With Halloween in the rear-view and Thanksgiving barely on the horizon, Christmas shopping has already begun to ramp up. And for those looking for unique gifts while also supporting small businesses, there are plenty of holiday markets to choose from.

Here are just a few of what are out there:

  • This & That, 3436 N. Anthony Blvd., 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 9; 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10.
  • The Garden Holiday Market, 3308 N. Anthony Blvd., 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9; 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10.
  • Fort Wayne Village Marketplace at SportONE Parkview Fieldhouse, 3946 Ice Way, 5-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, $5.
  • Christkindlmrkt at Park Edelweiss, 3355 Elmhurst Drive, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16.
  • New Haven Community Center, 7500 State Road 930 in New Haven, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday Nov. 23. 
  • Artlink Winter Market, 300 E. Main St., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14.
  • Bohemian Holiday Market at Memorial Coliseum, 4000 Parnell Ave., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30.
  • Huntertown Woodworkers Craft Sale, 16471 Lima Road, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Dec. 6-8.
  • Sleigh Days Christmas Village & Market at Allen County Fairgrounds, 2726 Carroll Road, 6-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7.
  • USF Holiday Bazaar at Rolland Art Center, 2701 Spring St., 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7.
  • Sophia’s Portico Women’s Winter Art Fair at Beacon Heights Church of the Brethren, 2810 Beacon St., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7.

Nutracker-inspired cookie decorating 

Country Kitchen SweetArt and Project Ballet have teamed up for three Nutcracker cookie classes. 

At Country Kitchen SweetArt, 4621 Speedway Drive, the classes will be at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, and Friday, Nov. 15, as well as 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16.

The classes will teach participants how to decorate three cookies using buttercream techniques. They will also have the opportunity to meet cast members of the upcoming Project Ballet production of the Nutcracker. 

Go to countrykitchensweetart.thundertix.com for tickets.

Fort Wayne FC stadium destined for Bass Road

After years of playing at the University of Saint Francis’ Bishop D’Arcy Stadium, Fort Wayne’s pre-professional soccer team Fort Wayne FC will soon have their very own facility on Bass Road.

The 9,280-capacity stadium will be located on the south side of Bass Road, west of Interstate 69, and will also host concerts and other events.

Fort Wayne’s Design Collaborative has been retained for architectural services.

The goal is to be in operation for the 2026 season with Fort Wayne FC expected to make an announcement on bringing professional soccer to the area that year.

PFW Cabaret team join professor on panel

Members of the Purdue University Fort Wayne Department of Theatre’s Cabaret creative team will join Steve Carr, director of the PFW Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, for a free panel discussion at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9, in Neff Hall Auditorium.

The discussion will be in regards the musical’s continued relevance on the 86th anniversary of Kristallnacht — a night of terror against Jewish people and the destruction of synagogues, homes, and businesses in 1938 Germany.

Joining Carr from the Cabaret team will be director Julie Lyn Barber and costume designer Austin Rausch.

PFW School of Music students compete

Eight vocalists from Purdue University Fort Wayne’s School of Music took part in the National Association of Teachers of Singing Indiana Student Auditions on Oct. 26 at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion. 

Four students walked away with accolades, with Anna Reichert taking home first place in Classical Treble.

Other notables of the event were second-place finishes by Brendan Caffee (Musical Theatre) and Trinity Gonzalez (Classical Treble) and a third-place finished by Anna Ousley (Classical Treble).

Citilink offers free bus fare Saturdays

Citilink will offer Free Fare Saturdays to entire community on Saturdays between Nov. 30 and Dec. 21. 

This initiative aims to boost local engagement and support local businesses through convenient access for holiday shopping.

For more information, go to fwcitilink.com.

News and Venues covers Northeast Indiana’s music and arts organizations, venues, and colleges, from large to small. Send your news items to info@whatzup.com.