Above: Two holiday shopping events are hosted by the Indie Craft Experience (ICE)—the Holiday Shopping Spectacular in November and Holiday Market in December. SPECIAL
The holidays bring wonderful shopping opportunities. Markets spring up throughout the area, filled with unique items from local artists and vendors. In several communities, tours are organized that invite visitors to tour beautifully decorated historic homes.
Holiday Shopping
Elegant Elf Marketplace
Saturday & Sunday, Nov. 9 & 10, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. A premier fundraiser for the Sandy Springs Society, this marketplace is a destination event for Atlanta shoppers. City Springs Civic & Cultural Center, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs 30328; sandyspringssociety.org.
Atlanta Christkindl Market
Opens Thursday, Nov. 21, 6 p.m., runs through Dec. 24. There’s entertainment, shopping, special events and German food at this fundraiser for the German American Cultural Foundation. Centennial Olympic Park, 265 Park Avenue, Atlanta 30313; christkindlmarket.org.
ICE Holiday Shopping Spectacular
Saturday & Sunday, Nov. 23 & 24, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. The Indie Craft Experience (ICE) brings together 200 craft and vintage vendors. Georgia World Congress Center, 235 Northside Drive, Atlanta 30313; ice-atlanta.com.
Back to Nature Holiday Market
Saturday, Dec. 7, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Over 40 local vendors and artisans offer unique handmade and eco-friendly gifts. Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell 30075; chattnaturecenter.org.
Decatur Holiday Marketplace & Café
Friday, Dec. 13 5:30-9:30 p.m. & Saturday, Dec. 14, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Local food, live music and more than 100 local artisans and crafters draw shoppers every year. Clairemont Elementary School, 155 Erie Avenue, Decatur 30030; decaturholidaymarketplace.com.
Holiday Market
Sunday, Dec. 15, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Take care of last-minute holiday shopping from craft and vintage vendors. Yaarab Temple, 400 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta 30308; ice-atlanta.com.
Home Tours
Virginia Highland Tour of Homes
Saturday & Sunday, Dec. 7 & 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The two-day event includes beautiful architecture and interior design in one of Atlanta’s most charming neighborhoods. Tour begins at YWCA, 957 North Highland Avenue, Atlanta 30306; vahitourofhomes.org.
Marietta Pilgrimage
Saturday & Sunday, Dec. 7 & 8. Saturday hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. with candlelight homes open 7-9:30 p.m. Sunday hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. See restored, decorated homes as well as public buildings; mariettapilgrimage.com.
Homes for the Holidays: A Family Christmas
Sunday, Dec. 8, 5-8 p.m. The Southern Trilogy of Historic Homes—Barrington Hall, Bulloch Hall and Archibald Smith Plantation—are filled with music, refreshments and decorations. Three locations, including Bulloch Hall, 180 Bulloch Avenue, Roswell 30075; bullochhall.org.
Grant Park Candlelight Tour of Homes
Saturday & Sunday, Dec. 14 & 15, 6-10 p.m. Charmingly decorated homes in Atlanta’s largest historic district are open to visitors. This holiday tradition, started in 1980, benefits several worthwhile community organizations; candlelighttourofhomes.com.