When I think of the holidays, I think of hot cocoa warm in my hands as I pass by twinkling lights and saguaros adorned with Santa hats.
I think of sweater weather, Mariah Carey's iconic "All I Want for Christmas" and a glazed ham in the middle of the dinner table.
But I also think of tents — lines of white tents along closed streets and dirt parking lots. Peek inside and you'll find the magic of local art, makers themselves sitting alongside wares they spent hours creating.
While shopping local is encouraged all the time — and you can find a local market somewhere in Tucson every single weekend — the holiday season is extra special. Here are 14 markets happening before Christmas.
Creative Kind & Friends Holiday Markets
Over the summer, the community was crushed when Creative Kind had to vacate their space at La Encantada Shopping Center. Known for their adorable designs on greeting cards, Creative Kind's absence was felt.
Creative Kind has Tucson-themed pens, in addition to their greeting cards, stickers and other goods.
Like we all do in tough times, Creative Kind pivoted. The stationery brand still makes the Tucson-themed pens and stickers that we love, but they've mostly been online since the summer — until now.
Creative Kind has found a home at SAACA's CATALYST space in Tucson Mall, 4500 N. Oracle Road. They're hosting mini markets featuring their products and the crafts of others from 3-7 p.m. Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 22.
Find more information here.
Oro Valley Festival of the Arts
This is the holiday party of all holiday parties.
Hosted by SAACA, the Oro Valley Festival of the Arts boasts 130-plus artisan vendors, who will sell everything from metalwork and paintings to framed photography and bars of soap.
The festival not only acts as a market for holiday shopping, but a slew of activities are in store, including Santa's Workshop where attendees can decorate cookies, paint nutcrackers, build 3D snowmen and craft candy cane reindeer. There will also be a giant snow globe, 11 food vendors and a very long list of live performances. Of course, Santa will be in attendance.
The heart of the event is the lighting of the Christmas tree, adorned with 1,000 handmade ornaments.
The festival takes place 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8 at Oro Valley Marketplace, 12155 N. Oracle Road. The tree lighting is slated for 6:15 p.m. Saturday.
Find more information here.
Makers Market at The Tuxon
We've said it once, but we'll say it again. This market is a launchpad for new creatives.
Organizer Cyn McManus — who also helps organize the biannual Making Black History Market all while creating jewelry under the name Lilith + Daughters — started the market three years ago as a way for all artists to show off their work, whether that's seasoned creatives or the newest of beginners.
Now the Makers Market at The Tuxon is a quarterly market.
"It's about community. It's about people being able to have the opportunity to do something they might not be able to do in another space," she said earlier this year. "I want everybody to get their chance in the sun to do what they really want to do."
The market will be back at The Tuxon, 960 S. Freeway, from 1-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 7-8. Expect about 30 different vendors each day, ranging from ceramics to jewelry to baked goods.
Find more information here.
The Tanque Verde Market was started by Michelle Bullock, who hopes to create community on Tucson’s east side.
Tanque Verde Market
Thanks to Michelle Bullock, markets are now a biannual occurrence on the far-east side.
She started the first Tanque Verde Market in late 2023, originally at the Forty Niner Country Club. The next market is set to debut at a new location, featuring more than four dozen vendors selling candles, paper goods, skin-care products, plants and more.
Stop by from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 at Tucson Country Day School, 9239 E. Wrightstown Road.
"It’s easy to go to a big store or shop online and I want to make it just as easy for people to shop in person, to shop with local businesses," Bullock said earlier this year. "The reason why I think small business is so important is because spending your money within the community and supporting the talent that’s already here, it’s better for the families you’re supporting, it’s better for the environment because it’s closer to home."
Find more information here.
Queer Bazaar
Graveyard Prints, pictured here, will be one of the vendors at the upcoming Queer Bazaar.
Tucson Hop Shop has long been a hub for local community with its live music, fundraisers for mutual-aid groups, permanent jewelry pop-ups and games of chicken poop bingo in collaboration with Tucson Village Farm.
It should come as no surprise that Tucson Hop Shop is also the scene of the biannual Queer Bazaar, this time featuring about three dozen vendors alongside a live DJ set. Shop paper goods, jewelry, apparel and more from 2-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 at 3230 N. Dodge Blvd.
Find more information here.
Foothills Community Markets
Every weekend, tents pop up in the parking lot of what used to be Foothills Mall.
At Foothills Community Markets, expect to find around 70 vendors selling wood decor, soaps and lotions, jewelry and more, including snacks like freeze-dried candy. Food trucks are part of the fun!
The markets take place every weekend. For the holidays, that means 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays through Dec. 22 at 7325 N. La Cholla Blvd.
Find more information here.
Yōlia Botánica owner Lulu Tineo has opened a new shop on Tucson’s west side at 1307 W. St. Marys Road.
Sonoran Sundays
Bruja shop Yōlia Botánica is home to floral bundles for smoke cleansing, artisan-made altar cloths, zodiac candles and loads of spiritual books.
