With sunny blue skies and warmer weather hitting Pittsburgh, it’s the perfect time to get out of the house and explore one of the city’s many markets. Whether indoors or outdoors, these markets bring local artisan vendors all to one spot so you can shop art, food products, handmade crafts, and so much more. Many of these markets even happen multiple times throughout the spring and summer (and even winter for some) so give their socials a follow to stay up-to-date.
Shop Artisan Art and Food at Pittsburgh Vendor Markets
Neighborhood Flea
From May through October, the Neighborhood Flea operates every second Sunday of the month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at SouthSide Works. But, this market also pops up in Schenley Plaza on each first Sunday of the month from June to October. The Neighborhood Flea invites you out to shop and interact with makers and shop-owners all across the city. Think vintage wears that you won’t see anywhere else, handcrafted woodworking for your home decor, and local deliciousness.
I Made It! Market
Sick of the commercial vendors taking up local market space? At I Made It! Market, you can rest assured that every vendor is a small, local business. Here you’ll find a lot of handmade goods, whether it’s a painting to hang on your wall or a stunning notebook that you can use for work. On top of their own markets that they run throughout each season, they also help to put on the Squirrel Hill Night Market to bring you over 100 local vendors. Plus, there are food trucks and live music at each night market too.
Steel City Spooky Market
This one is for all the people who wish Halloween was a year-round affair. What started as pop-ups around the city now has a permanent home in Allegheny Commons West to host multiple markets each month through October. Visit local vendors who bring uniqueness right to Pittsburgh with goods like jewelry, decor, handmade gifts, and oddities. There are also flash tattoos available from Bridge City Body Art and rotating food vendors at each event.
Greensburg Night Market
A little outside of the city, Downtown Greensburg hosts their own night market all the way through December. This market stocks four city blocks and a parking lot with vendors covering all types of products. The last Thursday of each month you can grab a bag of small-batch pretzels, plants from local growers, or even handmade jewelry with flair. For all vintage lovers, you’ll also want to mark down dates for their Vintage Market in May, August, and October this year.
Garfield Night Market
Each first Friday, the Garfield Night Market coincides with Penn Avenue’s Unblurred, which features galleries, performances, and more along the avenue. Continue supporting artists by shopping at the night market which features homemade food and craft goods. There are also live painters at the night market so you can continue your time at Unblurred, uninterrupted. This year, they’re still looking to fill vendor spaces so if you’re a local creative, try reaching out.
Three Rivers Arts Festival
You know it, you love it! the Three Rivers Arts Festival returns on June 5. You’ll have seven days to immerse yourself in local and national music acts, hands-on activities, family-friendly fun, cultural cuisine favorites, and their Artist Market. This year, the festival finds a new home with the official opening of Arts Landing in Downtown. There’s a gorgeous green lawn as well as a large permanent stage and public art exhibits. The festival is also known to bring national acts into town for free concerts so keep an eye as their schedule develops.
Allentown Night Market
Twice a year up and over Mount Washington, the shops along Warrington Avenue gather together to put the unusual on display. This year’s first night market occurs on June 13 and it’s an evening you won’t want to miss. Offbeat artisans and crafters along with food vendors take up the 800 block of Warrington Ave and the RE360 Warehouse. Step up to find gorgeous jewelry suing real crystals, magnets of your favorite horror movie characters, interesting art prints, custom tarot card decks, taxidermy animals, and just about anything else your brain can think of. This is also the last time you can catch the spring market. Next year they’ll be changing to a once-a-year market.
Handmade Arcade
Last but certainly not least is Handmade Arcade, one of the favorite markets in the city. Handmade Arcade has been around since 2004 and for good reason, everything you see here is locally-made by passionate crafters. Every year they host three different markets; an Emerging Craft Market, Holiday Market, and Modern Craft Market. All of the vendors at each event are picked specifically by the organization for many applications. This way you know you’re getting the best quality and nothing derived from “AI slop.” Their next upcoming event is the Emerging Craft Market for early career and emerging makers on August 29.
Story by Kylie Thomas
Photo from Three Rivers Arts Festival
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