A holiday shopping event is assembling local Central New York businesses together on Small Business Saturday in one convenient location in Downtown Syracuse. Night Market will be held on several floors at SKY Armory. There will be food and entertainment for guests to enjoy in between browsing, and shopping for holiday gifts. Spokesperson CJ Butler says there’s a little something for everyone.
“We have such a vast array of vendors (85) and they cover everything from art, jewelry, apparel, home goods, gourmet foods, beauty products and anything else that you can think of. On top of that we also have live musical performances on the second and 3rd floors of the building.”
It’s the 5th fall edition for the semi-annual event that’s held in both the spring and fall.
We spoke with some of the vendors who are either local or from rural areas. In addition to pasture raised turkeys and chickens, Clucked-Out Farm in Pulaski specializes in skin care products. Co-Owner Jana Weiland runs the farm with her husband and some extra help from their four kids. She says they’re able to reach a wide demographic of customers.
“Goats milk soap lotions, bath bombs, all natural products that are good for your skin. Raw honey from our bees. We try to raise everything sustainably so it’s both good for the animals, the environment and there’s little waste.”
A small business that focuses on promoting local restaurants has been in existence for four years. Anthony Tringale is the Owner of Eat Local CNY and says Night Market gives him the opportunity to reach additional customers who aren’t into the social media scene.
“In reality I want to try and get people to go out to eat maybe a little more often than they typically would and especially to go out to eat at a local restaurant. So, if we can save them money by encouraging them to go and support a local restaurant, then all the better.”
Several artists will also be at the event. Michelle Darin from Jamesville makes Jewelry.
“I like to describe it as inspired by nature, color… I use a variety of materials ranging from cast resin to enameled copper bronze, cast silver, cast bronze, cast silver. I also do some leather works.”
Night Market will be held Saturday at SKY Armory, 351 South Clinton Street from 3 to 10 PM. There is a 5 dollar admission charge for the event. The first 500 people who bring non-perishable food items to benefit Food Bank of CNY will get a free tote.
