Start the holiday shopping season at the HollyMarket at the Krasl Art Center beginning Saturday and running through Thursday.
Sponsored by Edgewater Bank, HollyMarket is Southwest Michigan’s premier holiday shopping event, featuring a juried sale of unique handmade art, jewelry and decor.  Discover an assortment of distinctive and stylish holiday gifts and help support artists, the local economy and the Krasl Art Center.  Admission to HollyMarket is free.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; noon to 4 p.m. Sunday; and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Top off your shopping experience at Soup’s On with a hearty bowl of homemade soup, bread and variety of desserts.
A Krasl Art Center tradition, this annual event is a local favorite and a popular lunchtime escape.  Soup’s On starts Monday and runs through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  Homemade soups are $6 per bowl or sampler, and a selection of desserts is available for $1 each.
“The community is invited to the Krasl Art Center for this unique opportunity to shop for artist made gifts and enjoy homemade soup, bread and desserts in an art museum that is filled with the sights, sounds and excitement of the holidays,” said Julia Gourley, the executive director at  Krasl Art Center.
Meet the artists from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and  shop before the general public. This newly revitalized event features live music, a not-so-silent auction, a selection of wines from Tabor Hill Winery, local craft beer and hors d’oeuvres from Bistro on the Boulevard, Grande Mere Inn and Tosi’s. Non-member and day of tickets are $15.
Then, 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday shop HollyMarket while enjoying a complimentary glass of wine and sampling a variety of cheeses.
From 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, check out the Kids Holiday Art Workshop. New to HollyMarket, this one-day event is an opportunity for children to create holiday-inspired art in the studio while parents shop. The Kids Holiday Art Workshop is for children ages 4 to 12 and is $5 per child.
Visit the Krasl Art Center Gift Shop, where the focus is on artists, local and international, along with sustainable and fair-trade products.
The Krasl Art Center galleries are open Monday through Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.  Admission free of change.
For more information, call (269) 983-0271, or visit www.krasl.org.