CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Among all of the longstanding holiday traditions observed Friday in Chicago, a new one has emerged on State Street in the Loop.
“I’m the new Marshall Fields,” said Sylvia, who is among dozens of local small business owners to be found within the State Street Holiday Market, indoors between Madison and Monroe.
Sylvia has been collecting unique gift items for decades.
“I have a huge assortment of holiday décor, holiday ornaments, even some Fields old ornaments, and I also have hand-crafted garments, vintage everything. I have table linens, tchotchkes, you name it, I have it,” Sylvia said.
With so many local vendors just like Sylvia never having a retail space of their own, the State Street Holiday Market is a great opportunity for them but also for the holiday shopper looking for some of the most unique gifts imaginable.
Everything about the State Street Holiday Market experience is hyper local, decorated by local artists, and even the music we hear is mixed by a live local DJ.
In addition to the festive hip hop music, Missy Perkins with Paint The City is on board to help feature additional live holiday entertainment.
“We’ll have Nutcracker performances, choir performances, we have a kids breakdancing battle performance, so, we got a lot going on,” Perkins said.
One of the market’s first customers, Bianca, shares her experience with WBBM.
"It was a culmination of a lot of small businesses. I love how that there was a concentration in POC- Black-owned businesses-, a lot of natural, holistic products that were sold. It looks like there were a few that sold thrifted items. I had a really good time. It was wonderful," Bianca said.
Admission to the State Street Holiday Market is free, open Fridays thru Sundays during the holiday season at 35 South State Street.
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