D.C. is set to welcome a new holiday market, but some drama surrounds the changes. Before shoppers can dive into festive shopping, significant behind-the-scenes shifts have occurred.
This year, Dupont will host a new holiday market run by a familiar face, while the popular pop-up in Gallery Place will have new management.
Here are the details on two key holiday shopping spots in D.C. (neither officially named the Downtown Holiday Market):
DowntownDC Holiday Market: Opening from Nov. 22 to Dec. 23 outside the National Portrait Gallery and near the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro, this market will feature nearly 100 vendors and is managed by Brooklyn-based Makers Show.
DC Holiday Market: Opening in Dupont Circle from Nov. 22 to Dec. 15 on the 1500 block of 19th Street NW, this market will have over 30 vendors and holiday treats from Migue’s Mini Donuts and the Capital Candy Jar, hosted by Diverse Markets Management, which previously managed the Downtown Holiday Market.
The Downtown Holiday Market had been a cherished D.C. tradition for nearly two decades. However, the DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) decided earlier this year to part ways with Diverse Markets Management, opting instead for Makers Show to manage the DowntownDC Holiday Market.
Gerren Price, president of the Downtown D.C. BID, stated that this partnership aims to expand and diversify the market. Meanwhile, Diverse Markets Management has announced their own holiday market in Dupont, emphasizing the area’s tradition of supporting small businesses.
While the changes create some uncertainty, the holiday spirit continues in D.C. with these new offerings.
