Atomic Holiday Bazaar preparing for 12th season

Event to be held Dec. 9-10 at Municipal Auditorium; other nearby North Tamiami Trail venues participating in weekend sales as well

Image courtesy Atomic Holiday Bazaar

​The Atomic Holiday Bazaar will mark its 12th season on Saturday, Dec. 9, and Sunday, Dec. 10, organizers have announced.

This holiday “indie” craft show will be held at the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium, located at 805 N. Tamiami Trail, as well as in the Bay Front Room and as a street fair located on Plaza De Santo Domingo, the street between the Municipal Auditorium and the Art Center Sarasota, a news release explains.
“Atomic launched in 2006 on a Saturday with just 50 vendors,” the release points out. “The show proved such a success it was expanded to a full weekend the following year.” By 2008, the release continues, Atomic grew from the main auditorium to the Bay Front room “to accommodate the ever-growing number of talented applicants and dedicated shoppers.” In 2015, Atomic expanded again, “opening up its first street fair and jumping on the trend of including a handful of delicious food trucks,” the release notes.

This year the “row” on North Tamiami Trail will be open for business, the release points out. From noon to 5 p.m. on Dec. 9 and 10, Art Center Sarasota will hold its annual Art in the Garden, featuring local artisans and member art; and the Sarasota Garden Club will open its doors for the first time during the Atomic weekend, holding a holiday plant sale. The Friends of Sarasota History Center will be open only on Saturday, Dec. 9, from, noon to 5 p.m., holding a holiday craft sale. These events, next door to the Atomic show, will be free to enter, the release points out.

“[I]t is exciting to finally have all of the Tamiami venues in this block participating in the Atomic weekend,” the release adds. This creates holiday shopping events, all within walking distance, “featuring items that won’t be found in big box stores,” the release notes. Additionally, the public will have a chance to view buildings with architecture reflecting designs from the Art Deco era to Mid-Century Modern.

The fee is $5 for adults to enter the Atomic Holiday Bazaar in the Main Auditorium, while the Bay Front Room and street fair access will be free, the release says.

The holiday tote bag tradition will continue, the release notes, with screen-printed totes filled with Atomic swag handed out at each show to the first 100 adults who enter the main auditorium.

Food trucks and the auditorium cantina will be open for hungry shoppers, as well.