Christkindlmarkt!

Posted by Victoria Rose on December 7, 2021

Santa at the CCAA

This is the perfect season to level up your holiday shopping by supporting local artists, craftspeople, and galleries! One-of-a-kind gifts abound in the exhibits, shows, galleries, and markets throughout the beautiful Brandywine Valley. The first weekend of December is full of events sure to cheer the spirit and provide gorgeous crafts and pieces of arts to keep it up through the year.

Outdoor market at the second Second Annual Christkindlmarkt

At the Chester County Art Association, they are hosting their Second Annual Christkindlmarkt on December 3^rd from 5 to 9 pm and December 4^th from 10 am to 7 pm. Started last year, vendors are happy to return to another outdoor market with more than forty stalls. Based on German Christkindlmarkts, CCAA had a fantastic turnout last year and has increased the offerings for this event.

The CCAA grounds both inside and out will be full of tents, music, food, and holiday spirit. Vendors will be selling individually handcrafted and locally designed products, from art to jewelry, homewares to ceramics, and much much more. There will also be festive holiday décor, food trucks, and other goodies. Iron Hill Brewery and Manatawny Stillworks will have libations for those of age, and there will be fire pits ready to roast some marshmallows and create your own treats with the handy S’Mores Kits available! Both days will feature live music. The Dub-C Swing Band will be there Friday evening, and the Lenape Brass Band will be there to entertain the crowds Saturday afternoon.

Chester County Art Association is located at 100 N. Bradford Avenue, West Chester, PA. Parking for the Christkindlmarkt will be available at Hillsdale Elementary School. More information can be found at ChesterCountyArts.org

There are plenty of other galleries and exhibits showcasing arts and crafts perfect for holiday decorating and gifting. With special events, weekend showcases, and exhibits through December, it is a lovely excuse to take a ride, check out some holiday light displays, and experience the local art scene.

The Barbara Moore Gallery is hosting its last Christmas in Miniature exhibit throughout December. This beloved tradition showcases local artists with small artworks perfect for every art lover. More information about the exhibit, as well as the history of the gallery, was covered in this article in Chadds Ford Live from last week. The Barbara Moore Gallery is located at 1609 Baltimore Pike, Bldg. 400A, Chadds Ford, PA. More information, including hours and updated safety measures, can be found at BarbaraMooreFineArt.com.

The Brandywine River Museum will host their popular Brandywine Critter Sale offsite this year as they continue to recover from Hurricane Ida. Visitors can browse for their perfect Critter at The Chadds Ford Historical Society on December 4^th and 5^th from 10 am to 4 pm. Sales will support the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art. Sales will be by credit card only, and masks are required. For those who wish to shop online, orders can be placed at brandywine-critter-sale.square.site by December 8^th to ensure holiday delivery. The Chadds Ford Historical Society is located at 1736 Creek Road, Chadds Ford, PA.

The Brandywine River Museum is now open for visitors, including the famous Brandywine Railroad exhibit. Featuring more than two thousand feet of track and over one thousand pieces, the exhibit is a delight for guests of all ages. More information, including safety measures and opening hours, can be found at Brandywine.org/Museum.

The Square Pear Gallery in Kennett Square is hosting their Third Annual Wrap It Up exhibit, showcasing arts, crafts, and gifts all made by local artists. More information can be found in this article from Chadds Ford Live. The show runs through January 10^th. The Square Pear Gallery is located at 200 E. State Street in Kennett Square, PA. More information can be found at SquarePearGallery.com.

Gallery 222 in Malvern will have an Artist Reception on December 4^th from 12 to 4 pm for their Small Works 2021 Show. This exhibit will run through December 24^th and features a variety of local artists, including Rhoda Kahler, Jeremy McGirl, Randall Graham, and Jan Wier. Each piece in the exhibit is available for Cash and Carry purchase, perfect for last-minute gifts for the art lovers in your life. Online ordering is also available for either shipping or in-person pickup. Gallery 222 is located at 222 East King Street, Malvern, PA. More information can be found at Gallery222Malvern.com.

Gifted is back at The Art Trust in West Chester. The offerings have been expanded this year to include gorgeous textile art alongside paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and jewelry. This exhibit features entirely unique creations, from the sumptuous paper crafting of Samara Weaver and the tiny clockwork creations of Nilanjan Bhowmik to intricately embroidered wearable textiles from Victoria O’Neill and luminescent sculptures by Orlando Saverino-Loeb. All pieces in the exhibit are available for purchase and priced from $50 to $500, perfect for every patron of the arts. There is a Bourbon & Bubbles Holiday Event open to the public on Friday, December 10^th from 5 to 8:30 pm. The Art Trust is located in the lobby of Meridian Bank at 16 West Market Street, West Chester, PA. More information can be found at TheArtTrust.org.

About Victoria Rose

Victoria Rose (she/her) is an editor, writer, avid reader, self-described geek, and fan of all things creative. Her passion for words has led to her current career as a freelance editor, and she is the owner of Flickering Words, an editing service. When not wielding a red pen (or cursor), she loves reading books of all genres, playing video, board, and word games, baking ridiculous creations to show off on the internet, or enjoying the gorgeous outdoors. She is a board member of the West Chester Film Festival and part of the Thirsty Monsters, a team of streamers from around the world who fundraise for various charities supporting LGBTQIA+ and accessibility rights. She can be found online @WordsFlickering or the Brandywine Art Guide @BrandywineArtGuide.