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Release Date: November 13,2024

Opportunities to Shop Small in Downtown Akron Abound This Holiday Season

November 13, 2024, Akron, Ohio — This holiday season, downtown Akron offers a plethora of ways to surprise friends and family with thoughtful, unique gifts while supporting local business owners and artists at the same time, and enjoying a festive, fun shopping experience. With holiday markets, gift cards, curated shopping guides, and even free transportation between downtown shopping venues, it has never been easier, or more fun, to support the local economy. 

“The holiday shopping season should be fun,” said Downtown Akron Partnership Communications Director Dominic Caruso, “and for many years downtown Akron was the place to have a festive holiday shopping experience. It’s much different now from the days of the big downtown department stores, of course, but with the presence of unique small businesses, curated markets and fun activities, downtown Akron is again the place for the best holiday experience.”

Holiday Markets

In addition to dozens of retail and market establishments open year-round, including Northside Marketplace—home to 140+ vendors—special holiday markets that will take place in the coming months include:

  • Zeber-Martell Gallery and Clay Studio's Holiday Open House: This open house is November 23, from 11 am to 5 pm, and the gallery will be open with specials for shoppers on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Artist Sunday. Be sure to visit Northside Marketplace, Northside Cellar, and Dirty River Bicycle Works—all within just a few steps of one another in downtown's Northside District—for more sales and specials. Jilly's Music Room will also be offering their popular weekend brunch from 11 am to 3 pm on Small Business Saturday and Artist Sunday.
  • Akron Bazaar Holiday Market: Akron Bazaar’s Holiday Market will take place over three days, from November 29 to December 1, inside the 159 Events on Main space at the corner of Main and Church Streets, and in Summit Artspace, at the corner of E. Market and S. Summit St. Dozens of local vendors are expected to participate.
  • Northside Marketplace: An urban market featuring food and over 100 local vendors selling handcrafted apparel, artwork, beauty supplies, vintage apparel, pop culture items and more in a cool, spacious shop complete with made-to-order eateries and a full bar.
  • Missing Falls Brewery Holiday Bazaar: This Small Business Saturday tradition takes place in Missing Falls Brewery’s event space and in the halls of Canal Place. Patrons can sip on craft beer while perusing handmade goods.
  • Clayton Bailey's World of Wonders: This Curated Storefront exhibit, located in the Polsky Building (entrance on Main St.), ends the 2024 season Saturday, November 30, 12 - 4 pm on Small Business Saturday. While you're out supporting your favorite downtown Akron businesses that day, stop by the museum for a FREE "Oatmeal" sweatshirt (while supplies last) and 50% off all other items.
  • A ZipsGuide Shop Small & Local Holiday Market: ZipsGuide Akron, a community engaged learning project by Public Relations students at The University of Akron, will present a market from 2 to 7 pm in the Jean Hower Taber Student Union as they celebrate “Made in the 330 Monday.” This event is open to everyone in the community whether they are affiliated with The University or not.
  • The 2024 Myers Holiday Shop: This annual event at The University of Akron Myers School of Art features handmade art and gifts by Myers students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Holiday Shop hours are Thursday, December 5, from 10 am to 7 pm, and Friday, December 6, from 10 am to 5 pm. Free parking is available in the front lot of Folk Hall, entrance off E. Exchange St. Paid hourly parking is available in the back lot, entrance from Wheeler St.
  • 44th Annual E.J. Thomas Christmas Arts & Crafts Show: This annual arts and crafts show runs from December 6 to December 8 inside E. J. Thomas Hall, and features 100+ artists and craftspeople selling their wares. General admission costs $5.
  • All the Creatures – An Alternative Holiday Market: This special event also takes place inside Missing Falls Brewery, and it will feature a selection of alternative goods that is markedly odd, eccentric, and spooky. It runs 2 - 7 pm on Saturday, December 14.

Additional information about downtown markets and other events is available at https://www.downtownakron.com/calendar.

Small Business Saturday & Artist Sunday

Small Business Saturday is November 30—the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The following day, December 1, is Artists Sunday, a national campaign to encourage shoppers to purchase from local artists and give unique artwork as gifts for the holiday season. This year, Summit Artspace, in partnership with Akron Soul Train, Akron Bazaar, Northside Marketplace, Curated Storefront, and other downtown arts organizations and businesses, will once again partner to offer a coordinated art and shopping experience in downtown Akron.

Park and Ride

While downtown Akron’s beloved trolley is retired, the demand for streamlined, free, accessible transportation among downtown arts venues has been heard, and the City of Akron, with Downtown Akron Partnership, will offer free rides on festively decorated shuttles around downtown on both November 30 and December 1 for the convenience of local shoppers.

DAP plans to offer chances to win gift cards to shuttle-riders and shoppers across downtown during the weekend. More details about the shuttles will be added to the Shop Small page on the DAP website (link below) in the coming days.

Additional Shop Small Resources

Downtown Akron Partnership’s Shop Small page is a hub of resources for supporting local businesses. It features links to curated shopping and dining guides, including the DAP dining guide and a link to ZipsGuide Akron’s webpage. 

It also includes information about the Downtown Akron Dollars E-Gift Card Program, launched in fall 2023 as a neighborhood-wide gift card program. Downtown Akron Dollars E-Gift Cards are valid at 21 downtown businesses and counting, which run the gamut from restaurants and shops to entertainment venues. 

Companies and other organizations with an EIN can purchase Downtown Akron Dollars E-Gift Cards in bulk at a discount as gifts for employees, clients, incentives and promotions. For more information, visit the Shop Small page on Downtown Akron Partnership’s website:  https://bit.ly/ShopSmallDowntownAkron24 

Find out more about Downtown Akron Partnership. Follow us at www.downtownakron.com, and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.