The COVID-19 pandemic isn’t stopping I Made It! Market’s holiday events, but it is changing the way you interact — and shop. 

Established in 2007, the pop-up marketplace — which features handcrafted items by dozens of regional artisans — this year is teaming up with Cleveland-based Shop Holiday Handmade and Akron’s Crafty Mart to bring together more than 150 makers, artists and small businesses for a virtual marketplace. The event takes place Saturday, Nov. 28, through Sunday, Nov. 29.  

Although online, the event will do its best to replicate the energy of a live environment by featuring ways to meet the makers, ask questions and show off your finds. 

If you don’t want to wait for the market’s kickoff on Small Business Saturday, you can get a headstart by perusing the event’s online, interactive catalog. 

Reminiscent of the thumbable shopping guides sent home in the mail, the Shop Holiday Handmade catalog is divided into categories, among them accessories, card and paper, ceramics, clothing, home decor and original art. 

Clicking on a category takes you to the chosen vendors. Once you click on an item, you are then directed to the maker’s website, where you can make a purchase. 

“We decided to go for that Sears holiday catalog nostalgia except instead of ripping out pages or bending down the corners you can print out pages with what you want and leave them sitting around the house. (That’s our pro tip to you…),” a statement on the Shop Holiday Handmade site says. 

Shop In Person

If online shopping isn’t your thing, I Made It! Market also is hosting several in-person events. 

From now through Dec. 17, the Winter Market — a gathering of artisans, plus vendors selling locally grown produce, ciders, prepared food and seasonal plants — takes place from 3 to 6 p.m. every Friday at The Block Northway mall in Ross Township. 

Outdoor, socially distant pop-ups events will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, and Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Tanger Outlets in Washington County. 

Moving to the great indoors, a pop-up shop sets up Nov. 28 through the early weeks of January on the first floor of The Galleria in Mt. Lebanon. According to the event organizers, the market will be open three to four days per week leading up to the holidays — and for a few weeks after. There’s also an online kids shop with orders that can be shipped or picked up at The Galleria. 

For more information, or to shop I Made It! Market’s vendors online, visit here.