The Streatery will be the site of Gainesville’s new Downtown Winter Market Series this holiday season.
Starting Dec. 12, live music, area vendors, art and wellness spaces will line SW 1st Avenue downtown from 4-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon-5 p.m. Sundays. The market series continues through Jan. 25.
“This series highlights what makes Gainesville special. It’s creative, it’s local, it’s community driven,” said Gainesville Mayor Pro Tem Bryan Eastman in a press release. “Turning the Streatery into a winter market gives our artists and small businesses a stage and gives our neighbors a place to gather, shop and celebrate the season together.”
The Downtown Winter Market Series at the Streatery will present a unique blend of creativity, culture and performance as each weekend offers different themes and merchants. In addition, How Bazar, a creative and cultural hub downtown, will host free Skill Share workshops each Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“We’re bringing in a fresh mix of vendors each weekend,” said Laila Fakhoury, event co-producer for the series, who has hosted downtown markets regularly for the past 5 years, in a press release. “Imagine a curated version of those markets with this series.”
Upcoming themes and workshops for the Downtown Winter Market Series include:
- Dec. 12-14 – Theme: The Opening (a blend of all upcoming themes; Skill Share: sewing)
- Dec. 19-21 – Theme: Cars (Garage Unlimited curated car shows; Skill Share: plant care)
- Dec. 26-28 – Theme: Community Support (accepting donations for area nonprofits: Skill Share: pottery)
- Jan. 2-4 – Theme: Circus (aerialists, stilt walkers, fire-breathers; Skill Share: candle-making)
- Jan. 9-11 – Theme: Wellness (quick massages, acupuncture and more; Skill Share: how to DJ)
- Jan. 16-18 – Theme: Music Showcase (a preview of Big: Culture & Arts Festival in April; Skill Share: crochet)
- Jan. 23-25 – Theme: The Finale (Skill Share: painting)
Complementing the holiday decorations and lights illuminating downtown, the markets will feature 26 custom-built booths along the Streatery, inspired by European holiday markets.
“I am delighted to see new energy put into creative projects that highlight local artists, artisans and food vendors,” said Alachua County Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler in the press release. “As activities slow down with the seasonal closing of the university, the city can light up the holidays with new traditions that will help us celebrate together as a community,” she said.
The series is a collaboration of the Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area (GCRA), Creative Cultural Consulting Group, How Bazar, and Big: Culture & Arts Festival. The GCRA is the economic development department of the city of Gainesville, with funding from both the city and Alachua County to enable downtown programming such as the new market series.
In August, the Gainesville City Commission officially named the section of SW 1st Avenue, between S. Main Street and SW 2nd Street, the Streatery and directed city staff to program the space for public use before planned infrastructure improvements and renovations. The changes will transform the downtown corridor into a walkable thoroughfare better suited for hosting festivals and other events.
The market series supports the city’s vision for a vibrant, welcoming and thriving downtown as outlined in the Downtown Gainesville Strategic Plan.
Registration is open online for market vendors at downtownmarketseries.org.