Union Square Holiday Market (CLOSED)

Now in its 20th season, this European-style winter market boasts more than 150 local and national vendors hawking an impressive selection of handcrafted gifts, ranging from jewelry and accessories to leather goods and artwork. Nestled beneath red-and-white-striped tented booths, the bustling downtown bazaar offers a unique holiday-shopping alternative to the overcrowded big-name retail stores. Scoop up Kristiana Parn stationery sets (six note cards for $18), Stories mounted art prints ($45 each), Organic Treatment facial serums ($38), and Pageant Print Shop antique Brooklyn and Manhattan maps ($200).