Owned by Lulu Tineo, Yōlia Botánica expanded this year into a space four times larger than its original location. That means there's space for more products and more workshops — and events like Sonoran Sundays.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 22, stop by the west-side shop for slower-paced markets, expected to include 8-12 vendors bringing items like clay earrings, stickers and prints. Yōlia Botánica is located at 1307 W. Saint Marys Road.
"Let’s make this a celebration of community, culture and connection. Support small businesses, shop intentionally and discover items made with love and care," Tineo says.
Find more information here.
Mercado Flea
For seven seasons, this flea market has graced the Mercado District with antiques, collectibles and vintage finds like funky cowboy boots, old records and lots of trinkets.
The Mercado Flea takes place 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. every second Sunday through May in the Mercado District, 100 S. Avenida del Convento. Expect about 50 local vendors.
Find more information here.
People browse the Rustic Candle Co. booth during the 55th annual Spring Fourth Avenue Street fair, North Fourth Avenue, March 22, 2024.
Fourth Avenue Street Fair
If you've lived in Tucson for any length of time, there's a good chance you've walk through the hordes of people and tents during the Fourth Avenue Street Fair.
The biannual market features 350 artists from around the globe, in addition to live music and carnival-style food. It's where you can find a bonsai tree and wind chimes all while sipping on lemonade served in a cup that looks like a gigantic baby bottle.
The Fourth Avenue Street Fair takes place 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Dec. 13-14; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, along North Fourth Avenue.
Find more information here.
Krampus Naucht Market
Bloodless Tattoo Studio and Desert Designed Co. are back again for another night market, this time featuring Krampus, who just might be Santa's evil counterpart.
Not only can you shop from 30 vendors, but you'll also have the chance to take photos with Krampus himself. Beyond the vendors selling items like stickers, cosmetics, ceramics and oddities, flash tattoos, drag performances, music and food are also part of the fun.
The market takes place at Bloodless Tattoo Studio, 236 S. Scott Ave., from 3-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13.
Find more information here.
Desert Artisans Market
The goal of this market is to bring together local artists and community. Event organizer and candlemaker Jasmine McEachern is doing exactly that since the first Desert Artisans Market debuted last year.
The market is monthly, with the next one slated for noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 at CATALYST in Tucson Mall, 4500 N. Oracle Road. Past markets have included vendors selling items like jewelry, acrylic paint pours, hand-painted coasters and more.
Find more information here.
Lexi Schoen brands a figure onto a hat, customizing the purchase for a buyer at the Harper & Honey hat bar at the Fourth Avenue Flea, held at the Coalition Space in 2023. Harper & Honey will be one of the vendors at The Happy Hive Brunch Market.
The Happy Hive Holiday Brunch Market
Madi Depiero is the founder behind The Happy Hive, hoping to boost community among small businesses. She started in 2022 and this year partnered with The Omni Tucson for a series of markets that not only include local artisans, but also food and activities.
The upcoming Happy Hive event is a market paired with brunch favorites: breakfast burritos, crispy potatoes and a pancake bar. You'll get to decorate cookies all while shopping from 16 local makers selling pan dulce, candles, tumblers and jewelry.
"When you’re supporting a small business, you’re not just supporting someone’s dream, but you’re putting food on the table for their family and you’re paying for someone’s child’s ballet classes, you’re paying for a summer membership to the Elevate Trampoline Park because it’s so hot outside,” Depiero said last year.
The market takes place 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 14 at Omni Tucson, 2727 W. Club Dr.
Find more information here.
Holiday Bazaar
If you plan to peruse markets for holiday shopping this year, this one might be your last chance.
Each year, the Mercado District throws a three-day shopping experience featuring candles, jewelry, clothing and lots more artwork. This year, the Holiday Bazaar will also feature a photo booth from flower shop Bloom Maven.
The bash takes place 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Dec. 20-21; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, in the Mercado District (both the MSA Annex and the Mercado San Agustin), 100 S. Avenida del Convento.
Find more information here.
You can find all kinds of vintage clothing at the Desert Haze Market, from tees to pants to dresses.
Desert Haze Market
If you know someone who loves vintage clothing, this is the spot to be.
Once a month, the Desert Haze Market turns Hotel Congress into a hub of vintage, courtesy Gabby Smoyer who also runs curated shop Cowtail Vintage.
Desert Haze began in 2023 with a teeny market held at a brewery. When Smoyer realized the market had very quickly outgrown the space, Hotel Congress came to the rescue.
Expect to find around 13-15 vendors with racks upon racks of vintage clothing. Most vendors are from Tucson, but you might find a few who made the trek from Flagstaff and Phoenix.
The next Desert Haze takes place 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21 at Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St.
Find more information here.
Explore nature through fun, hands-on exhibits at Children’s Museum Oro Valley at Tohono Chul
CMOV@TC has indoor and outdoor exhibits with daily activities and programming for kids and families that mesh with the environmental focus of Tohono Chul, teaching all about the culture, animals and plants of the Sonoran Desert!
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