Winter Giftopolis, a rich bounty of handmade winter gifts, returns to downtown Concord’s Midnight Merriment festivities the evening of Dec. 7 from 6:30 p.m. until midnight. This second annual Winter Giftopolis features an eclectic selection of more than two dozen local and regional artisans and fine artists, in the atrium at 7 Eagle Square, next door to the Museum of New Hampshire History. Admission is free – Santa will join in the fun and be available for photos. The atrium is wheelchair accessible. For more information about Winter Giftopolis, visit the event website granitestateartsmarket.com.
Midnight Merriment is Concord’s annual holiday shopping kick-off event, giving residents and visitors alike a chance to support local merchants by shopping local. Shops in the downtown area will be open late to welcome the public and other activities for the evening include live music, a telescope in front of the State House, presented by the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (weather permitting) and more. Winter Giftopolis puts the focus on inpidual artists and artisans, offering a complement to the already perse offerings downtown.
Winter Giftopolis is a sister market to Concord Arts Market, Concord’s weekly (and New Hampshire’s first), outdoor artisan and fine art market, which just concluded its fifth season in October. Giftopolis was founded in 2011 to give the participating market artists a warm venue for their work in the cold weather of winter.
This year’s Giftopolis offerings will stretch the imagination. Handmade jewelry and vibrant traditional watercolors will share two brick-lined floors with eclectic, funky sock-monsters, pysanky, Shaker boxes, decoupaged and upcycled ornaments, chunky modern paintings, vibrant functional pottery, leather handbags, salved glass artworks, bicycle-part jewelry and much more.
Find out more about the 2nd Annual Winter Giftopolis, Concord Arts Market and their producer, Granite State Arts Market, at granitestateartmarket.com. Email kbsolsky@granitestateartsmarket.com with any questions, or call 229-2157.
