunkoo Yuh. Additionally, there will be drawings and red clay works by Rich Panico and hand-printed textiles and cards by Sara Parker. Located at 1500 Tappan Spur Road in Watkinsville, the studio’s annual event is Dec. 7–8 from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. For more details, call 706-410-5200.

A new collection of wood and soda-fired work by Lori Demosthenes will be available at the Rose Creek Pottery Holiday Sale Dec. 7–8 from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Located on a grass-fed cattle farm, her quaint studio will be full of small pieces like ornaments, mugs and salt cellars, as well as large statement pieces for the home and garden. Rose Creek Pottery is located at 1051 Rose Creek Dr. in Watkinsville. Visit athensareapotters.com/lori-demosthenes. 

Cameron Bliss Ferrelle will host a pop-up Art Show and Sale with friends at her Winterville studio, located at 149 S. Georgia Ave., on Dec. 14 from 1–5 p.m. Known for her expressive portraits of women, Ferrelle excels at capturing her subjects in moments of moody pensiveness and vulnerability. Fellow painteres include Jacob Wenzka, Lucy Calhoun, Manda McKay, Cheryl Washburn, Peter Loose, Dortha Jacobson and more. Visit facebook.com/cameronbliss art for location and details.