Handmade Arcade 2025

Shop one-of-a-kind handmade products from 290 talented makers at the largest holiday market in the region! Come to be inspired and leave with distinctive handcrafted products you won’t find anywhere else! Surprise and delight your loved ones with holiday gifts as unique as they are. You’ll find everything from sustainable clothing and accessories to one-of-a-kind art, innovative home decor, decadent body products, and much more. Bring your whole crew for a day of shopping, hands-on crafts, and breathtaking live demonstrations.

Hands-on Activities include demos, make-and-takes, and community art projects. Visitors can welcome screen printers, glass blowers, painters, illustrators, ceramicists, fiber artists, and more! For the full schedule, please visit Handmade Arcade

To avoid lines when checking in, visitors can register in advance for free tickets

This is also a great opportunity to check out interesting art works and river views in the Convention Center. In addition, there are a number of galleries as well as the Heinz History Center within walking distance.

MEETUP Considerations

1. We encourage everyone to arrive as early as possible since there are hundreds of vendor booths along with a number of creative hands-on activities. There are also some interesting arts related exhibits to check out at the Convention Center.
2. The Meetup group can gather at 12-12:15 PM sharp near the Raffle Table located to the right of the Main Entrance.
3. It may be helpful to arrive early and do a quick walk through to make sure you spot the Raffle Table and get a sense of what vendor booths you may wish to spend some more time with, especially for those interested in shopping.
4. Please be mindful that not everyone's interests are the same -- so while some will spend more time shopping, others will walk around quickly.
5. With many activities unfolding simultaneously, Handmade Arcade is well suited for people to enjoy in smaller groups or on their own with family/friends.
6. At any given time, there could be anywhere from 0-20+ people from Meetup dispersed among the general public.
7. Because everyone has different schedules, people will arrive and leave at different times.
8. It is not realistic to post comments asking where other people in the group are and expecting a timely response. Many people enjoy Handmade Arcade without feeling the need to constantly check cell phones -- and are simply happy enough when they run into people they know as they walk around.
9. Please be mindful that when gathering times/locations are provided, people that show up 'on time' should not be expected to 'wait around' for others that may or may not show up at a given time.

Recommendations for nearby things to do after Handmade Arcade
A) Check out the remarkable free exhibit Frank Lloyd Wright's Southwestern Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Projects at 820 Liberty Avenue that will be open from 11 AM-1 PM and 1:30-5 PM. Other nearby galleries include Celebrating 45 Years of CAPA: Alumni and Faculty Exhibition at SPACE Gallery (812 Liberty Ave) and Ben Schonberger: Hi-NRG at 707 Penn Ave Gallery that will be open from 11 AM-1 PM and 1:30-5 PM. There are also numerous public art installations throughout the Cultural District.

B) The Holiday Market in the Cultural District is open from 11 AM-9:30 PM on Saturdays

C) Heinz History Center & Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum is open until 5 PM

D) Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre "The Nutcracker" at the Benedum with performances at 2 PM and 7 PM

E) Pittsburgh Public Theater "A Christmas Story: The Play" with performances at 2 PM and 8 PM. Visitors can also check out the first annual Festival of Trees as the O'Reilly Theater lobby is transformed into a winter wonderland with beautifully decorated trees by local businesses, donors, and partners.

F) Pittsburgh CLO's musical production of YIPPEE KI YAY (the parody celebration of Die Hard) at the Greer Cabaret Theater with performances at 2 PM and 7:30 PM

G) Texture Contemporary Ballet: The Nutcracker at the August Wilson Center with performances at 2 PM and 7 PM.

H) Orwell’s 1984 – Live Play by Playbox Productions at Three Stories: Pierce Studio (937 Liberty Avenue) with performances at 2 PM and 7:30 PM. People can save $10 with promocode PGH2025 ($20 instead of the regular $30 General Admission).

I) Magician Brian Jay Corrigan, JD PhD in Charles Dickens, Conjurer at Liberty Magic with performances at 5 PM and 8 PM

J) You Got Gold: A Celebration of John Prine at the Harris Theater with a screening at 7:30 PM

Parking Here is the ParkPGH website with real-time info on downtown parking garage availability where you can download apps, get garage availability via text messaging, or call 412-423-8980.