Festive shopping, seasonal activities and live music are back in Bed-Stuy as the annual holiday marketplace opens its doors.
The Winter Wonderland Holiday Marketplace at Bed-Stuy Gateway Business Improvement District now offers holiday shopping and a month-long agenda full of free, public events.
“We are truly excited to join Neighborhoods Now and its team of experts in bringing to the Bedford Stuyvesant community an evergreen tradition that will last a lifetime,” Dale Charles, executive director of Bed-Stuy Gateway BID, said.
Running until Dec. 23, the marketplace provides local merchants an opportunity to increase foot traffic, while offering crafters, creatives and small business owners a viable platform to showcase and sell their goods and services.
The shop-small initiative is a collaboration of Neighborhoods Now, an initiative from Urban Design Forum and Van Alen Institute that aims to support community pandemic recovery. Wells Fargo is presenting the event.
"We're thrilled to help bring [Winter Wonderland] to life,” said Deborah Marton, the executive director of Van Alen Institute.
“And grateful for Wells Fargo's continued support of this exciting community gathering.”
A ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 26, marked the opening of the marketplace. Hosted by Bed-Stuy Gateway BID, several dignitaries were in attendance, including:
- Congressman Hakeem Jeffries
- New York state assemblywoman Stefani Zinerman
- NYC councilman Chi Osse
- BID chair Joyce Turner
- BID vice chairperson Marcia Melendez
- Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce CEO Randy Peers
Seasonal Community Activities
Along with holiday shopping, the winter wonderland will also be offering community programming and family-friendly activities, including pictures with Santa and fashion shows.
Community Thursdays will be dedicated to highlighting nonprofit organizations. And, on Fridays, the marketplace will host Caroling in the Plaza. Caroling will feature yuletide singalongs with local houses of worship.
On Dec. 1, at 6:00pm, the annual tree lighting ceremony will be held in Marcy Plaza’s Open Street.
On Dec. 3 from 2:00pm, to 4:00pm, Bike New York will take over the marketplace for a kids' learn-to-ride program. The program will also include a free kids' bike giveaway for up to 30 young people. Citi Bike, the bike-share program in NYC, will be on hand to demonstrate how to unlock and access the blue and silver rentals.
“This holiday season, Wells Fargo is thrilled to continue our support of the Bed-Stuy Gateway BID, the Van Alen Institute, and the Urban Design Forum and their efforts to provide opportunities for local entrepreneurs and small businesses,” said Catherine Domenech, vice president of New York community relations at Wells Fargo.
“Brooklyn is powered by small businesses, and we’re committed to helping them succeed financially.”
Supporting partners include:
- Con Edison
- TD Bank
- Van Alen Institute
- Urban Design Forum
- Buro Happold
- Dash Marshall
- Moody Nolan
- Fried Frank
- Gretel
- Block by Block
- New York City Department of Transportation
- Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation
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