Downtown Holiday Market moves, renamed DC Holiday Market; new one takes its place

WASHINGTON ( DC News Now ) — A staple of wintertime and the holiday season returns to the District this year, but you’ll find the Downtown Holiday Market in a new place with a new name.

The now-branded “DC Holiday Market” invites people to Dupont Circle, beginning on Nov. 22, 2024. The location is 19th Street NW, just north of Dupont Circle park.

According to the DC Holiday Market’s website , it will feature more than 30 small businesses “with artisans, boutique brands, worldwide handcrafts and unique gift items.”

Visitors also can expect performers, holiday decor and many treats. The market said it will partner with Dupont Underground to provide other features.

Diverse Markets Management hosts DC Holiday Market, as it did with the old Downtown Holiday Market.

So, why the changes?

The Washington Post reported in June that there was disagreement about the direction of the previous iteration, which was located on F Street NW between 7th and 9th streets, and a check of the Downtown Holiday Market’s website on Tuesday came with a simple message: “downtown holiday market is not occurring. THANK YOU FOR PATRONAGE AND SUPPORT OF THE DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY MARKET!”

“The Downtown BID believed it’s their show, which I dispute and we had a falling out,” explained Michael Berman, president of Diverse Markets Management. “They think they’re going to run their own version of it with a new operators. I was not able to secure a way around that so I’ve picked up and started what we do in another location this year.”

The DowntownDC BID said it will continue to host a market at the same location on F Street NW, branding it the “DowntownDC Holiday Market.”

“We’ve run the DowntownDC Holiday Market for many years, and worked with the prior operator for a number of years,”Gerren Price, CEO of the Downtown BID, said. “We decided to help diversify the mix of vendors that were available so we put an RFP out and ultimately decided to go in a different direction.”

Price said the DowntownDC Holiday Market will partner with the company Makers Show, which will expand the number of vendors from 70 to 110.

“Their entire premise and reason for being is to really celebrate local makers, local artisans and really sharing the craft and beauty of that work that small makers in localities produce,” said Price.

Both sides agreed that the competition of two holiday markets is not an issue.

“I always think it’s a win, win, win anytime there are fun, active things happening in our city,” said Price.

Berman said it makes room for everyone.

“It’s good for the city, it’s good for the neighborhoods and it’s good for the opportunities for these small businesses,” Berman said.

The DC Holiday Market is slated to open on Nov. 22 and will run through Dec. 15. Hours are from noon to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends.

The DowntownDC Holiday Market will open Nov. 22 through Dec. 23. Daily hours are from noon to 8 p.m.

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