Hey, NYC \u2014\u00a0want to sleigh the gift game this year? Well, you can definitely jingle all the way past the Big Apple\u2019s tinsel-choked tourist trap holiday markets\u00a0those copy-paste Manhattan traffic-attractors where the cocoa costs $12 and the vibes are as mass-produced as the merch.<\/p>\n
For festive grinches who\u2019d rather shop really local, there are scores of smarter, cooler maker events getting ready to pop up across the city \u2014\u00a0offering handmade one-of-a-kind items from artists and artisans, and zero peppermint-scented pandemonium.<\/p>\n
Ready to shop smart? Check out these five markets \u2014\u00a0the ultimate antidote to corporate Christmas chaos.<\/p>\n
Crafts at the Cathedral at St. John the Divine \u2014\u00a0Dec. 5, 6 & 7 <\/p>\n
The world\u2019s biggest Gothic cathedral becomes a holy shopping spree as 80 artisans turn St. John the Divine into the ultimate, feel-good \u201ccrafts cathedral\u201d for gifts you\u2019ll actually keep. TK<\/p>\n
St. John the Divine \u2014 the world\u2019s largest Gothic cathedral \u2014\u00a0becomes one of the Big Apple\u2019s most jaw-dropping backdrops for holiday shopping at this time every year, when the annual Crafts at the Cathedral turns 1047 Amsterdam Ave. into a holy grail of handmade goods.<\/p>\n
For three days, this Friday-Sunday, more than 80 top-tier artisans set up shop in the nave, offering everything from sculptural jewelry to chic home accents, pottery, leatherwork, ornaments and other giftable goodies that won\u2019t end up in the regift pile.<\/p>\n
This beloved juried fair, now in its 27th year, is as feel-good as it is fabulous \u2014\u00a0proceeds support the cathedral\u2019s community programs, while giving independent makers a truly divine stage to show off their work.<\/p>\n
Whether you\u2019re hunting for a splurge-y showstopper or a budget-friendly bauble, the curated lineup spans every price point \u2014 and every taste level.<\/p>\n
For one long weekend, 80+ top-notch artisans turn the cathedral\u2019s nave into a treasure trove of giftable goods. TK<\/p>\n
Entry is blessedly simple. A Single Day Admission ticket via the cathedral\u2019s website<\/a> runs $15 (plus a $1.50 online fee) and lets you roam the aisles as long as your shopping stamina holds. <\/p>\n Want the full pilgrimage? Upgrade to the $20 Weekend Pass and waltz in all three days, no reservations required \u2014 just flash your pass at the door and prepare to be dazzled. <\/p>\n The Oddities Flea \u2014 Dec. 6 <\/p>\n For anyone whose holiday spirit skews more spooky than sparkly, the Oddities Flea turns Chelsea into a macabre wonderland of bones, curios and creepy-cool gifts you definitely won\u2019t find at Bryant Park.<\/p>\n Seasons creepings! If your idea of holiday cheer leans more \u201cskull and crossbones\u201d than \u201csugarplums,\u201d the Oddities Flea Market at the Metropolitan Pavilion (125 W. 18th St.) is your merry little nightmare.<\/p>\n The cult-fave bazaar turns Chelsea into a cabinet of curiosities packed with medical antiques, anatomical specimens, natural-history oddities, taxidermy, bespoke jewelry, eerie art and the kind of rare ephemera you definitely won\u2019t find at Bryant Park.<\/p>\n Shoppers can snag VIP tickets<\/a> ($55.20 per ticket) for 11 a.m. entry, which come with re-entry privileges and first dibs on the weird and wonderful wares; general admission ($28.52) opens at 1 p.m. (no re-entry, so choose your poison wisely). <\/p>\n Kids 10 and under get in free \u2014 as long as they\u2019re brave \u2014 and adults can even mark the occasion permanently: Rebel & Rose Tattoo Studio will be on-site offering exclusive flash ink, along with piercings for the over-18 crowd. <\/p>\n What started as a 70-vendor Brooklyn event in 2017 has ballooned into a highly curated, hotly ticketed holiday haunt, drawing collectors, goths, design nerds and the merely morbidly curious. <\/p>\n In other words: if you\u2019re tired of cookie-cutter ornaments and \u201cLive, Laugh, Love\u201d signs, this is the market that\u2019ll put some true spirit \u2014 and maybe a spine or two \u2014 back into your season.<\/p>\n Field & Supply at Starrett-Lehigh \u2014 Dec. 6 & 7 <\/p>\n Arts and crafts fair \u2014\u00a0but make it cool.<\/p>\n That\u2019s the vibe at this carefully curated collection of makers, showcasing everything from timeless treasures to fresh, one-of-a-kind creations.<\/p>\n The festive fun lands at the Starrett-Lehigh Building (601 West 26th Street) this Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.\u20135 p.m.<\/p>\n Choose between 250+ vendors, snack on merry treats, dive into hands-on workshops, and find that perfect gift for every friend and family member. Tickets <\/a>run $20 for a single day or $30 for a full weekend pass.<\/p>\n Workshops include making mini moss Christmas trees with handmade chains and charms, herbal intention sachets for love, clarity, calm, or protection, and paper boat ornaments. <\/p>\n You can even get a tin-type portrait taken with 19th-century techniques or snap a photo with Santa. There\u2019s also collage portrait-making and plenty of other crafty ways to celebrate. <\/p>\n And yes, there will be a special lineup of seasonal drinks and treats to keep your sugar and hot chocolate levels perfectly merry.<\/p>\n MCNY \u00d7 Brooklyn Pop-Up \u2014\u00a0Dec. 6 & 7<\/p>\n At the Museum of the City of New York, holiday cheer goes full sugar rush as gingerbread skyscrapers, borough-made gifts, and glittering treats take over the lobby for one sweet-tooth-approved weekend. TK<\/p>\n The holiday spirit is hitting the Museum of the City of New York in a big, sweet way.<\/p>\n On Saturday, Dec. 6 and Sunday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., the museum\u2019s front lobby transforms into a bustling market curated by event organizer Brooklyn Pop Up, just in time to celebrate MCNY\u2019s 100th anniversary.<\/p>\n The event coincides with the museum\u2019s annual Great Borough Bake-Off Gingerbread House exhibit, where 25 bakers, makers, and designers from all five boroughs show off their edible masterpieces.<\/p>\n Think frosted skyscrapers, candy-coated brownstones, and miniature city parks \u2014 a sugary salute to \u201cIconic New York.\u201d You can even cast your vote for the People\u2019s Choice Award and pick your favorite gingerbread gem.<\/p>\n While you\u2019re here, shop contemporary fashion, home goods, jewelry, beauty, and other unique gifts from artisans across the five boroughs.<\/p>\n Plus, pick up hand-painted, glittering gingerbread-themed ornaments to bring a little edible-inspired sparkle home.<\/p>\n The museum is serving gingerbread glamour and borough-made gifts in a holiday market so sweet it could give Santa a toothache. TK<\/p>\n The event takes place at 1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. <\/p>\n