November and December in New York City are jam-packed with craft fairs where you can browse and purchase from local artists and artisans. Some, like the Union Square Holiday Market and Bryant Park Christmas Market, are huge, with larger, experienced vendors who can handle the volume. Others are more tightly curated, focusing on small, local artists. Here’s my top six NYC holiday markets to find and connect with local artists, including some pottery makers!
(I’m not participating in any of the official craft shows as a vendor this year to focus on improving my craft and building up my in-person selling skills at smaller, impromptu appearances, but I’m putting together a list of NYC holiday markets for next year, so I thought I’d share my list here.)
Curated Holiday Craft Fairs in NYC with 2026 Dates
These six holiday markets are smaller (but some still with 200+ artisans!) and curated, mostly focusing on local NYC artists, which makes them the best kind of holiday markets in my book. Market vendors span multiple categories, from jewelry, bags, paintings and prints, to home decor and yes, ceramics. Let’s start with the one that focuses exclusively on ceramic art.
Brickhouse Holiday Craft Show
This is a ceramics-only holiday show, and one absolutely worth checking out. Brickhouse Ceramic Art Center’s annual craft show hosts 30+ ceramic artists who work at this Long Island City studio. Works range from functional pieces like mugs and bowls to decorative items like jewelry and larger-scale sculptural pieces. Come talk to the artists who made them, and bring home unique, one-of-a-kind pottery.
One huge bonus: pieces are very affordably priced. (Honestly, I’m afraid they are priced too low for the amount of work, creativity and craftsmanship that go into each piece. I appreciate it as a consumer, but as a potter, I feel conflicted.) The show is free to attend.
December 11 - 13
Friday: 5 pm - 9 pm
Saturday: 11 am - 7 pm
Sunday: noon - 5 pm
Brickhouse Ceramic Art Center
1034 44th Drive
Long Island City, NY 11101
Some of the other ceramic studios in the city also put on holiday markets, creating an opportunity to connect with local NYC pottery artists and finding unique, handmade pieces that you feel a special connection to. If you’re interested in taking pottery classes in NYC, this is also a great time to check out some studios and get a feel of their vibes!
Renegade Craft Fair
There are two dates - one weekend in November and another in December. Hours and location are the same for both dates. Originating in Chicago, Renegade Craft Fair has spread to multiple cities, including NYC. Their winter markets gather 200+ creative small businesses in Chelsea. Check out the website for lists of vendors; the November fair includes a ceramicist who makes beautiful floral pieces at the studio I go to!
Renegade fairs are a fun, feel-good alternative to mainstream holiday shopping that supports independent creatives, inclusivity and sustainability. The holiday markets are free to attend, but you can also use the QR codes on site to donate $5 to support the venture.
11 am - 5 pm
Metropolitan Pavillion
125 W. 18th Street
New York, NY 10011
FAD Holiday Markets
As the name suggests, FAD’s focus is fashion, art and design, but you can also find artisans with ceramic tableware, home decor, candles and soaps, as well as delicious food and drinks to enjoy as you browse through the stalls. In its 11th year, FAD Holiday Markets are free to attend.
This 3-week pop-up features 35+ rotating artists, artisans and food vendors on weekends and 14 rotating artists and artisans on weekdays. A smaller-scale holiday fair, this one’s perfect for those of you who prefer a quieter experience.
November 30 - December 20
11 am - 6 pm
Empire Stores
55 Water Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Each of the three December weekends, FAD holiday market brings 70+ rotating independent small businesses selling jewelry, clothing, ceramics, prints, paintings, home decor and more. This medium-sized holiday market is in a beautiful and vibrant neighborhood of Brooklyn, worth making it into a destination with gift shopping, lunch or coffee, and a neighborhood stroll.
December 5 - 6, 12 - 13, 19 - 20
11 am - 6 pm
St. Paul
190 Court Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Astoria Market
Held in the main hall of the Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden, a neighborhood institution in Astoria, Astoria Market features emerging and established artists in Queens and broader NYC. You can find handmade jewelry, accessories, baked goods, notecards, paintings, home decor, handmade ceramics and more. Afterward, if the weather is nice enough, chill out in the tree-lined beer garden! The market is free to attend.
