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One Weekend Only for Unique Gift Market

An Art and Gift Market in Macomb will feature locally produced works in a variety of mediums: photography, jewelry, yarn crafts, wearables, upcycled art, and more.

“All of these items are handmade and made by the artist. These are usually one-of-a-kind things. You won’t find 75 of them on a rack somewhere,” said Gayle Carper, who organized the market.

The event will take place at the West Central Illinois Arts Center on the Macomb Courthouse Square. Hours are Friday 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm; Saturday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm; and Sunday 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm.

Credit Rich Egger
The West Central Illinois Arts Center at sunrise Thursday. It's in the old Wyne Dry Goods building on Macomb's Courthouse Square.

Carper said the Sunday hours were tried last year for the first time and proved to be an important addition because they give customers an extra day to think about making a purchase.

“Almost everyone I talked to on Sunday (last year) said, ‘I saw some things yesterday and I didn’t buy them, and I thought about it last night and said, ‘I need to go back.’’ So the repeat business was the thing that really justified what we were doing on Sunday,” Carper said, who added the artists were also happy with the Sunday hours.

Carper said the Art and Gift Market will feature works from 19 vendors.  She said she visits a lot of art and craft fairs during the year, handing out cards and looking for artists to bring in.

There is no admission fee and no requirement to make a purchase. Shoppers will find works at a broad range of prices.

“We just want people to come in and shop local for Christmas,” Carper said.

Rich is TSPR's News Director.