Media Contact: Sheena Pegarido, 202-559-4431 or Jae Early, 202-640-5295 downtowndcholidaymarket@linksp.com
Host DowntownDC BID unveils new placemaking activations designed to make Downtown D.C. an unforgettable holiday destination
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Oct. 23, 2024) – The DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) today revealed an expanded and elevated holiday experience for the DowntownDC Holiday Market. The DowntownDC Holiday Market will return to its familiar location for its 20th year on F Street NW between 7th and 9th Streets NW, and will be free and open to the public daily from November 22 to December 23, 2024, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
During today’s press conference and VIP preview held at Riggs Washington DC, the DowntownDC BID and Mayor Muriel Bowser, announced details of the market’s refreshed look and feel. This year, visitors can expect an expanded footprint, featuring a curated lineup of returning and new vendors, including more than 100 artisans, artists, and crafters showcasing unique handcrafted goods, local products, and festive decorations. A complete list of this year’s vendors can be found on the website.
In addition to the wide variety of vendors, the DowntownDC Holiday Market will feature:
- Dedicated food vendors with festive treats, including raclette (hot cheese over bread), colorful s’mores, empanadas, churros, waffles, and more;
- The Winter Chalet, by Dirty Habit at Hotel Monaco, a central market bar offering holiday-inspired drinks and cocktails, with a comfortable and cozy seating area;
- Rudolph’s Playbox, a children’s activity area;
- Chilling with My Snowmies, a photo opportunity installation;
- and Special events throughout the market’s run, including performers and holiday-themed events.
“The DowntownDC Holiday Market has been a cherished tradition for 20 years and we are proud to make it even bigger and better for this year,” says Gerren Price, President and CEO of the DowntownDC BID. “As part of the implementation of the Mayor’s Downtown Action Plan to reimagine and revitalize Downtown D.C., the DowntownDC Holiday Market aims to encourage residents and visitors alike to spend their holidays downtown and support our local businesses.”
This year, the DowntownDC BID is partnering with one of the nation’s leading market operators, The Makers Show, to expand and diversify this year’s event, and to bring an elevated and updated look and feel to the DowntownDC Holiday Market. The Makers Show is a mixed-use market platform founded by women committed to diversity and supporting the growth of small businesses. This year, as part of the DowntownDC BID’s commitment to providing opportunities for local vendors, The Makers Show offers reduced booth rental rates, staggered activations, and scholarship opportunities. Ninety percent of the vendors at this year’s Market are BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ or women-owned. Seventeen vendors received scholarships through an incubator program.
During the DowntownDC Holiday Market, the DowntownDC BID will host a number of additional festive activations in the area, including:
- Frosted at Franklin Park Illumination – November 22 – December 20, 2024.
- National Mistletoe Activation at Anthem Row (formerly Tech World Plaza) across from Carnegie Library/Apple Store – Launching late November 2024
- DowntownDC Holiday Skate Spectacular in partnership with the National Building Museum – December 16 – January 4
- Winter Pop-Up Activations at Anthem Row – December 2024, Date TBD
- Holiday Hype by the DC Department of Parks and Recreation – December 2024, Date TBD
For a complete list of vendors and for more information about the DowntownDC Holiday Market, go to www.downtowndcholidaymarket.com.
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About DowntownDC Business Improvement District
The DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) was founded in 1997 and is a private nonprofit organization that provides capital improvements, resources, and research that keep the BID area clean, safe, economically and environmentally strong, and accessible. The DowntownDC BID is a catalyst, facilitator, and thought leader in diversifying the economy, promoting public-private partnerships, and enhancing the downtown experience for all. DowntownDC encompasses a 140-block area of approximately 530 properties, from Massachusetts Avenue on the north, including the Walter E. Washington Convention Center at Mount Vernon Square, to Constitution Avenue on the south, and from Louisiana Avenue on the east to 16th Street/Black Lives Matter Plaza on the West.
About The Makers Show
The Makers Show (TMS) is a mixed-use retail market platform rooted in social justice. Founders Julie Feltman and Tiziana Indelicato have more than a decade of New York City holiday market-making and retail experience. TMS is committed to promoting equity and community investment through local marketplaces, and believes in keeping resources in local economies by using sustainable materials as well as amplifying businesses owned by BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, women, and other underrepresented groups. And of course, helping consumers shop local. Since its inception in 2020, TMS has produced a dozen of large-scale markets in Brooklyn and Boston, in partnership with city authorities and developers. TMS continues to create immersive and festive marketplaces that engage, enchant and inspire.