By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(Dec. 7, 2017) A Holiday Maker’s Market in downtown Berlin from 5-8 p.m. Friday will highlight the final 2nd Friday art stroll of 2017.

Heather Layton, chairwoman of the Berlin Arts and Entertainment Committee, which oversees the event, said the portion of Jefferson Street at the corner of Main Street would close at 4 p.m. Vendors are scheduled to start selling there at 5 p.m.

She said the committee bought outdoor gas heaters to help keep shoppers toasty during the event.

Baked Dessert Café will sponsor a free s’mores station for children and Gypsea Tide will sell newly harvested mistletoe.

“There will be an array of art, jewelry, Christmas ornaments, embroidery, painted wooden signs, photography, paintings, wood work and more on Jefferson Street,” Layton said. “Many shops will have extended hours as well.”

Additionally, the art and entertainment committee will sell raffle tickets for an Electra Beach Cruiser bicycle, with proceeds going to the addition of a locally built public bike rack in the town. Tickets are $5 each or six for $25 and the drawing will be held on Saturday, Dec. 9.

The Eastern Shore chapter of the International Mountain Biking Association will have a table to advertise its “Off the Chain” art exhibition, opening Dec. 9 at the Globe in Berlin. An opening reception, 5-10 p.m., will feature a bicycle chain art show and silent auction to benefit the association’s mission to create, enhance and preserve local trails. Local acoustic duo Bad Since Breakfast will perform.

Layton said the Maker’s Market has been a successful addition to 2nd Fridays.

Next year, she hopes to expand the market to Commerce Street, starting there at 6 p.m. The street is already closed during Friday evenings, weather permitting, to allow for live music by Steve Frene and The Country Grass.

“My hope is the market will continue to grow and those that work on Friday and can’t get to Jefferson Street to set up by 5 will have the opportunity to set up at 6 on Commerce, and we will then have two bustling artisan-filled streets during the 2nd Friday stroll,” Layton said.

“We are extremely fortunate to live in an area in which residents and visitors alike are seeking out art and handcrafted goods, so by creating the market and grouping all the artists together, it opens the sidewalks for foot traffic to and from the shops that participate in the stroll and gives [the event] the festival feel that so many have asked for,” she added.

She said both the market and the art stroll itself have seen several iterations during the last few years.

“We have tried many different ideas for the art stroll and I personally have tried to create a market on several different streets – finally Jefferson Street just fell in and fit perfectly,” Layton said. “It’s truly a great match fit and I am very excited to grow and add Commerce Street.

“We have many vendors that participate each month and new ones all the time,” she added. “Everyone has been great to work with and very appreciative that we allow them the space to set up and sell their wares, and they love meeting the people shuffling through the market.”

Vendor forms for the Maker’s Market are available online. Participation is free, but all items sold must be handmade by the artists themselves.

For more information, visit www.artsinberlin.org.

Berlin’s 2nd Friday festivities will feature art displays in shops throughout the downtown area, along with sales and specials in restaurants from 5-8 p.m.