Shop to your heart's content at pop-ups

Dec. 5—You may be playing it cool now but soon enough you'll be sweating that gift list.

Rest assured, local organizations are ready to help, organizing shopping events to connect you to local small businesses and makers.

Those out downtown for Second Saturday can stop in the Junior League of Bakersfield Community Center for its Holiday Market.

More than a dozen vendors will take part along with a hot chocolate bar, letters to Santa station, raffle and more.

Local artist Aliza McCracken is excited to take part in the annual event for the nonprofit organization.

"It is always a pleasure to connect with such lovely guests while supporting a wonderful cause," she wrote in an email. "Literacy is truly impactful for cultivating a sense of meaning and wholeness. It may enhance one's imagination while nourishing the beautiful possibilities in life, as well as fostering a sense of compassion and empathy. In light of this, I feel humbled and delighted to share my artistic journey with our beloved community."

Other participants include local author Alicia Ford, PaperPie children's books, sales reps for Lularoe, Mary Kay and Colorstreet.

Also for sale at the market will be jewelry, homemade cookies and treats, Christmas-themed crafts, permanent jewelry, tumblers, crochet and cartoon gifts, purses and designer wreaths, centerpieces and bows.

Each vendor will contribute an item to the event raffle.

There will also be a hot chocolate bar and letters to Santa station to entertain young attendees.

The Junior League of Bakersfield will host its own booth, offering details about its efforts to improve literacy rates in Kern County and selling tickets for an upcoming Bakersfield Condors game fundraiser.

The market will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the center, 1928 19th St.

Holiday Boutique and Bake Sale

Satisfy your sweet tooth and your need to shop for gifts at The Empty Space's Holiday Boutique and Bake Sale.

It will be a one-stop shop on Saturday with handmade gifts by local artists and artisans that you can have gift-wrapped for free on site.

Items include vintage home decor, handmade jewelry, ornaments, toys and treats for stockings, gift baskets, knit and crochet items, ceramics and more.

Vendors include The Index Bookshop, Malicious Mandy's Marvels (jewelry) and African Sky (aromatherapy).

Event host The Twisted Skein, Bakersfield's only specialty yarn shop, will have some deals available.

The event will also include free popcorn and hot cocoa along with crafts for kids.

Baked goods will be in abundance with take-home treats including pumpkin streusel loaf cakes, eggnog rum loaf cakes, chocolate peanut butter cake sandwiches, red velvet mini cakes, Parmesan ranch Chex mix, Meyer lemon lemonade and more.

Proceeds will go to support the theater, which is currently renovating its new home on Woodmere Drive.

The Holiday Boutique and Bake Sale will run from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at The Twisted Skein, 4609 New Horizon Blvd.

Those who can't make Saturday's sale can head out to performances of "The Lightning Thief" for the theater's mini holiday boutique.

Before performances and during intermission of the new show, which plays through Dec. 17, visitors can shop for unique gift items and handmade goods.

Doors open 30 minutes before showtime with remaining performances at 2 p.m. Dec. 10, 16 and 17 and 8 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Dore Theatre at Cal State Bakersfield, 9001 Stockdale Highway. (Admission is $25, $20 students and seniors for those who want to attend the musical. Purchase tickets at esonline.org.)

Holiday Pop-Up Shop

MARE Therapeutic Riding Center has teamed up with The Bako Market for its annual Holiday Pop-Up Shop on Saturday.

More than 60 vendors will take part in the event that will also include holiday crafts, pony rides, horse kisses and pictures with Santa.

Participants include Shades Of Green (plant gifts), Quartz Trading Co. (CBD products), Tricycle Soap Co., MW Creations (soy candles), Captain B's (Shark Bait puffed wheat snacks, custom seasonings, rubs, marinade/dip mixes), Bako Gifts, Infinite Link (permanent jewelry), Pure Divine (handcrafted bath and body products), Just a Little Knottie (handmade jewelry and accessories), The Sparkle Spot (hand-tied hair tinsel), Trailer of Charm (women's and children's apparel and accessories) and Skullz Paint Espresso (custom art by Laura Ketchum).

MARE will have a table as well as a spot for the event raffle, which will benefit five organizations: Wounded Heroes Fund, Bakersfield Angels, Shielding the Frontline, Amelia Molly's Angels and Bakersfield Boxers & Bullies.

Food vendors include Higher Grilling BBQ, 502 Coffee Co., Babmokja (Korean barbecue), Feu Company (wood-fired organic sourdough pizza), Annaluisa's Kitchen, Get It Twisted (spiral-cut fried potatoes on sticks) and Sweet Ice Co. (Italian ice).

Pony rides will be available for $10. Santa will pose for photos from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The shop will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at MARE, 18200 Johnson Road.

Stefani Dias can be reached at 661-395-7488. Follow her on Twitter at @realstefanidias.