GoggleWorks to Host Two-Day Handcrafted Holiday Market

From GoggleWorks Center for the Arts

GoggleWorks Center for the Arts is once again transforming its historic factory building into a festive hub of creativity for the annual Handcrafted Holiday Market, returning Friday, Dec. 5, and Saturday, Dec. 6.

What began as a modest craft fair has grown into one of Berks County’s most beloved holiday events, bringing together artists, makers, and the community for two days of shopping, artmaking, food, and entertainment. This year, the market is expanding with more workshops than ever before, a Friday-night sketch comedy performance by Fotis & Fotis, a new Studio Artist Ornament Sale, and a lineup of local food and drink vendors serving up holiday cheer.

“The Handcrafted Holiday Market is the perfect place to find gifts for everyone on your list,” said Jesse Futter, Marketing Director at GoggleWorks. “There’s nothing more special than something made by hand. Every item here has a story, and every purchase supports a real artist in our community.”

The weekend opens Friday evening from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. as the building fills with artisan vendors, music, and the aroma of freshly prepared dishes from At Tasha’s Table, who will serve seasonal fare both Friday and Saturday. Guests can browse handmade ceramics, jewelry, textiles, prints, glass, and woodwork before heading to the Boscov Theater for “A Very Berks Holiday,” a one-night-only sketch comedy show from local favorites Fotis & Fotis.

On Saturday, the market continues from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with an expanded schedule of hands-on art workshops across multiple studios. Visitors can make their own gifts or holiday décor under the guidance of professional instructors while enjoying coffee from Mugshot Coffee, a Reading-based favorite joining the market for the first time.

“I’m most excited for our new workshops, where you can make a gingerbread tile out of clay, personalize your own wooden ornament, or discover a photographic process — cyanotype — to make a winter card,” said Emily Thiel, Programs Manager at GoggleWorks. “We also have our staples — where you make your own glassblown or fused glass ornament, form a glass icicle using a torch, or build a fresh custom wreath along with your family. Our Winter Wonderland kids’ space is perfect to bring your children for crafts while you shop or take a workshop yourself.”

Throughout the weekend, GoggleWorks’ Studio Artists will also host a limited-edition ornament sale on the second and third floors, featuring handmade ornaments created right in their studios.

Admission to the Handcrafted Holiday Market is pay-what-you-wish, with a suggested donation of $15.00 supporting GoggleWorks’ art education programs and youth scholarships. The event is made possible through the generous support of Tompkins Community Bank, Visions Federal Credit Union, and Carolyn and Jerome Holleran.

Now in its fourth year, the market has become a cornerstone of Reading’s creative season. Families stroll through galleries and studios, shoppers chat with artists about their work, and laughter echoes through the building as holiday music plays. For many, it’s not just a shopping trip but a reminder of how vibrant the city’s arts community has become.

The Handcrafted Holiday Market runs Friday, Dec. 5, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, 201 Washington St., Reading. For details, workshop registration, and the full vendor list, visit goggleworks.org/handcrafted-holiday-market.

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Source: bctv