Holiday Markets and Local Gift Shopping in Columbus

Holiday shopping in Columbus does not have to mean a parking garage at the mall and a cart full of shipping boxes. Between early November and the middle of December, the region hosts a long run of makers markets, craft fairs, late shopping nights and small-town open houses, and most of them cost little or nothing to walk into. This guide lays them out in date order, then moves through the neighborhoods and districts where independent shops cluster, so you can plan a full season of buying from people who live here.

Every date, time and price below was checked this week on the organizer's own website: Ohio Made, Vintage Promotions, Not Your Mama's Craft Market, the Worthington Partnership, Main Street Delaware, Grove City Town Center, the German Village Society, the Short North Alliance and Rhoads Farm. Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, Nov. 26, which puts Small Business Saturday on Nov. 28, and the busiest stretch of markets lands on the weekends just before and just after it.

The market calendar at a glance

Here is the season in order. Fuller notes on each stop follow in the sections below.

• Thursday, Nov. 5: Holidays on High in Old Worthington, 6 to 9 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 7: Holiday Craft and Gift Show at Worthington Christian Village, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., plus the monthly Short North Gallery Hop, 4 to 8 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 14, and Sunday, Nov. 15: Not Your Mama's Craft Market at Polaris Fashion Place.
• Friday, Nov. 20, and Saturday, Nov. 21: the tenth Ohio Made Holiday Market at Hollywood Casino Columbus.
• Saturday, Nov. 21, and Sunday, Nov. 22: Columbus ChristmasFair at the Ohio Expo Center. Delaware's Season of Shopping also begins Nov. 21.
• Sunday, Nov. 22: Not Your Mama's Craft Market at Bridge Park in Dublin, and the Worthington Holiday Craft Fair, noon to 4 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 28: Small Business Saturday.
• Sunday, Nov. 29: the Holiday Open House in Old Worthington, from noon until 5 p.m.
• Tuesday, Dec. 1: Grandview Heights hosts its Holiday in the Heights night, and the first Hanby House open night in Westerville.
• Wednesday, Dec. 2: Worthington Illuminated Shopping, 6 to 9 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 4, and Saturday, Dec. 5: Grove City's Mistletoe Market, Delaware's First Friday tree lighting, the Rhoads Winterfair near Circleville, Christmas in Uptown Circleville and the December Gallery Hop.
• Sunday, Dec. 6: Village Lights in German Village, 4 to 8 p.m.
• Saturday, Dec. 12: Simply Christmas in Lithopolis.
• Sunday, Dec. 13: Not Your Mama's Last Chance Holiday Market at The Harrison in Italian Village, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The big makers markets

Ohio Made Holiday Market, Nov. 20 and 21

The Ohio Made Holiday Market marks its tenth year at Hollywood Casino Columbus, 200 Georgesville Rd, on the West Side. It is built entirely around makers from this state, and the ticket tiers let you choose between a calm browse and a crowded party. Ohio Made lists the market as all ages on both days, with drinks served only to guests 21 and over.

Friday, Nov. 20, starts with the OG VIP ticket at $39.99. Holders get the floor to themselves from 4 to 5 p.m., an ornament handmade in Ohio and a champagne toast for adults, and the first release was capped at 100 tickets. The Friday VIP Shopping Party costs $19.99 with entry windows starting at 5 p.m. or 6:30 p.m., and the floor stays open until 9 p.m. Ohio Made notes that the Friday party has sold out ahead of time before, so buy early if that is your night.

Saturday, Nov. 21, opens with Early Access at $14.99, entering at 9 or 10 a.m., which gives up to three quiet hours before the general crowd. General Admission runs noon to 5 p.m. for $5 online or $8 at the door, with a DJ on the floor. Children 12 and under are free on Saturday, though each child needs a reserved online ticket. Ohio Made's policy is no refunds, and Eventbrite processing fees are added at checkout.

Columbus ChristmasFair, Nov. 21 and 22

Vintage Promotions brings the Columbus ChristmasFair to the Lausche Building at the Ohio Expo Center, 717 E. 17th Ave, on the North Side. The organizer lists 150 artisans from Ohio and nearby states working in painting, pottery, woodworking, jewelry and glass, with door prizes on the program. Admission is $8, children 12 and under get in free and parking at the fairgrounds is $7. Buy tickets online through the fair's page to skip the line at the door, and check that page for daily hours before you go.

Not Your Mama's Craft Market, four stops

Not Your Mama's Craft Market runs the busiest schedule of any organizer in town this season. The first stop is Polaris Fashion Place on Nov. 14 and 15, set up in the former Forever 21 space on the lower level with more than 100 makers and free entry. It is an easy add to a trip to Polaris Fashion Place in Polaris.

