BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — For the seventh year, the SoWa Art & Design District in Boston’s South End is helping independent merchants get their fair share of the retail business that the holiday season generates.
The SoWa Winter Festival, located at the SoWa Power Station at 550 Harrison Ave., brings together more than 200 mom-and-pop retailers, artists, and designers under one roof to sell their wares to the public.
The festival is a one-stop location for holiday shoppers looking to support Small Business Saturday, a business initiative that began in 2010 to encourage people to patronize small, local retailers.
“You can do your Black Friday sales and you can, you know, get your electronics, but when it comes to crafts and something more personal, a lot of people are looking for that,” said Nancy Nicosia, who sells olive oil she imports from Italy.
“For me, it’s just the most essential time,” Nicosia added. “It’s actually the time when I make most of my money.”
Vendors sell a wide variety of items, including baked goods, candles, glass sculptures, chocolates, jewelry, and leather goods. There are also food trucks, live music, and art studios organized by the SoWa Artists Guild.
“It’s fabulous,” said Pamela Frankowski, who sells natural dog treats from Dorchester. “Just to have people from the neighborhood, but also outside of the city just coming in and enjoying this spectacular event. It’s just grown and grown and grown.”
The SoWa Winter Festival is open Saturday through Sunday, Nov. 27, Wednesday, Nov. 30 through Sunday, Dec. 4, and Wednesday, Dec. 7 through Sunday, Dec. 11.
WBZ’s Mike Macklin reports.
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