Rather than purchase your holiday gifts from the same stores you went to last year, try going local this season.
This Saturday, December 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens will be having “Holiday Gifts at the Gardens,” hosted by the Buffalo Indie Market. The show will feature items from 15 local, independent art businesses. There will also be a raffle to benefit the Botanical gardens and the largest poinsettia show in western New York. Visitors should bring their families along for holiday treats, children’s crafts and even a chance to see Santa Claus.
The Buffalo Indie Market strives to showcase the talent of local artists, designers and retailers and help them make their presence known to the local community. Every second Sunday of each month, BIM hosts an event at Pearl Street Grill & Brewery to promote local indie artists and designers. They also have an online blog that offers bios of these independent artists and links to their individual websites. Every Friday, the blog features a new artist. Visitors who comment on the blog will have the opportunity to win something from one of the designers.
Several artists and designers will be present at the Holiday Gifts at the Gardens event. ABL Photo Designs will be featuring photographs and collages of the Buffalo community. Tuckamore Designs will offer handmade greeting cards, bookmarks, and original prints. Captured By The Moment will have artistic and unique books for sale. Jeannie Foster will be selling a variety of unusual jewelry, featuring gemstones, pearls, crystals and sterling silver. Queen City Shirt Co. will be showing off their Buffalo-themed t-shirts. Tara Nova will be offering a variety of fine art pieces, including portraits, trading cards, pendants and resin sculptures.
Also present at the event will be Buffalo Gal Frills & Earth’s Tone Jewelry by Tina, El Buen Amigo, Jack Bee Thimble, Kasia Blue, Lubna’s Artline, Robert Holland, Ry Stephens Design, Sacred Pages, Shiny Object Media and Sweet Temptations DuJour.
Admission to the Gardens and the event is free to the public. The crafts and activities for children will be $2 and a photo with Santa will be $5. Crafts will be taking place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Santa will be visiting from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Botanical Gardens is located at 2655 South Park Avenue. For more information, visit the Botanical Garden’s website or the Buffalo Indie Market website.