Okay, it’s official: Halloween is now the official starting day for the holiday season and retailers are trying to squeeze your holiday dollars out of your wallet well before Black Friday.
Small local Black vendors are once again trying to get holiday shoppers’ attention, without huge advertising budgets and expensive store fronts.
Enter community organizations who are sponsoring Black Saturday shopping experiences.
These events bring together an assortment of small Black businesses into one location for cultural, community-based holiday shopping events.
Kansas City
Back for their 10th year is the granddaddy of them all, the National Black United Front’s Buy Black Saturday event is 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. at the Linwood YMCA, 3800 Linwood Blvd, Kansas City, MO. This free, family-friendly event includes music, food, games and prizes. If you’re interested in being a vendor, go to nbufkansascity.org/vendor-registration.
Generating Income for Tomorrow (GIFT) has been holding monthly Black-business shopping markets most of 2022, typically on the third Saturday of the month. This month, in support of the holiday shopping season, they’re moving their monthly popup to Sat., Nov. 26, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at their center, 5008 Prospect Ave., Kansas City, MO.
They are no longer accepting vendors for this event, but according to their schedule, they’ll be back again with their regular monthly vendor opportunity ahead of Christmas, on Sat., Dec. 17, and they’re still accepting vendors. Go to their website soon, since space is limited, to reserve your space at KansasCityGift.org/popup.
Soul of Santa Holiday Market, will be held Fri-Sat., Dec. 2-4, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Greg Klice Community Center, in the 18th and Vine Jazz District. This event is sponsored by Art Garden KC and The Soul of Santa “Do Good’‘ Foundation. This art fair will have vendors, artists and makers selling everything from jewelry to home decor. There will also be warm beverages and a heated outdoor marketplace.
You Go Girl Holiday Mart is scheduled for Sat., Dec. 11, 2 – 6 p.m., at the DAV Hall, 14605 E. US 40 Hwy. This event, sponsored by J Cann Creations is looking for female vendors. Interested vendors should email jcann.creations@gmail.com.
6th Annual Umoja Holiday Celebration & Community Gift Distribution event will be held be hosted at the GEM Theater Sun., Dec. 11, 3 – 8 p.m. This is sponsored by Juneteenth KC. Vendor registration information is available at http://bit.ly/3GAfWFc
Wichita
Bringing it Black is taking the Buy Black holiday shopping concept to a whole new level. They’re kicking off the holiday season with a holiday season kickoff event on Sat., Nov. 26, but in addition, they’re providing small businesses a place to market their items throughout the holiday season.
They’re sponsoring an ongoing holiday market Dec. 1 – Dec. 30. Vendors can register for a two-day, weekly or monthly vending opportunity.
Bringing Black will be doing all of this from a new location in downtown Wichita, at 600 E. Douglas. Sat., Nov. 26, is the grand opening for the location as well as the Buy Black holiday shopping event from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Ribbon cutting for their new location will be at 1 p.m. The location will also be open for shopping daily in December. So far, no hours have been announced for the month-long market.
Based on their last events, shoppers can expect a mix of small businesses, including fashions, artists, food, home decor and jewelry.
If you’re interested in being a vendor, go to facebook.com/bringingitblack.
Dunbar Community Vendor Fair, Sat. Dec. 3, noon to 5 p.m. Historic Dunbar Theater, 1007 N. Cleveland. A nice variety of vendors have signed up.