Shopping local and holiday cheer will be the focal points of the upcoming Mancos Creative District Art Market, which will kick off the Christmas season.
The market will take place Dec. 1 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Vendor registration is currently full, but organizers are accepting artists and vendors to their waiting list. Student art spots are still available.
Since the market started four years ago, it has doubled in size. Last year, the market hosted 40 vendors. It now has almost 60.
“It started with a desire to do something for Artists Sunday. The Fenceline Cider reached out to Mancos Creative District to partner and create the art market idea. The first year included about 30 artists at Fenceline and we worked with the downtown shops and galleries to make it a whole downtown event,” said Chelsea Lunders, Mancos Creative District executive director. “It was one of the first times we really saw the community coming out and gathering after the pandemic shutdown, so it felt super good to finally get back together and support one another.”
Vendors will set up shop in various locations, including Fenceline Cider, Mancos Opera House and the Mancos Community Center.
“We have artists coming from Cortez, Mancos, Durango, but we also connected with Canyon of the Ancients, and we’ve recruited artists in New Mexico, and Arizona as well. That’s new this year. We’ve kind of expanded our outreach,” said Stephanie Hallam, interior designer and owner of the baby clothes business Lil Bo Blu. “We expanded to reach all different artists and give a whole selection of gifts and holiday ideas for shoppers.”
Experienced artisans and vendors aren’t the only ones who will be selling their creations.
Mancos restaurant Las Huicholas Taqueria will offer space on its covered, heated patio for student artists wanting to display and sell their art during the market. The spaces are free, and students can claim a space by contacting the restaurant via Facebook or emailing events@mancoscreativedistrict.com.
“We do really encourage the businesses, restaurants and galleries in Mancos to put on their own companion celebrations if they’re open,” Hallam said.
Downtown art galleries will also host events, and some of the artists will be present.
“You can talk to the artists, interact with them, kind of hear why they came up with what they did before you buy the product,” Hallam said. “They also sometimes bring in drinks, snacks and music to liven up their gallery.”
The Mancos Opera House will feature the live band Throwback Swing. Fenceline Cider will also host live musicians.
Tesstastic Tonics, a local vendor that sells mocktails and cocktails, will be serving at the Mancos Opera House. Wordplay Coffee will be serving coffee at the community center.
The featured food trucks are Chuck Wagon and Sweet Water Gypsy’s Pizza. These food trucks will be parked outside of the Opera House and community center.
“We do encourage everybody to go to all three places,” Hallam said.
Vendors are spread out enough “so that there is a little bit of everything at each place,” from jewelers, potters, fiber and clothing, miscellaneous gifts, cards, paintings, photography, skincare, toys, books and more, she said.
“It’s all made local by artists. The cost range is all-inclusive,” she said.
While the vendor list is full, Hallam shared that they are still searching for volunteers to be greeters, help with setup, gift wrap and more.
Gift wrapping, which is the new part of the art market, will be hosted by the Mancos Creative District in the opera house. Gift wrapping will be provided after a donation.
Hallam said she loves the art market because of the camaraderie of “having like-minded artists that are really trying to create and expose their passion and share the story that's behind why they create things.”
“I got started making appliqués on baby clothes because of my children, but I get really excited when I hear new moms and their story. It just kind of can provide them with a little piece of myself, which I think is truly what artists are doing,” she said.
Those who want to volunteer can email events@mancoscreativedistrict.com. Those looking to sign up for the waiting list can visit mancoscreativedistrict.com.
