Adorned white tents lit up by warm string lights are arranged in rows along the parking lot parallel to Carroll Avenue. Hundreds of people bundled up in puffy winter coats slowly weave through the long lines accumulating behind the food trucks. Some people grip paper cups with hot drinks while others cradle fidgety toddlers and tug on leashes to calm their playful dogs. Young children sit on their parent’s lap, next to talkative strangers that closely surround one of the several fire pits keeping them warm on a frigid night.

Main Street Takoma hosted the Takoma Park Gift Market on Dec. 13, from 5-9 p.m., providing the Takoma Park community and its visitors with the opportunity to shop locally during the holiday season.

The market featured handcrafted and curated items for sale from 30 local artists, makers and collectors, said Laura Barclay, the Executive Director of the Old Takoma Business Association.

Many of the vendors sold items made from repurposed materials, echoing characteristics of Takoma Park “known for being kind of funky, [and] kind of unique,” said Barclay.

One of these vendors was Bean and Bear Studio, which sold an array of jewelry made from recycled sterling silver, said Sarah Shores who handcrafts the jewelry for the business.

Terry Topaz, the owner of BicycleTrash, also handcrafted pieces from recycled material and sold bags and accessories made from repurposed inner bicycle tires. She hoped there was an audience for her products at the market, she said.

The Takoma Park community in particular embraces the idea of shopping locally and supporting small businesses, said Katrin, one of the co-founders of Bold Alley and another vendor at the market.

Bold Alley sold a curated selection of vintage and modern home goods, and like other vendors, it repurposed the items being sold.

“Gifting items that are vintage is a more sustainable option given how much people throw away during the holidays,” the co-founder said.

The market typically attracts around 1,200-1,500 visitors annually since it first began in 2021, said Barclay.

While some visitors traveled from nearby Washington D.C., Takoma Park residents within walking distance have frequented the market over the last few years.

The market’s proximity to Takoma Park residents makes it a convenient place to shop for holiday gifts because visitors don’t “need to come far to find some nice things,” said Daniel Rothberg, who met up with friends at the market.

Visitors from the neighborhood like Carole Woodward praised the market for allowing her to buy gifts and support local sellers for the holidays. Her husband, David Woodward agreed and said he came to the market for the drinks.

With the Cielo Rojo restaurant next door, visitors have something to look forward to when visiting and “use it as an opportunity to first get dinner then come to the holiday market,” Barclay said. “Local restaurants are pouring drinks, [and] the food trucks just sort of creating it a reason for people to come out and hang.”

Photo: © Kirsty Pargeter – stock.adobe.com / Main Street Takoma