Detroit's Greektown is turning the first floor of Hollywood Casino at Greektown into a two-day holiday bazaar November 28-29, with local vendors selling handmade goods, specialty products and gifts alongside a scheduled visit from Santa Carl. The Indoor Holiday Market runs Saturday and Sunday, November 28-29, from 1 to 7 p.m. each day, as part of Greektown's Small Business Saturday celebration.
According to the Greektown Detroit Calendar of Events, the market is on the first floor of Hollywood Casino at Greektown, so shoppers do not need to enter the gaming floor to browse the stalls. As MLive.com reports, the casino is at 555 E. Lafayette Blvd., and visitors can reach the market through the casino's Monroe Street or Beaubien Street entrances without stepping into the casino itself.
Santa Carl and a Lineup of Local Makers
Santa Carl is set to make his appearance Saturday, November 28, from 4 to 7 p.m., per the Greektown calendar. Saturday's vendor roster includes Harmony Haven Co. with handmade kitchen towels, Tiana's Hair Creations selling hair products and body butters, Capello Hat Salon offering a make-your-own hat bar, and Sarah's Nook Co. with a “blind date with a book” experience, the same MLive report notes.
Sunday's lineup shifts to a different set of makers, including Blue Lilac Skincare with homemade skincare products and Mama's Craft Chapter offering crochet goods, according to the outlet's vendor listing. Organizers are encouraging shoppers to stay for dinner at a Greektown restaurant after they finish browsing, a suggestion echoed on the neighborhood's own event page.
Part of a Bigger Push to Shop Local
The Greektown Neighborhood Partnership, which is hosting the market, is urging residents and visitors to shop locally during the holiday season and to explore neighborhood restaurants and businesses while they're in the area, per the same MLive account. Those looking for more holiday shopping options this season have plenty to choose from around downtown Detroit and beyond.
The Downtown Detroit Markets near Campus Martius, for instance, features small businesses selling leather goods, candles, snack mixes, hats, olive oil and books, according to Axios Detroit. This year's lineup there includes 18 vendors such as Jodi Lynn's Emporium of Doodles, Back in the D, Indigo Culinary Co. and Boho Luxe Detroit, the outlet reports.
Elsewhere downtown, the Downtown Detroit Markets at Cadillac Square draw nearly 20 vendors and run weekly from Wednesday through Sunday, except Christmas Day, with free entry, according to Hour Detroit. The magazine also notes the Detroit Artists Market's Art for the Holidays showcase will feature nearly 1,500 handmade works from close to 100 local artists, while Downtown Rochester's 19th annual open-air holiday market brings more than 60 vendors to the suburbs.
A Second Greektown Market Later This Season
Shoppers who miss this weekend's event will get another chance in Greektown next month. A separate Indoor Holiday Market is scheduled for Friday through Sunday, December 18-20, also running from 1 to 7 p.m., per the Greektown Detroit calendar.