December 6 & 13
Noon - 6 pm
Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden
2919 24th Avenue
Astoria, NY 11102
Off the Wall Holiday Exhibition & Art Show
This annual exhibition and holiday market brings together local Long Island City artists, art collectors and gift shoppers for a celebration of original art, made right here in NYC. Covering a wide variety of medium and styles, Off the Wall includes several ceramic artists’ works.
Bonus points: the show focuses on affordable, accessible art; it’s free to enter; and the artists keep 100% of their revenue. There’s an opening reception on Thursday, November 5th from 6 pm to 9 pm.
November 5 - December 13
Thursday - Sunday; hours vary, so check the website!
Culture Lab LIC
525 46th Avenue
Long Island City, NY 11101
Greenpointer Holiday Market
This Brooklyn holiday market, produced by the eponymous local news org, has a true neighborhood vibe. Find unique gifts from local artists, enjoy live music, participate in workshops, and spend time with friends. Similar to other holiday markets, you can find paintings, ceramic mugs and bowls, fashion accessories and other handmade gifts here. This is also a free event.
December 6
1 pm to 7 pm
Greenpoint Loft
67 West Street, 5th Floor
Brooklyn, NY
More Smaller, Curated Holiday Craft Fairs in NYC
There are a lot more holiday markets and pop-ups in NYC, far more than I can list. I also didn’t include some that are ticketed, like Markets for Makers, though this one’s entrance fee is fairly nominal, starting at $6 for a few hours of browsing and shopping.
You might also check out Brooklyn Pop-Up, which has multiple markets throughout the year, including the weekly Fort Greene Artisans Bazaar. They have a few local-focused fairs coming up in November and December.
Larger Holiday Markets in NYC with 2026 Dates
These four NYC holiday markets are well-known, large, and feature tons of different items for gifting (or self-gifting!). When you’re in the right mood, it’s fun to stroll through the vendor stalls while sipping hot chocolate and soak up the city’s energy. All of these are free to attend.
Bryant Park Winter Village
This is probably the cutest and most atmospheric of the four large holiday markets in Bryant Park under soaring London plane trees, with hundreds (?) of European-style covered stalls of food, art and craft vendors surrounding a skating rink in the middle.
October 28 - January 3
Monday - Friday: 11 am - 8 pm
Saturday & Sunday: 10 am - 8 pm
Bryant Park
Between 40th and 42nd Streets and 5th and 6th Avenues
New York, NY 10018
Grand Central Holiday Fair
With less than 40 vendors, this indoor holiday fair is smaller than the other three listed here, but well worth checking out, if only for the space itself. Grand Central Holiday Fair is held in the Vanderbilt Hall of the famed terminal, which means you get to shop under the gorgeous chandeliers and surrounded by Beaux-Arts architecture of the hall. (Make sure to step over to the Main Concourse, where you can see the awesome Tiffany blue ceiling with constellations.)
November 9 - December 24
11 am to 6 pm is a safe bet, but some extended hours are planned. Check the website!
Grand Central Terminal (Vanderbilt Hall)
89 E 42nd Street
New York, NY 10017
Union Square Holiday Market
Another famous one, and for a good reason. This outdoor holiday market curates almost 200 vendors with arts, jewelry, home decor (including ornaments), bath & body care, and food on the south end of Union Square, one of the major hubs of urban life in Manhattan. Compared to the Bryant Park Winter Village, also organized by Urbanspace, the Union Square Holiday Market offers some smaller stalls, which means you have a better chance of finding smaller, emerging local artists at Union Square. Just know that this one’s very tightly packed; if you get claustrophobic, this one may not be for you.
On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, Union Square Greenmarket operates just north of the holiday market, which is also fun to browse through for veggies, fruits, pasta, baked goods, mushrooms, flowers and wreaths, meats and even seafood.
November 12 - December 24
11 am to 8 pm is a safe bet, but some extended hours are planned. Check the website!
Union Square
University Place & E 14th Street
New York, NY, 10003
Columbus Circle Holiday Market
At the southwest entrance to Central Park, this holiday market features 100+ artists, makers and food vendors, offering unique, handmade gift items. Especially after sunset, it’s fun to stroll through the beautifully decorated stalls, listening to live music and sipping hot mulled wine.
December 1 - 31
Monday - Thursday: 11 am - 7 pm
Friday - Sunday: 10 am - 8 pm
Columbus Circle
Central Park West and 59th Street
New York, NY, 10023
