Whidbey markets offer unique holiday gift items

Holiday shoppers can still find a handful of local markets to attend in-person while adhering to social distancing and mask protocols.

The Bayview Farmers Market will be hosting a holiday pop-up from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 5. A variety of vendors will be present, from farmers to processors to artisan crafts and goods. The holiday market only runs for one day.

Freeland-based Sweet Sisters Body Care is one of the market’s many vendors. Founder Karen Wilson works to make complex fragrances in her products using all natural ingredients.

The essential oils in her products can be grounding, especially during these stressful times.

“I think it kind of connects people more to nature than these synthetic scents,” Wilson said.

Central Whidbey resident Amber Hawkins, who founded her business, Whidbey Wood Girl, is also a vendor at the Bayview holiday pop-up market.

Hawkins has turned several products on her lathe, including cups, wine corkscrews and razor handles. She also makes furniture and signs out of wood.

“I just think it’s so cool that you can take wood and turn it into something pretty,” Hawkins said. “People look at stumps and they see firewood. I see beautiful things that are just asking to be made.”

South Whidbey Tilth will host a series of winter markets from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 6 and 13. The markets will be entirely outdoors and “produce, holiday gifts, baked goods, wreaths, swags, garlands, bulbs, soap and more” will be available.

A pop-up holiday market is also coming to Pioneer Way in Oak Harbor. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 19, shoppers can find local honey, handmade ornaments and puzzles, among other things.

There will be opportunities to enter drawings for raffle prizes, too.

On Dec. 5, shoppers in Clinton can participate in a raffle during the chamber of commerce’s Shop Sip Eat event for a chance to win a gift basket valued at $300.

To be entered, products must be purchased at Clinton businesses that are participating in the raffle. A full list is available on the Clinton Chamber of Commerce’s website, discoverclintonwa.com.

Coupeville will still be doing its Red Ticket Giveaway. The grand prize drawing is slated for Dec. 20.

Participating businesses are available to view on coupevillehistoricwaterfront.com.

Oak Harbor will also be doing its Green Ticket Giveaway, with the grand prize drawing scheduled for Dec. 19. Participating businesses are available to view on oakharbormainstreet.org.

And for those who would still prefer to stick to online shopping, there are several virtual holiday markets to choose from that have products made by locals.

The St. Augustine’s-in-the-Woods Holiday Market will run until Dec. 10. Proceeds from the bazaar go towards CADA and Island Senior Resources. All purchased items must be picked up from the church. Visit staugustinesholidaymarket.org for more details.

Whidbey Maker’s Market, usually held in the Ducken Barn on North Whidbey, has been cancelled this year but vendors can still be supported by visiting the market’s Facebook page, facebook.com/whidbeymakersmarket.

Cultus Bay Gardens has also gone virtual this year. Shoppers can visit cultusbaygardens.com and place orders on the “Arts & Crafts Market” tab of the website.

There will be products available from 15 different artists, with a bio next to each artist.

Orders can be delivered or picked up at Cultus Bay Gardens from 1-4 p.m., Friday through Sunday, until Dec. 13.

Karen Wilson works on an essential oil blend in the studio of Sweet Sisters Body Care. She is also a vendor at the Bayview holiday market. Her products are available at Edit in Langley and Madrona Supply Co. in Clinton. Photo by Kira Erickson/Whidbey News-Times