by Amber Wyatt
Holiday Magic: Thousands of twinkling lights illuminate Fillmore Plaza as crowds browse festive vendor booths at the Cherry Creek Holiday Market. The popular annual tradition transforms Cherry Creek North into a winter wonderland, showcasing local artisans, independent retailers, and one-of-a-kind holiday gifts.
As the holiday season approaches, Cherry Creek North is preparing to transform Fillmore Plaza into a festive shopping destination, but behind the holiday lights and storefront displays are dozens of entrepreneurs turning creative passions into businesses.
The seventh annual Cherry Creek Holiday Market returns November 19 through December 24, bringing together more than 45 rotating local makers, designers, and independent retailers. The outdoor market, located on Fillmore Street between First and Second avenues, offers shoppers an opportunity to discover one-of-a-kind gifts while supporting the people and small businesses behind them.
First introduced in 2020, the market was created by Fetch Concepts as an open-air holiday shopping experience featuring local makers in European-inspired chalets. By its second year, the event had grown to include approximately 30 local makers and designers, establishing a seasonal tradition in a neighborhood already recognized for its concentration of independent boutiques and retailers.
Now entering its seventh season, the market has continued to expand its selection of artisans and entrepreneurs, reflecting a growing interest in shopping small and finding gifts with a story behind them.
This year’s lineup includes businesses representing a variety of creative industries, from jewelry and fashion, to handcrafted home goods and art.
Among the featured merchants is LUDERE Jewelry, a Denver-based jewelry brand created by designer Arielle Zella. The brand specializes in playful fine and demi-fine jewelry, bringing a contemporary approach to personal accessories. “Its name,” Zella says, “is derived from the Latin word meaning ‘to play,’ which reflects the creative philosophy behind my designs.”
Fashion and accessories shoppers can also discover Designs by Elle, a Colorado-based leather goods business featuring handcrafted products. The designer, Eleanor Meralit, reportedly taught herself leatherworking, turning an independent interest in the craft into a business offering customizable leather journals and accessories. “I draw inspiration from architecture, geometry, and cultural experiences,” Meralit explains.
Holiday Shopping: A shopper browses handcrafted jewelry at the LÚDERE booth during the Cherry Creek Holiday Market. The annual event showcases local artisans, independent designers, and unique gifts at Fillmore Plaza in Cherry Creek North.
Another distinctive retailer is WUAMAN, a multigenerational Peruvian family business that grew into a Colorado company. The founders are Sandra Huaman and her husband, Edoardo Quevedo Kcomt. “Our clothing is crafted using traditional techniques, including hand embroidery, knitting, crochet, and loom weaving,” Kcomt says. Their products provide an example of how independent businesses can connect shoppers with traditional craftsmanship and artisans beyond Colorado.
For shoppers interested in home and lifestyle products, Wax Crescent Candles, a woman-owned business based in Longmont, will bring its small-batch candles to the market. Other featured businesses include The MAS Boutique, known for personalized laser-cut ornaments, and Simple Mind Design, a husband-and-wife operation creating layered wooden bicycle designs.
While the products may vary considerably, the businesses share a common thread: each represents an entrepreneur who has found a way to turn an idea, skill, or personal interest into something commercially viable.
For many independent retailers, opportunities like the Cherry Creek Holiday Market offer more than a temporary storefront. They provide direct access to shoppers during one of the busiest retail periods of the year, opportunities to build brand recognition, and the chance to develop relationships that can extend well beyond the holiday season.
The market’s continued growth also highlights the role independent businesses play in Denver’s retail landscape, offering shoppers alternatives to mass-produced merchandise while keeping their spending connected to entrepreneurs and creative communities.
As the market opens for another season, the stories behind the booths may be just as meaningful as the gifts themselves. For shoppers, a purchase could mean more than checking another name off a holiday list. It could mean helping an independent designer, artist, or maker continue building a business around something they love.
The Cherry Creek Holiday Market is free and open to the public November 19 through December 24 at Fillmore Plaza in Cherry Creek North.
