This event was designed to kick off the holiday season with gifts that came from the heart and would feed the soul. This may have been the first year this event was held, but the turnout was astronomical. Over 700 wonderful individuals came out to support our local artisans and find a few special somethings to slip under the Christmas Tree (and perhaps into their own stockings as well…) 

The day began with lovely weather and a scenic drive to Koehler Winery in Los Olivos. Coming off the 101, guests were treated to views of rolling hills and row upon row of grape vines on the road leading up to this picturesque location. As soon as you got out of the car you were greeted with the mouthwatering aroma of the wood fire oven being operated by Full of Life Flatbreads. It must have tasted just as good as it smelled because they completely sold out of pizza not once, but twice! Pair that with a few glasses of the Koehler wine collection? Honestly you could probably call it a day at that point. But this was just the tip of the iceberg!

The Koehler property is particularly nice to visit because of how multidimensional the grounds are. There is more than one path that turns into a small flight of stairs and leads you to a new landing shaded by tall trees. This layout made the artisan fair all the more exciting. It seemed like there was always one more booth tucked into a secret corner! A mix of 30 different creators joined us for this event and brought with them quite the variety of wares. One Last Glass candle makers brought scents particularly special to our slice of the world, with options like “The Santa Ynez” (harvest apple + chardonnay) and “The Farmer’s Market” (blueberry, sage, spicy orange). The Caps Cart provided one of several opportunities at the Fair to create a customized item with hats whose logo you could pick on the spot. There was no shortage of one-of-a-kind handcrafted items. At the booth of Pedaling Paper, there were journals made entirely of handmade paper. Cameron Alarico knifes showcased handmade blades so gorgeous you would likely get lost staring at then and completely forget what you had intended to cut. There were dog leashes and macrame earrings, gingerbread house bath bombs and hammered cast iron skillets, aromatherapy and precious stones. Gyspy Art Studios even had a booth where the kiddos could work on their own creations. 

Did we mention that the entire time you wandered from table to table of artisan offerings, there was live music playing? This free, all ages event really had something for everyone. Kohler co-owner Kory describes it like this: “What a marvelous day we had!  A heartfelt thank you for all the hard work that went into creating the Holiday Market.  The turnout was beyond our expectations!  The artisans were all amazingly talented, the food was SO delicious, and the music and entertainment were absolutely perfect.  I also recognize how incredibly detailed you are with all the little things that make your events extra special.” This shindig was such a smash that we are already planning for the next one! 

Anytime we are able to facilitate a point of connection between Valley residents and the exceptional business owners and makers of the area, we are pretty darn proud. This event was about so much more than shopping. It was a time to celebrate the talents of our friends and neighbors and showcase the many local options we have for wellness related products. Do you have a business you would like to be included in our future happenings? Are you interested in hosting a Pop Up Project produced event? Contact us at info@popupproject.org, we are always happy to find new partners!