GREENFIELD — From wooden bowls to fine paintings and jewelry, local artisans will showcase their wares during a holiday pop-up market in downtown Greenfield next weekend.
The shopping event, organized by a small group of Greenfield residents and business owners, will be held in the Pushkin Gallery on Main Street Dec. 8 and 9. Featuring 20 to 25 vendors, the market coincides with the town’s annual Jinglefest.
“There is really nothing going on in (the Pushkin) currently, so using that space as a venue to create not only a holiday pop-up market, but the higher vision is to give local artisans space in our downtown who might not be able to afford a monthly rent or be a regular fixture in the downtown,” said Ashli Stempel, who helped organize the event.
Stempel is working with Ben Goldsher, whose family owns the Pushkin and the Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center, and with Amy McMahan of Mesa Verde and local artist Emma Sadowski.
The market will be open Friday, Dec. 8 from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 9 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“We wanted to make sure the hours we chose would bring people downtown to shop and then release them into the downtown,” Stempel said, adding the timing gives shoppers a chance to stop by other stores, get dinner and stay for a movie or show.
Yankee Candle is the market’s main sponsor and will set up a winter scene in the Pushkin where shoppers can have their photos taken and receive a coupon redeemable at the Yankee Candle flagship store in South Deerfield.
“Their willingness to sponsor this event has really given these local artists the ability to be featured in our downtown; they’ve really stepped up in a big way,” Stempel said.
The Pushkin also has a liquor license, so light food, beer and wine will be available at the market.
“We wanted to make it an event more than anything else,” Stempel said. “It’s not just a market, it’s a place where people can gather, have a cocktail and then go out into the night and experience everything that Greenfield has to offer.”
The Pushkin is at the corner of Main and Federal streets in the center of Greenfield. Entry to the market is free.
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