The DC Holiday Market opened Nov. 14 in Dupont Circle, launching a 38-day festival featuring more than 35 local vendors and welcoming shoppers daily through Dec. 23.
Only in its second year, the new Dupont Holiday Market is an extension of the DowntownDC Holiday Market, organized by Diverse Markets Management. The market offers an array of handmade gifts,seasonal foods and features local artisans and small businesses from the D.C. area.
For many vendors, the market represents the beginning of their busiest sales period. Capital Candy Jar, a candy store located in Capitol Hill, has participated in D.C. holiday markets for 10 years and returned to the Dupont location for its second year.
Co-owner Tristan Holley said the business relies on the season and markets like this one to reach new customers and expand business.
“People would come into our booth and be like, ‘I work at this hotel. We could carry your candy there.’ So it actually got us more and more business,” Holley said. “So just even [having] our name out there was, I think, worth a lot.”
Customers often stop to ask about Capital Candy Jar’s products, the production process and where they can purchase more throughout the year. The market also helps introduce locally made products to a wide audience.
“The thing I like about especially in D.C., is that there’s so many visitors from around the world,” Holley said. “We meet so many different tourists and visitors, and they see our candy, and they say, ‘Oh, you make this here in D.C.!’”
Booths 27 and 28 feature handmade paintings and watercolors by Marcella Kriebel Art & Illustration and Terratorie Maps + Goods. Together, the booths feature hand-illustrated city prints, neighborhood maps and food-themed artwork by local female artists.
Marcella Kriebel Art & Illustration sells hand-painted watercolor prints, as well as tea towels, aprons and tote bags, while Terratorie Maps + Goods sells maps featuring D.C. and DMV neighborhoods, as well as some cities from across the country.
Kate Lee, working her first shift at the booth at Dupont market on Nov. 14, said she enjoys seeing customers connect with the work and their enthusiasm for seeing their cities and neighborhoods depicted.
“It’s been so fun to watch people get so excited to see their city be represented, or find their house or their school or their neighborhood,” she said. “Everyone seems like they’re in a good spirit, and it's all been really nice.”
For vendors, the D.C. Holiday Market represents a crucial period in the year, often accounting for a large portion of annual sales. Mike Berman, executive director of Diverse Markets Management, emphasized that this time of year is essential not only for sales, but for exposure and networking as well.
Vendors compete for a limited number of spots, making participation a coveted opportunity to showcase their work for a large audience.
“For almost every small business, but certainly vendors, the Christmas season is the most important time, where they really make their money for the year,” he said.
The market provides a platform for these businesses to not only boost their sales, but also to connect with customers and the community.
“This is a great way to support D.C.-based artists and local business folks, and it actually makes a real difference in the community to buy locally,” Lee said.
Dupont Circle has long been a vibrant cultural hub of D.C., known for its arts scene and local businesses.
“It’s important for their businesses, but it’s also important for the neighborhood to have some place to come shop local,” Berman said. “It’s a community effort and synergistic with all the retail and activities around Dupont.”
The D.C. Holiday Market is located just north of Dupont Circle Park on New Hampshire Avenue NW. Market hours are 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 11:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays until Dec. 23.
This article was edited by Alia Messina, Jessica Ackerman and Walker Whalen. Copy editing done by Sabine Kanter-Huchting, Arin Burrell, Paige Caron, Andrew Kummeth and Ryan Sieve.
