Arts and crafts show created for ‘world’s delightful irregulars’
Atomic Holiday Bazaar will celebrate its 16th season during a return to Robarts Arena at the Sarasota Fairgrounds on Small Business Saturday, — Nov. 25 — from noon to 5:30 p.m., and on Sunday, Nov. 26, from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., founder Adrien Lucas has announced.
Atomic, which launched in 2006, “was created out of boredom and longing for an edgier, more irreverent type of arts and crafts show,” a news release explains. As “an alternative craft show for Sarasota’s hip shoppers and talented makers, Atomic quickly grew into an annual Sarasota holiday shopping tradition,” the release adds.
Season 16 will features 180 local, statewide and out-of-state vendors, “now fondly known as those ‘Misfit Makers,’ ” the release points out. The makers’ individuality “shines through the creations they bring to sell at Atomic. And the show producer stands by her claim, ‘Atomic continues to feature style trends in merchandise that often make their way to big box stores a year or two later. Want a tour at Target or Walmart? I can take you there and point to anything from cards, clothing or home decor that was at Atomic years before it landed on their shelves; want me to point out similar Atomic style crafts and fashion that were seen in a Prada or Gucci ad? I can,” the release says.
Atomic will continue to feature a wide range of items for all: screen-printed T-shirts, faux taxidermy, upcycled everything ranging from home décor to clothing and jewelry, “(for example, think of ‘upcycled’ as copper pipe that has been refitted into a desk lamp),” vintage clothing, kitsch, lowbrow to elegant fine art, holiday cards, jams, jellies, “the best canned pickle selections ever,” one-of-a-kind baby clothing, humorous chatchkes, ornaments, knits, catnip toys, doggie stuff, felted art, plants, plushies (unusual and humorous creatures), pop culture-graphic art posters, dark sentiments, body products, candles, “beachy vibe stuff,” ethnic Latin textiles, rock ’n’ roll edgy clothing, “sweet little creations that make you sigh, get the picture?”
“The first lucky 100 adult’ish humans who enter the arena with a paid ticket at the start of each show” will receive a swag bag with vendor gifts of samples, stickers and coupons that may be used during Atomic, the release notes.
Admission is $6 for adults; children age 12 and under will be admitted for free, the release says.
The Big Blue Grilled Cheese Co. food truck will be located in the street fair behind Robarts Arena, with the Arena Cantina open for hungry shoppers who also would like to enjoy beer and wine. Plenty of free parking will be available in front of Robarts Arena, the release adds. Atomic’s offerings range from family-friendly to PG-rated adult content, the release points out.
For more information about Atomic Holiday Bazaar, contact Adrien Lucas at 941-539-9044 or by email at atomicholidaybazaar@gmail.com.