Makers’ Market brings out local crafters, Santa

Published 5:30 am Sunday, December 17, 2017

Christmas spirit was in the air Saturday at the Festhalle Marketplatz in Cullman’s Warehouse District, as dozens of North Alabama artisans and crafters teamed up with Santa and Mrs. Claus for Cullman’s first-ever Makers’ Market vendor fair.

Organized and staged by local art enthusiast Elizabeth McDowell, the Makers’ Market greeted hundreds of shoppers and curious browsers throughout the day with handmade woodcrafts, homemade food, specialty soaps, one-of-a-kind clothing and tons more hand-crafted goods, all made in and around North Alabama.

McDowell said she grew interested in creating the market after recognizing Cullman was ready for an event that appealed to locals’ artistic sensibilities.

“It’s no slight on the crafts events that we do have, because I’m a fan of those events and Cullman’s a better place for having them — but Cullman needed something that complements what’s already there; something that brings out more of the artistry and skill that a lot of our talented makers invest in their work,” she said.

McDowell said it’s too early to say whether she and other participants might consider adding a second annual Makers’ Market — perhaps in the spring — to the local calendar. But the success of Saturday’s event, which packed nearby parking lots and kept streams of shoppers flowing up and down the length of First Avenue’s shopping district, gives her reason to be optimistic.

“It’s been an extremely successful day,” she said. “People have shown up and given us a crowd all day long, and I’ve even had vendors who’ve run out of their more popular work. That’s a good problem to have.

“It’s also great because it’s a vendor-run event. When one of us needs a break; maybe needs someone to watch their booth so they can run and get a coffee, we all cover for each other. And having this event here at the Festhalle is so ideal, because the shops just down the block are all open, and everyone can treat it like a day out. Everything’s within reach here.”

Benjamin Bullard can be reached by phone at 256-734-2131 ext. 145.