A Seasoned Event to 'Get You Jazzed' About Gift Giving

Erie Downtown Partnership

If you've left your holiday shopping until the last minute, don't opt for an impersonal gift card, check out the Holiday Makers Market happening at the Boston Store on Gallery Night for a more personal, local, handmade item and enjoy some original jazz while you're at it.

FRIDAY, DEC. 15

As many of us know, the holiday season can be one of stress and panic when it comes to figuring out the perfect gifts for your loved ones. Do you go with the luxurious option? The personal option? The expensive option? Handmade? Regardless, the best gift is the one that is the easiest to purchase. During this holiday season, wouldn't it be nice to have a one-stop shop for items handmade, curated, and designed by local crafters and makers of all sorts? The Erie community just so happens to be in luck when it comes to that.

Dave Tamulonis is the events and marketing manager for the Erie Downtown Partnership, which is partnering with Erie Community Foundation and HANDS for the Holiday Makers Market and Jazz Event. This will be the last holiday shopping event this year from this specific group and Tamulonis is excited to be involved, "This is a great chance for folks to come down and get a gift for their favorite people, or themselves, from a local business." Downtown will be bustling with customers as well as small businesses of all sorts, who will get the chance to connect with more potential clients.

"This event is a wonderful family and community setting," Dave continues. "There will be over 30 vendors in the beautifully historic Boston Store to shop from, horse-drawn carriage rides around Perry Square, and the skating rink will be live and operational to the public." In addition to all of the vendors and makers, it is also Gallery Night at the Erie Art Museum and surrounding local businesses which will be showcasing local artists as well. And let's not forget — JAZZ. Nicholas Nasibyan will be showcasing his jazz talents live with his piano playing and vocal slaying.

If jazz and local artistry may not be your kids' speed, we have it on good authority that the Grinch may be showing up to Perry Square and the Boston Store to try to ruin the Holiday cheer! Get all of your gift shopping done in one place, on one night, with handmade and special local products made by your fellow community members. 

5 to 9 p.m. // Boston Store, 716 State St. and surrounding downtown areas // Free