You won’t find the same thing twice shopping at the Shopcicle market – partly because this unique market only happens on the third Thursday of every month and features an array one-of-kind products from local artisans, craftspeople, and makers, and partly because that array is always changing.
Shopping Shopcicle
Each month this pop-up market sets up at Union Depot in the heart of Lowertown in St. Paul. And shoppers will always be greeted by new merchandise each time they come: Every month the market will center around a different theme showcasing around 20 local craftspeople and artisans. The themes include Emerging Products and Brands, Food and Beverage Makers, Women Artisans, Philanthropic Craftspeople, and many more to come to keep the Shopcicle pop-up market experience fresh time after time.
You’ll definitely have a good time shopping – even if you don’t like shopping. Think of this as more of a social hour. There’s great food and beverages made available by the Union Depot Bar & Grill housed in the same building, so you can drink and snack while you peruse the wide selection of goods – the restaurant will be offering its Happy Hour menu throughout the event and even the restaurant’s mixologist will create an exclusive Shopcicle specialty cocktail for the market-goers to sip on while they peruse the market.
For many of the vendors and businesses participating in the event, this pop-up market offers a chance to showcase their talents and products to the greater Twin Cities, and gain a wider audience of those currently unfamiliar with their brand. You’ll find businesses like August Sparrow, which sells Minnesota clothing, accessories, and home decor, Daisy Blue Naturals which creates natural skin care and beauty products, and Makin’ It Mama that sells hand-crocheted sweaters, hats, mittens, and stuffed animals. Be warned: You’ll soon have friends asking where you got your cute sweater and cool necklace from.
Along with featuring local makers, the Shopcicle event is also giving back to the community. The pop-up market is taking 7% of its market sales and participant booth fees and donating it to the local nonprofit The Arc Minnesota. The Arc organization promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, actively supporting them and their families in a lifetime of full inclusion and participation in their communities. This generosity was inspired by Shopcicle creator Becky Sturm who is also the curator of the MN Christmas Market, Lowertown Pop, and other pop-up markets around the cities. And since the MN Christmas Market also donates part of their proceeds, Sturm wanted to continue the tradition with the Shopcicle pop-up market and give back to the Twin Cities community.
The next Shopcicle market is coming up quick this September 20. The event runs from 3:00-8:30pm in the Head House at Union Depot. Here’s the schedule through December:
- September 20: Emerging Products and Brands
- October 18: Food and Beverage Makers
- November 15: Women Artisans
- December 20: Philanthropic Craftspeople
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