On Sunday, Nov. 22, the market moves to The Exchange at Bridge Park in Dublin for its fourth year there, with more than 90 local businesses. A presale ticket covers shopping from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the doors open free to everyone from 3 to 5 p.m. On Dec. 6 the group runs its Village Lights Market inside Schiller Recreation Center from 3 to 8 p.m., free, with more than 100 vendors. The season wraps up on Sunday, Dec. 13, with the Last Chance Holiday Market at The Harrison in Italian Village, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and free to attend, the right date for anyone still missing a gift or two.

Rhoads Farm Winterfair, Dec. 5

Rhoads Farm holds its 15th Annual Winterfair on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 1051 State Route 56 East near Circleville. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. for 200 VIP ticket holders, who pay $5 for the first hour, a raffle and a pre-show look, and open shopping runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The farm pairs the vendors with wine tastings, coffee from Joy House and bowls of chicken and noodles, so plan on lunch. Make a day of it by staying for Christmas in Uptown Circleville, where the parade starts at 1 p.m. and the tree lighting follows in Ted Lewis Park.

Hometown shopping nights and open houses

Old Worthington

Worthington stretches its season over a month. Holidays on High kicks things off on Thursday, Nov. 5, from 6 to 9 p.m., when High Street merchants stay open late, sidewalk vendors set up and the Worthington Partnership runs a Sip N Shop Local promotion. Two craft shows follow. The Holiday Craft and Gift Show fills Worthington Christian Village, 165 Highbluffs Blvd, on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with free admission and a bake sale. The Worthington Holiday Craft Fair brings more than 70 makers to the Worthington Community Center, 345 E. Wilson Bridge Rd, on Sunday, Nov. 22, from noon to 4 p.m.

The Worthington Holiday Open House on Sunday, Nov. 29, runs noon to 5 p.m. with carriage rides, trains and Santa, and the tree illumination follows at 5:30 p.m. on the southeast quadrant of the Village Green. Then comes Illuminated Shopping on Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 6 to 9 p.m., a weeknight of store promotions and sidewalk sales. If you shop on the Sunday, warm up at Kittie's Cakes at 693 High St, a short walk from the green.

Downtown Delaware

Main Street Delaware runs a Season of Shopping beginning Nov. 21 in downtown Delaware. Pick up a shopping card at any Main Street event, mark off purchases at participating businesses and return it to The Greater Gouda by Dec. 23 for a chance at a grand prize of gift certificates and goods from local stores. The Christmas in Downtown First Friday tree lighting on Dec. 4 runs 6 to 9 p.m. with local music, community vendors and the lighting ceremony at 7 p.m. Free horse-drawn carriage rides leave the Strand Theatre at 28 E. Winter St on Dec. 4 from 6 to 9 p.m. and Dec. 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. Delaware is also tree farm country, so you can pair a shopping trip with a stop at one of the farms on our best Christmas tree farms list.

Grove City Mistletoe Market

Grove City Town Center sets up its Christkindl-style Mistletoe Market in Town Center Park, 3359 Park St, on Friday, Dec. 4, from 4 to 9 p.m., the same evening as the Christmas parade, and again on Saturday, Dec. 5, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Local artisans sell under a heated tent with food trucks nearby. Friday gives you the parade and the market together; Saturday morning is the better time to browse handmade ornaments and wreaths without a crowd in Grove City.

German Village Village Lights

The German Village Society holds Village Lights on Sunday, Dec. 6, from 4 to 8 p.m. Vendors fill the Platz parking lot at 588 S. Third St, beside the society's visitors center, and the neighborhood's shops stay open along the brick streets. The Not Your Mama's market at Schiller Recreation Center adds a second indoor shopping room that afternoon. German Village is compact enough to cover on foot, and the evening works best if you park once and walk.

Smaller towns worth the drive

Holiday in the Heights on Tuesday, Dec. 1, brings food vendors, small business shopping and live music to Pierce Field in Grandview Heights from 5 to 8 p.m., and doubles as a launch for shopping along Grandview Avenue. In Westerville, the Westerville Historical Society opens the Hanby House for free tours and music on Dec. 1 and 3 from 7 to 9 p.m. and Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the house gift shop is open during each visit. In Lithopolis, Simply Christmas on Saturday, Dec. 12, runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. around the Wagnalls Memorial with holiday vendors, a used book sale and Santa.

Small Business Saturday, Nov. 28

The Saturday after Thanksgiving is the day many independent shops plan their biggest promotions, and it falls on Nov. 28 this season. A good route picks one walkable district for the morning, a second for the afternoon and a coffee or cocoa stop between them. The two strongest pairings are the Short North and Italian Village, which sit side by side along High Street, and German Village with the Brewery District just to its west.

