Union Square Holiday Market Returns, 11/21-12/24

As today's frigid temperatures portend, the holiday season is almost upon us! And, as has been the case for almost two decades, UrbanSpace (curators and managers of Mad. Sq. Eats, Broadway Bites and the Columbus Circle Holiday Market) and the Union Square Partnership are thrilled to welcome back more than 150 small businesses to the Union Square Holiday Market. Famous for its distinctive red and white tents and joyful atmosphere, the market is a meeting place for shoppers from across the globe, offering superior products, unparalleled local cuisine and a quintessentially New York experience.

The 2013 installment of the Union Square Holiday Market features over 150 unique vendors that sell everything from artisanal food products to holiday ornaments, from handmade jewelry to children's toys. The antithesis of the impersonal department store, the Union Square Holiday Market is a wonderful place to spend time with family and friends, support local craftspeople and artisans and be swept up in New York City's holiday merriment. The market is located in Union Square Park, bordered by Park Avenue South, Broadway and 14th Street.

Each year, savvy shoppers return to the Union Square Holiday Market for a perfectly curated blend of old favorites and new innovators; some of the 2013 newcomers include Genuine Motorworks, Pop Chart Lab, Milly & Earl, We See Stars, The Jam Stand, Liddabit Sweets and The Good Batch. For consumers that want to support local artisans, the "Little Brooklyn" section of the market will be back this year, and will feature all local, handmade goods from across the Brooklyn Bridge. Notable "Little Brooklyn" vendors include Marty's Stuff, Brooklyn Brew Shop and Kristina Parm. In addition to bringing on new, exciting vendors, UrbanSpace has also redesigned the stylish, handheld market map and directory this season, ensuring that each and every market customer can find his/her way around the many holiday stalls with ease.

To complement the experience of shopping for handmade gifts, art and other merchandise at the market, UrbanSpace has recruited a some of the top chefs from Mad. Sq. Eats and Broadway Bites to dish out warm food and beverages. Holiday shoppers will be pleased to see Momofuku Milk Bar, Sigmund's, Mighty Balls, Bar Suzette, Arancini Bros., Taste of Persia and other talented chefs at this year's market, serving warm drinks and comfort food.

The Union Square Holiday Market will be open from Thursday, November 21st until Tuesday, December 24th; market hours are 11:00am to 8:00pm Monday through Friday, 10:00am to 8:00pm Saturday, and 11:00am to 7:00pm Sunday. The market is closed on Thanksgiving Day.