Street fair will take place outside the building, on arena property
In late November, Atomic Holiday Bazaar will return for Season 15 after a two-year “(and a too long) hiatus” because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the organizers have announced.
Atomic has moved to the Sarasota County Fairgrounds, located at 3000 Ringling Blvd. in Sarasota, a news release notes. Atomic Misfit makers will be found inside Robarts Arena, while other makers will be located at the street fair outside the arena, on the fairgrounds property, the release adds.
“Atomic was fortunate to land the Small Business Saturday weekend falling right after the Thanksgiving holiday,” the release points out. The dates and hours for Atomic are as follows:
- Saturday, Nov. 26, noon to 7 p.m.
- Sunday, Nov. 27, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission will be $6 for adults; children age 12 and under will get in free.
The food trucks at the street fair will be Mouthole BBQ and Big Blue Grilled Cheese, the release notes, and the Robarts indoor arena cantina “will be open for hungry shoppers.”
The release also points out that Atomic features family-friendly “to PG-rated adult content.”
Further, the Bradentucky Bombers roller derby team will continue to work as Atomic’s greeters, handing out an Atomic swag bag to each of the “first 100 adult’ish people who enter the arena at the start of the Saturday and Sunday shows. Bags are filled with vendor swag, some gifted vendor merch and coupons that may be used at the Atomic show,” the release explains.
A little background: “Atomic was created in 2006,” showcasing 50 “unconventional crafters who needed an affordable and welcoming venue to sell their unusual handmade wares. By producing an alternative craft show for Sarasota’s hip shoppers, Atomic quickly grew into an annual Sarasota holiday shopping tradition. The show proved such a success it became ‘the little craft show that could,’ ” and grew to the point where it is today,” the release says.
Atomic outgrew the City of Sarasota’s downtown Municipal Auditorium, the release adds. Patrons will find that “Robarts has plenty of free parking and a roomier building for the next chapter of the Atomic experience,” the release notes.
Atomic features 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? No artsy stone unturned, Atomic has something for all!”
The indoor arena spaces are sold out, the release points out, but applicants may apply to be put on the wait list; “street fair spaces are filling up quickly and are expected to sell out soon.” The application may be found at www.atomicholidaybazaar.com.
For more information about Atomic Holiday Bazaar, contact Adrien Lucas at 941-539-9044 or email atomicholidaybazaar@gmail.com.