Shop early. Popular stores restock slowly over a holiday weekend, and the smallest makers often bring only a few of their best sellers. Bring a tote bag and keep a short list of names and sizes on your phone so a good find does not turn into a guess. If you are shopping for a cook, combine the day with an errand to one of the shops on our best specialty grocery stores list, which sell gift baskets, wine and pantry items alongside the holiday roasts.

Where to shop by neighborhood

Short North

The Short North Arts District packs boutiques, galleries and design stores under the lit arches on High Street, from the edge of Downtown north toward campus. The Short North Alliance holds Gallery Hop on the first Saturday of every month from 4 to 8 p.m., free to attend, a tradition now four decades old. In the season ahead, that puts a Hop on Nov. 7 and another on Dec. 5, when galleries and shops in the Short North stay busy into the evening. A December Hop is the best night to buy local art as a gift, since many artists are in the room to talk about their work.

German Village and the Book Loft

German Village shopping centers on South Third Street, where gift shops, galleries and food specialists sit in brick storefronts rather than a mall. The Book Loft, with its maze of small rooms, is the anchor for book lovers, and the visitors center at 588 S. Third St keeps maps and a current list of businesses. Two of the best edible gifts in the city are close by. Pistacia Vera at 541 S. Third St sells macarons and pastries from a French-style counter, and Kittie's Cakes bakes at 495 S. Third St. Farmer's Larder, a new market on South High Street, plans its grand opening for Nov. 21 and lists daily hours of 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., so it should be open by Small Business Saturday.

North Market and the Arena District

North Market in the Arena District gathers dozens of food merchants under one roof at 59 Spruce St, and it is the simplest place to assemble a gift box of local coffee, spices, sweets and sauces in a single trip. North Market also runs a Bridge Park location in Dublin at 6750 Longshore St, which makes a natural pairing with the Nov. 22 craft market there.

Easton, Polaris, Lennox and Bridge Park

Not every local purchase needs a side street. Easton Town Center in Easton and Polaris Fashion Place carry the region's biggest mix of stores, and both have plenty of parking for a cold day of errands. Lennox Town Center near campus is a quick stop for practical gifts, and Bridge Park in Dublin offers free covered garages and a compact grid of shops and restaurants along the river.

Edible gifts and host presents

Food makes the easiest gift for a host, a teacher or a neighbor, and several local shops package it well. Chocolate Cafe on Northwest Boulevard, near Grandview, sells chocolates and fondue alongside the hot chocolate that tops our best hot chocolate list. Fox in the Snow has cafes across the region, from Italian Village to New Albany, for a box of pastries on the way to a party.

For larger gifts, Carfagna's Market near Polaris sells gift baskets and steak gift boxes, and Weiland's Market in Clintonville keeps a gift department along with its wine and cheese. Littleton's Market in Upper Arlington and The Hills Market on Olentangy River Road both carry local and house-made foods that fill a basket, and Tensuke Market stocks Japanese snacks and sake for a less expected present.

Pair shopping with the rest of the season

Many of these markets share a weekend with the tree lightings and light walks in our holiday lights and ice skating guide. Wanderlights in Downtown starts on Nov. 20, the same night the Ohio Made market opens, and WinterFest Columbus sets up on Dorrian Green on Saturday, Nov. 21, a good stop between the casino market and the ChristmasFair. The Gahanna Holiday Lights Celebration and the New Albany tree lighting both land on Nov. 22, the same day as the Bridge Park craft market.

If you are hosting Thanksgiving and shopping the same week, our Thanksgiving takeout guide covers restaurant meals and preorder deadlines so the cooking does not eat into market time. Families picking a tree the weekend after Thanksgiving can plan around the farm schedules on our tree farms list, since several open only a handful of days.

Tips for a better market day

Buy tickets ahead when they are offered. Ohio Made, the ChristmasFair and the Bridge Park presale all sell online, and Ohio Made's Saturday ticket is $3 cheaper online than at the door. Free markets such as the Worthington craft fair and the Not Your Mama's shows need no ticket, but the first hour is still the busiest.

Carry a card and some cash. Most makers take cards on a phone reader, but signal inside large buildings can be weak, and a few small vendors prefer cash for quick sales.

Think about parking before you leave. The Ohio Expo Center charges $7 to park, and town center events in Worthington, Delaware, Grove City and German Village depend on street spaces and nearby public lots that fill by midafternoon.

Ask makers about custom orders. Many vendors at these markets take commissions for names, dates or colors, and early season markets in November leave time for that work to be finished before the holidays.

Keep checking our events calendar as more towns post December dates, and browse our neighborhood pages for dinner near each market.

Hero photo: A maker's booth stacked with Ohio shirts, baby clothes and ornaments at the Ohio Made Holiday Market. Photo: Ohio Made Holiday Market.