BEREA — More than 30 small businesses and artisans will gather Friday evening for the first annual Winter Night Market, an indoor holiday shopping event hosted by Berea Creekside Co-op at Berea Friends Meeting House.
The market runs from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, offering handcrafted and curated items in a festive atmosphere just minutes from downtown Berea.
“Please join us for a magical Winter Night Market indoors in small town Berea Kentucky,” organizers wrote in promotional materials for the event. “Shop, vend, socialize with friends.”
Supporting Local Artisans
The market showcases work from local small businesses and artisans, providing shoppers an opportunity to complete holiday shopping while supporting the regional creative economy. Vendors will offer handcrafted and curated wares throughout the evening.
Berea Creekside Co-op, formerly known as Red Cedar Learning Cooperative, is a local homeschool cooperative that hosts educational programming and community events throughout the year. The Winter Night Market represents the organization’s first large-scale holiday shopping event.
Accessible Venue
The event takes place at Berea Friends Meeting House, 300 Harrison Road, located by the city dog park across the bridge on the banks of Silver Creek. The venue offers handicap accessibility on two floors and includes a private nursing area for parents.
Free admission and ample parking make the market accessible to all shoppers. The indoor setting provides a comfortable alternative to outdoor holiday markets, with protection from December weather.
Part of a Busy Weekend
The Winter Night Market kicks off one of Berea’s busiest weekends of the holiday season. Saturday features the 39th Annual Berea Christmas Parade at 6 p.m., preceded by Christmas on Main Street festivities from 3 to 6 p.m.
The Spotlight Playhouse presents two productions this weekend: The Bluegrass Players’ “Little Women: Christmas at the March House” and Spotlight Acting School’s “‘Twas the Week After Christmas,” both running Dec. 5-7.
The Appalachian Flatfooting Frolic continues at Berea College throughout the weekend, offering dance instruction, live music, and traditional square dancing.
Supporting the Co-op
Proceeds from the Winter Night Market support Berea Creekside Co-op’s educational programming for homeschool families in the region. The cooperative offers classes, field trips, and enrichment activities throughout the academic year.
Organizers encourage shoppers to “come shop with us and support your local homeschool co-op.”
Vendors interested in participating in future markets can contact Berea Creekside Co-op through their Facebook page.